Those engaged in the illegal export of anti-epidemic goods will be criminally liable. At its meeting on March 25, the Government approved amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine on the criminalization of transport of anti-epidemic goods across the customs border of Ukraine.

The Criminal Code is supplemented by Article 2012 on transport across the customs border of Ukraine outside the customs control or with the concealment from the customs control of anti-epidemic goods, the export of which is subject to licensing. The list of anti-epidemic goods the export of which is subject to licensing is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

The amendments provide for a fine of between 8,000 and 20,000 non-taxable minimum incomes, or imprisonment for up to three years for the illegal export of such goods in significant amounts (if their value exceeds the taxable minimum by 200 times or more).

Apart from that, there will be punished by a fine from 20,000 to 25,000 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens or imprisonment from 3 to 6 years the person who commits repetitive violations, groups of persons by prior conspiracy, officials using their official position, previously convicted of a crime under Article 2012. Similar punishment will be imposed on persons for transporting large amounts of goods, the cost of which exceeds the taxable minimum of citizens' incomes more than 800 times or more.

“This is a necessary step to secure the domestic market's anti-epidemic supplies. We hope that the Verkhovna Rada will support our initiative in the near future,” commented the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.