Brands Update - May-June 2015

Upcoming criminal liability for smuggling of excise and counterfeit goods

On 14 May 2015, draft law No. 2840 (Draft Law) on establishing the criminal liability for smuggling of excise and counterfeit goods was registered with the Ukrainian Parliament. It is worth noting that in 2011 the smuggling of excisable goods was decriminalized. In its turn, the initiative to establish criminal liability for smuggling of counterfeit goods is new for Ukraine.

The Draft Law suggests that a smuggler will bear criminal liability for smuggling of counterfeit or excisable goods in large amounts. Within the context of the Draft Law the large amount means smuggling of counterfeit or excisable goods the value of which exceeds 250 minimum individual incomes, which is currently equal to about UAH 150K (about EUR 6,500).