Sales of tobacco products in duty-free shops per receipt have fallen by 87 per cent in Ukraine from October 2023 to March 2024 compared to the same periods in 2022 and 2023, reports Interfax.
The number of tobacco products per receipt fell from 15 to two packs, resulting in a 91 per cent drop in sales volume from 9.6 million to 847,200 packs, according to the Ukrainian State Customs Service.
There are currently 39 duty-free shops registered in Ukraine, 14 of which are operating, while 25 shops are not operating, the service said.
As reported, the law amending the Ukrainian Customs Code and other Ukrainian laws on combating illicit trade in tobacco products came into force on 1 October 2023. In particular, the law establishes the amount of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages sold to one person within a 24-hour period and provides for administrative liability for exceeding these limits.
According to the law, the sale of tobacco products in duty-free shops to one person in a quantity of more than 50 cigarettes or ten cigars or 20 cigarillos (with a unit weight of no more than three grams) or 50 grams of tobacco or these products in a set with a total weight of more than 50 grams is prohibited for a period of 24 hours until the termination or lifting of martial law in Ukraine.