The Cabinet of Ministers has supported the submission to the Verkhovna Rada of a draft law on state regulation of genetic engineering activities and control over the circulation of products containing genetically modified organisms (GMO), this initiative is conducting a comprehensive review of the existing legislation in the field of handling GMO products, and also allows implementing EU regulations in force in the Ukrainian legislation.
The government made the corresponding decision without discussion at a meeting on August 4.
“Imperfect legal regulation of GMO handling makes it impossible to effectively control the circulation of GMO products and creates conditions for the illegal use of unregistered GMO products. Thus, state regulation in the field of GMO handling should be revised, modernized and brought in line with EU legislation,” an explanatory note to the document reads.
This bill provides for the delineation of powers of the authorities to eliminate duplication of functions in the field of GMO circulation, improvement of the system for assessing the risks of the impact of GMOs on human health and the environment, the introduction of European mechanisms for state registration and labeling of products with GMOs, strengthening state control in the sphere of handling GMOs.
The bill introduces a new type of permits – “permits for the import of unregistered GMOs for carrying out genetic engineering activities in a closed system” with a gradation of the levels of risks they create from 1 to 4.
It is assumed that this bill will regulate the creation, labeling and use of GMOs and genetically modified products, control of compliance with legislation in this industry. In addition, the document prohibits the circulation of food products containing GMOs (or produced with their use) prior to the state registration of the corresponding source of origin of GMOs.
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) in January-June 2021 received UAH 21.7 million in net profit against UAH 2.9 billion in losses for the same period in 2020, the company’s press service said.
According to its data, EBITDA was fixed at UAH 1.1 billion.
“Achieving positive financial dynamics became possible thanks to the balanced policy of the UIA management to optimize costs and adapt the business to long-term restrictions on air travel due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, an anti-crisis program was implemented to restructure costs, optimize staffing and minimize airline costs. This made it possible to cut UIA’s mandatory monthly operating expenses by almost three times,” the company said.
In addition, UIA added that in the context of limited flights after the spring lockdown of 2020, the company switched to flexible and short-term planning of the route network, taking into account the frequent situational changes in the rules of entry by foreign countries during 2020-2021.
As reported, UIA in 2020 posted a loss of UAH 4.5 billion.
The volume of exports of furniture and its parts in January-July 2021 increased by 70.5% compared to 2020 and amounted to $511.9 million, the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers has reported, citing data from the State Customs Service.
At the same time, furniture was exported to the countries of the European Union for $451.4 million, Asia – $9.8 million, the United States – $4.8 million.
The increase in furniture exports in January-June 2021 amounted to 82.2%, the association says.
Ukrainian Greco-Roman wrestler Zhan Beleniuk won the final bout in the up to 87 kg weight category at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and added the first gold medal to the Ukrainian team.
According to the official website of the Olympics, Beleniuk defeated Hungarian Viktor Lorincz with a score of 5:1.
This is the ninth medal in the overall standings of the Ukrainian team. The national team also has two silver medals and six bronze medals.
PJSC Energomashspetsstal (Donetsk region), owned by Russia’s Atomenergomash (Rosatom State Corporation), in January-July this year reduced steel production, according to recent data, by 20.5% compared to the same period last year, to 31,000 tonnes.
A source in the industry told Interfax-Ukraine that 2,000 tonnes of steel were produced in July.
As reported, Energomashspetsstal in 2020 increased steel production by 6.8% compared to the previous year, to 63,000 tonnes.
Energomashspetsstal is the largest Ukrainian manufacturer of special cast and forged products of individual and small-scale production for metallurgy, shipbuilding, energy (wind, steam, hydro, nuclear) and general mechanical engineering.
DONETSK, DONETSK REGION, ENERGOMASHSPETSSTAL, STEEL, STEEL PRODUCTION
Ferrexpo mining company with assets in Ukraine in January-June 2021 received $661.426 million in net profit, which is 2.65 times higher than in 2020 ($249.908 million).
According to the half year report of the company posted on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday, its revenue for the reporting period grew by 74.3%, to $1.353 billion from $775.831 million.
EBITDA jumped 2.47 times, to $868 million from $352 million in the first half of 2020.
Ferrexpo’s capital investment in the first half of this year was $142 million, up from $96 million in the first half of last year.
Interim dividends amounted to 39.6 cents per share (in the first half of 2020 they were 13.2 cents).
