Ukraine is considering changes to its National Cashback programme. The Ministry of Economy and Environment is discussing a model under which state support would become more targeted and focus on selected categories of Ukrainian-made goods. The priority would be products whose domestic manufacturers face particularly strong competition from imports. Textiles and cheese have already been mentioned among the potential categories.
The programme's funding could also be significantly reduced. According to Economy and Environment Minister Oleksandr Kravchenko, the National Cashback budget could potentially be cut by 2.5 times. The ministry estimates that this could save the state up to UAH 4 billion annually. However, the programme's final configuration is still under discussion.
Under the current model, cashback rates vary depending on the category of Ukrainian-made goods. In 2026, consumers receive 5% cashback on food, automotive products, pharmacy goods and products for gardens and vegetable gardens. A 15% cashback rate applies to a range of non-food goods as well as selected food products, including hard and soft cheeses, pasta, oatmeal and buckwheat.
The proposed changes would represent a shift from a broad programme aimed at stimulating demand for Ukrainian-made goods towards more targeted support for specific domestic industries. For the food industry, this could be particularly relevant in segments facing strong competition from imported products. However, the redesign remains under consideration: the final list of eligible goods, cashback rates and funding levels have not yet been approved.