Within the framework of the “Clean Air for Ukraine” project, changes in legislation are being closely monitored. The public organization “Stop poisoning Kryvyi Rih” continues to be an active non-governmental organization in the regions providing information about updates, comments, and suggestions on relevant legislative acts and materials for press releases.
On September 1, 2020 the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada was issued, which approved the agenda of the fourth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 9th convocation, which lasts from August 2020 up to January 2021. This resolution contains a list of questions prepared for consideration during plenary sessions, including some issues that require additional preparation and refinement.
SPKR (“Stop poisoning Kryvyi Rih”) has studied the agenda and is informing colleagues about environmental bills that have already entered the session hall, or the ones that should be expected there in the near future.
During the plenary sessions it is planned to consider, in particular: the draft law on the restriction of the circulation of plastic bags on the territory of Ukraine; the draft law on amendments to the law of Ukraine “On Atmospheric Air Protection” regarding the obligations of enterprises, institutions, organizations, and citizens — business entities that emit pollutants into the atmosphere; the draft law on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine concerning the implementation of European principles of the modernization of Ukrainian industry; the draft law on electrical and electronic equipment waste; the draft law on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine concerning the protection of aquatic bio-resources and their habitats; the draft law on batteries and accumulators, etc.
However, there are a number of bills that were not included into the agenda of the fourth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 9th convocation on the basis of the Verkhovna Rada’s decision. Here are some of them:
– the draft law on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine on improving the state regulations in the spheres of pesticides and agrochemical management — amendments are envisaged to the laws of Ukraine: “On pesticides and agrochemicals”, “On insurance”, and “On licensing of certain types of economic activities subject to licensing”;
– the draft law on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine (concerning the protection of fauna and flora under international agreements) — it is proposed to improve measures to strengthen the protection of fauna and flora, according to international environmental agreements, which will help bring the Ukrainian legislation in line with international agreements on the protection of fauna and flora, and to strengthen the protection of areas and subjects of the nature reserves as well;
– the draft law on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine on the prevention of adverse effects of air pollution on the health of population, with the purpose being to reduce the level of air pollution and the noise levels in the cities of Ukraine, prevent morbidity, reduce mortality rates, and increase life expectancy by the introduction of temporary restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles on the territory of cities whose population exceeds 250 thousand people;
– the draft law on amendments to certain legislative acts (concerning the preservation of soil fertility) – amendments are envisaged to Articles 52 and 53 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences and Articles 239 and 254 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which increases liability (increased fines) for damage and pollution of agricultural and other lands, violations of land usage rules, and the wasteful use of land;
– the draft law on amendments to the Code of Ukraine on administrative offences to improve the state of the environment — it is proposed to amend Article 77.1, “Unauthorized burning out of vegetation or its remaining balance” and Article 141, “Violation of the rules of protection of the right-of-way” of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences, giving the right to authorized officials of internal affairs bodies (the National Police), public inspectors for environmental protection, public forest inspectors, state inspectors of agriculture, departmental employees, rural fire protection bodies and members of voluntary fire brigades (teams), and fire-fighting associations of citizens to draw up protocols on relevant administrative offences (amendments to Article 255 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences). The right to consider cases of administrative offences under Article 77-1 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences is, according to the draft, additionally proposed to be provided to administrative commissions (amendments to Article 218 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences) and executive committees (executive bodies) of village, settlement, and city councils (amendments to Article 219 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences).
