The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, has adopted bill No. 2240 to regulate amber production, which provides for the introduction of standard licenses for exploration with the right to produce amber for a period of five years on plots of up to 10 hectares through ProZorro electronic auctions.
This decision was supported by 279 MPs with the required minimum being 226 votes.
According to the bill, access to amber deposits will be regulated by establishing the right of land easements and allocating separate Article 971 of the Land Code for exploration and mining on disturbed lands.
In addition, the bill introduces criminal liability for illegal mining and administrative liability for violation of mining requirements. It also toughens liability for non-compliance with land reclamation requirements and the obligation to compensate for losses incurred.
