Photo from UNIAN
Exporting all kinds of unprocessed timber from Ukraine has been banned from January 2017, BBC Ukrainian Service reports.
The law imposing a moratorium on the exports of unprocessed pine for the next 10 years, that is, until January 1, 2027, has entered into force on January 1, according to BBC.
Previously, from November 1, 2015, an export ban was introduced for the so-called "solid wood".
At the moment, only sawn timber is allowed for exports.
Read alsoEU explains position regarding lifting of moratorium on round timber exportThe authors of the bill, including former MP Mykola Tomenko, believe that the moratorium should facilitate the development of wood processing in Ukraine and prevent illegal deforestation.
However, banning exports of round timber was generally criticized by the European Union institutions.
Read alsoSatellite imagery reveal disastrous pace of deforestation in CarpathiansThe EU named lifting the moratorium a condition for granting Ukraine the next tranche of macro-financial assistance worth EUR 600 million.
President Petro Poroshenko earlier assured the European leaders that the moratorium would eventually be lifted.