Ukraine to tighten control over raw tobacco: Rada supports changes in first reading

The Verkhovna Rada in the first reading supported bill No. 15372, which significantly strengthens state control over the production and circulation of raw tobacco. The document provides for electronic tracking of tobacco, round-the-clock video surveillance at enterprises, GPS control of transportation and the creation of a unified register of producers.

234 MPs voted for the adoption of the bill as a basis.

The purpose of the document is to create a control system for raw tobacco throughout the entire path: from cultivation and harvesting to drying, packaging, storage, transportation, fermentation and use in the production of tobacco products.

What will change for producers

The bill provides for the extension of the electronic traceability system to raw tobacco. It should record operations with raw materials, their residues, movements between enterprises and further use.

Separately, it is planned to create a unified register of raw tobacco producers. It will include information on land plots, tobacco cultivation areas, seed varieties and actual yields.

At enterprises working with raw tobacco, round-the-clock video surveillance is envisaged. At entrances and exits, vehicles, their license plates and weight should also be automatically recorded.

Transportation of raw materials is planned to be controlled with the help of GPS. Transport will have to transmit data about the route and location, which will allow tracking the movement of tobacco batches.

Why control is being tightened

The authors of the bill expect in this way to reduce the possibilities for unaccounted raw tobacco to enter illegal cigarette production and strengthen control over the payment of taxes and excise duties.

In fact, the state will have the opportunity to trace the movement of raw tobacco from the producer to the enterprise that uses it for the manufacture of finished products.

At the same time, the new requirements have not yet entered into force. On September 15, the Verkhovna Rada only adopted bill No. 15372 as a basis with further refinement. Now it must be prepared for the second reading, so certain provisions of the document may still change.

According to materials: Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine