July 15 2003, 12:08 APK-Inform

Duty-free grain imports to Ukraine to be in effect till Dec. 31, 2003

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Agriculture Ivan Kyrylenko told representatives of regional authorities at a radio conference that, according to the third version of the draft law about amendments to the law of Ukraine about state regulation of imports of agricultural products, imports of wheat and rye (food and feed grain) to Ukraine at zero rate of customs duty would be effective till December 31, 2003.

He said the document envisaged no licensing, quoting and limitation of imports. He recommended the governors of oblasts to take the issue under their personal control. They ought to concentrate money and credit resources for the purpose, to determine the companies, which will provide the imports, and to work under the scheme of direct supplies. According to Kyrylenko, such a scheme would not allow for re-sales and wash-outs of money.

On July 9 Verkhovna Rada (Parliament of Ukraine) adopted the bill "About Amendments to Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine "About State Regulation of Imports of Agricultural Products". The document was modified 3 times. According to the second version, the duty-free grain imports were supposed to be in effect till November 1 this year. However, the day before (on July 8) a group of People's Deputies submitted the third version of the bill, envisaging grain imports at zero duty rate till December 31. This was the version of the bill that Verkhovna Rada voted for on July 9.

The bill must be signed by the President into the law or returned to Verkhovna Rada within two weeks since the date of voting.