The UK has decided to introduce a ban on importing Russian coal in August and on importing oil at the end of December, the UK government reported on Thursday.
“This amendment prohibits the import of oil and oil products, coal and coal products and gold as well as the acquisition, supply and delivery, directly or indirectly of these goods,” according to the clarifications published on Thursday.
It also prohibits the provision of technical assistance, financial services and funds and brokering services relating to these goods.
“The prohibition on the import of gold entered into force on 21 July, the prohibition on the import of coal will take effect on 10 August 2022 and the prohibition on the import of oil will take effect on 31 December 2022,” the UK government said.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in April reported that the country would refuse to import Russian coal and oil during 2022, and then gas to the extent possible.
“By the end of 2022, the UK will end all dependency on Russian coal and oil, and end imports of gas as soon as possible thereafter,” the FCDO said.
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From Monday, July 11, 2022, the norms of the anti-tobacco law 1978-IX come into force in Ukraine, providing for a ban on smoking tobacco products for heating (TIEN) in places specified by law along with cigarettes, hookahs and e-cigarettes (smoking of which prohibited since 2012).
As reported on the website of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the law also prohibits “smoking rooms” in the premises of enterprises of all forms of ownership and empowers local governments to establish additional smoking-free places.
“Thanks to the broad public support for anti-tobacco measures in Ukraine, there is a high level of compliance with smoke-free legislation. The State Food and Consumer Service is ready to respond to consumer complaints about cases of smoking or using tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, hookahs, and now devices for heating tobacco in prohibited places,” the agency quotes Yury Sakhno, his chief specialist of the Department for Control over Advertising and Compliance with Anti-Smoking Legislation.
The State Food and Consumer Service clarified that a complaint about smoking in a place prohibited by law can be filed through the official web portal of the department, including from a mobile phone. Smoking in places prohibited by law is the responsibility of both smokers-violators and business entities in the premises or on whose territory the offense is committed.
In turn, the head of the parliamentary committee of the nation’s health, medical care and medical insurance, Mikhail Radutsky, said in Telegram that for violating the ban for a citizen, the law that comes into force provides for a fine of UAH 51-350, for public catering establishments – UAH 3-15 thousand.
The law also provides for a ban on the sale of tobacco products, items related to their use, herbal products for smoking, electronic cigarettes, refill containers, devices for consuming tobacco products without burning them to persons under 18 years of age. Increased fines for selling tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and liquids to minors.
Radutsky noted that the adopted law brings Ukraine closer to European legislation. “We comply with the requirements of Directive 2014/40/EU and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Accordingly, the law is another step towards European integration. heating (80% of respondents) and the sale of devices for heating tobacco and electronic cigarettes to minors (92%),” he wrote.
At the same time, according to the head of the committee, the study shows that compared to 2020, in 2022 the number of daily smokers in Ukraine increased from 23.1% to 28.3%. “The main reason is the war. Those who quit many years ago start smoking. At present, we can only perceive this as an unfortunate fact. But I hope that in the future it will be possible to reverse the negative trend, encourage people to find other tools to neutralize negative emotions and stress,” – added Radutsky.
The quota for the export of mineral or chemical fertilizers, nitrogen (UKTVED code 3102) has been reduced from 210,000 tons per quarter to zero, that is, in fact, a ban on the export of these goods from the country has been reintroduced.
The corresponding resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 759 of July 1 was published on its website on Thursday.
Earlier, immediately after the government meeting on July 1, its representative in parliament, Taras Melnichuk, said that nitrogen mineral fertilizers were excluded, along with oats, from the list of goods whose exports are subject to quotas, and are included in the list of goods whose exports are subject to licensing.
However, the published decree regarding oats confirmed this information, but refuted it regarding mineral fertilizers and actually tightened exports, and did not liberalize it.
As reported, nitrogen fertilizers were banned for export at the beginning of March, but at the end of March the government allowed their export within the quarterly quota of 210,000 tons, or 70,000 tons per month.
Ukraine has abandoned the March 5 ban on the export of live cattle (UKTVED code 0102), frozen cattle meat (code 0202) and meat and edible meat by-products, salted or in brine, dried or smoked; edible flour from meat or meat by-products: cattle meat (code 021020).
According to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 422 of April 9, published on its website on Sunday night, licensing of the export of these goods was introduced instead of zero quotas.
The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Tuesday proposals for new sanctions of the EU’s fifth package against Russia.
“The ban on coal imports from Russia worth 4 billion euros per year, which cuts another important source of income for Russia. A complete ban on transactions with four key Russian banks, including VTB, the second largest Russian bank,” the report said. statement of the head of the EC, published on Twitter.
BAN, BANKS, EU, IMPORT, RUSSIAN COAL, SANCTIONS, TRANSACTIONS
U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday a ban on the import of Russian oil into the United States. In a press statement in Washington on Tuesday, he stated: “Today I am announcing new sanctions. We ban all oil imports. The measure has strong bipartisan support. We made this decision in close consultation with allies in Europe.”
At the same time, Biden noted that “our European allies may not be in a position to join us.”
The U.S. President called on Congress to pass a $12 billion aid package for Ukraine. He noted that the United States has already provided Ukraine with a $1 billion security assistance package and is coordinating actions in this area with European allies.
Speaking about the impact of sanctions on Russia, Biden noted that “the Russian economy has cracked.” “The Central Bank of Russia is trying to support the ruble, but cannot do it now. We are restricting Russians’ access to technology, which will weaken its military for many years to come.” “If we don’t confront Putin now, the situation will get even worse,” he said.
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