Ukraine wants to update fines for illegal sale of cigarettes and alcohol
The Verkhovna Rada has adopted in the first reading a bill amending the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code to increase responsibility for illegal trafficking in excisable goods, Ukrinform reports.
This was announced by MP from the Voice parliamentary faction Yaroslav Zheleznyak in Telegram, Ukrinform reports.
He clarified that the legislative initiative No. 9364 was supported by 243 parliamentarians.
The purpose of the bill is to improve administrative and criminal liability in the field of illicit trafficking of excisable goods.
In particular, it provides for administrative liability for the sale of beer (except for non-alcoholic beer), alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages, tobacco products, and liquids used in electronic cigarettes without state registration as a business entity or without obtaining a permit. The law provides for a fine of UAH 17,000 to 34,000 with confiscation of trade items and money obtained as a result of this administrative offense. For actions committed repeatedly during the year, a repeated fine of UAH 34 thousand to UAH 85 thousand is provided for with confiscation of trade items and money obtained as a result of this administrative offense.
At the same time, the purchase, storage, shipment, transportation without the purpose of selling alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or liquids used in electronic cigarettes without excise tax stamps or with counterfeit excise tax stamps, committed in a significant amount, will result in a fine of UAH 510 to UAH 1,700 with confiscation for individuals and UAH 1,700 to UAH 4,250 with confiscation for officials and individual entrepreneurs.
The draft law distinguishes between administrative and criminal liability for illicit trafficking of excisable goods (except in cases of manufacturing) depending on the volume of such goods.
It is envisaged to authorize authorized officials of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine to draw up protocols on administrative offenses in the field of illicit trafficking of excisable goods.
At the same time, it is proposed to prohibit the transfer of seized excisable goods to the offender for safekeeping until the administrative offense case is considered by the court.
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