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.
BAN, BIDEN, IMPORT, RUSSIAN OIL, US
On February 18, Ukraine imposed a ban on the import of poultry meat and by-products from the United States after an outbreak of avian flu on a turkey farm in Indiana on February 10.
As reported on the website of the Public Health Center (PHC), the ban applies to the import of hatching eggs, birds, products from it (with the exception of products that have been processed by a method that guarantees the destruction of the causative agent of the specified disease), feed, as well as by-products of the poultry industry.
According to the State Customs Service, in 2021 Ukraine imported $122,000 worth of poultry meat and offal from the United States, becoming Ukraine’s 15th trading partner in terms of imports, while Poland ($40.6 million) and Hungary became the largest ($10.3 million).
Avian influenza is an acute infectious viral disease of birds, characterized by damage to the digestive and respiratory organs and high mortality. Influenza affects birds of any age, and the mortality rate for the disease reaches 80-100%.
The Verkhovna Rada intends to prohibit the use of hydrogenated palm oil in the production of food products, mostly consumed by children, to regulate the use of trans fatty acids in them, as well as to establish labeling requirements for foods containing palm oil and fines for their sale. Corresponding bill No. 5148 on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine concerning improving the quality of food products eaten by children was supported at first reading by 304 MPs with the required 226 votes.
According to an explanatory note to the document, it is proposed to ban the use of palm oil in traditional dairy products, as well as hydrogenated palm oil and other hydrogenated vegetable fats in baby food and confectionery.
In addition, the bill prohibits the production and circulation of food products in which the content of trans fatty acids exceeds 2 grams per 100 grams of the total amount of fat in the food product.
The explanatory note states that the sale of food products containing the above substances and ingredients entails the imposition of a fine on legal entities in the amount of 40 minimum wages (currently the minimum wage is UAH 6,000), on individual entrepreneurs – in the amount of 25 minimum wages.
The document also establishes the labeling of products containing palm oil, which, if the bill enters into force, will have to be marked with the easily visible phrase “Contains palm oil” next to the name of the product.
The adoption of a bill on public health protection from tobacco exposure alone with earlier rejected and repeatedly submitted proposals for the second reading, such as a ban on the display of tobacco products at sales outlets, would increase counterfeiting, the European Business Association (EBA) has said on its website.
The association said that on July 13, 2021, at the sitting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee, it was unanimously decided to recommend the wording of bill No. 4358 on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine on public health protection from tobacco exposure of November 10, 2020, for adoption at the first and final reading by Verkhovna Rada. The EBA has repeatedly submitted proposals for bill No. 4358 and the comments were partially taken into account.
“According to the information received in the working order, some MPs-initiators of the amendments to bill No. 4358, which had been rejected by the Verkhovna Rada Committee, announced their intention to initiate discussion of such amendments during the voting of bill No. 4358 in the second reading,” the association said.
These include amendments on banning the display of tobacco products at sales outlets, as well as amendments on introducing a standardized pack for cigarettes.
“Business urges MPs to implement the requirements of Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 without excessive regulatory burden,” the EBA said.
The Verkhovna Rada intends to amend the law on the protection of public morals regarding the protection of the rights and interests of children.
A total of 343 MPs voted for the corresponding bill No. 5330-1 at the first reading.
The bill, in particular, proposes to prohibit creation and distribution of photos and/or videos of sexual or erotic images of children (the current law prohibits the use of images of children in any form only in products of a sexual or erotic nature).
According to the bill, products of a sexual or erotic nature can be distributed only if they are not available to children and are not imposed on consumers.
The Verkhovna Rada supported at first reading the amendments to Article 22 of the Law on advertising regarding the expansion of the law to electronic cigarettes and liquids used in them.
Some 284 MPs backed bill No. 4212, with the minimum required votes of 226.
The document provides for a ban on advertising of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, liquids used in electronic cigarettes, advertising marks for goods and services, other objects of intellectual property rights, under which tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and liquids used in electronic cigarettes are produced.
The bill prohibits the placement on any other goods of images of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, liquids used in electronic cigarettes, marks for goods and services under which tobacco products are produced (such as lighters and ashtrays).
It is also prohibited to sponsor television, radio, theater and concert, sports and other events using marks for goods and services, other objects of intellectual property rights, under which tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, liquids used in electronic cigarettes are produced.
According to the document, advertisements for electronic cigarettes and e-liquids should not contain images of popular people or approval of smoking or use of electronic cigarettes. Also, advertising should not give the impression that most people smoke or use electronic cigarettes.
According to an explanatory note to the bill, the ban on advertising of electronic cigarettes and the liquids used in them is aimed at preserving the health of the nation. The document is aimed at reducing the use of electronic cigarettes and the liquids used in them.
