On Wednesday, 16 September, the Ukrainian parliament approved in principle the draft law ‘On the trade in goods linked to deforestation and/or forest degradation’. This is a European integration bill designed to bring national legislation into line with the requirements of the EUDR.
This was reported on the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
This refers to Bill No. 15352. The bill is intended to counteract the reduction in forest area or the degradation of forests. To this end, it proposes regulating the export and import of goods whose production may have resulted in damage to forest areas.
As previously reported by EcoPolitics, it was tabled by Oleg Bondarenko, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, together with other MPs.
Back on 31 August, the committee recommended that it be adopted, but with amendments. In particular, these concerned the mechanisms for state oversight of compliance with the new legislation, as well as the functioning of the forest protection services.
What does the document propose?
First and foremost, the draft bill sets out the legal and organisational framework governing the cross-border transport of goods. The document will also specify exactly what these goods are – it proposes introducing a list of goods linked to deforestation or forest degradation.
Furthermore, No. 15352 allocates responsibilities amongst various authorities and imposes an obligation on market operators to collect, store and provide the necessary information regarding the origin of goods on the list.
These goods will be recorded using the ‘State Agricultural Register’ information and communication systems and the exporter’s online portal.
Following the parliamentary session, the Environment Committee was tasked with finalising the draft bill. To this end, all amendments and proposals must be taken into account. These may be submitted by those with the right to initiate legislation by 30 September.
As a reminder, on 15 September, parliament approved a law that more clearly defines responsibilities in the water supply and wastewater sectors. In particular, this concerns the powers to determine methods for calculating tariffs or to deviate from water quality standards.
Environmental activists have reported that local communities want to secure changes to forestry legislation, which currently forces them to manage naturally reforested areas or transfer them to specialist users.
