Everything You Need to Know About the Legality of Christmas Tree Sales

The winter holiday season is still ongoing, and unfortunately, illegal trade in Christmas trees continues to exist. Many Ukrainians are unaware of how to verify the legality of a seller's activities. Therefore, we remind those planning to buy a Christmas tree or simply wanting to participate in checking the legality of tree sales to follow these simple rules.

How to Verify the Official Status of a Christmas Market?

It is advisable to purchase live Christmas trees only at official markets that meet specific requirements usually established by local authorities. These requirements include:

1. All Christmas trees (whether it be spruce, pine, or fir) must be chipped or labeled with a barcode.

2. The location should provide information about the selling entity and its operating hours.

3. There should be a measuring scale available for determining the size of the Christmas tree, along with publicly displayed price per meter.

4. The seller must have a goods transport bill confirming the legality of the tree's origin.

If these documents are absent, both the seller of illegal trees and their purchasers may be fined.

How Can Citizens Verify the Legality of Christmas Trees Sold in Markets?

The legality of a Christmas tree can be verified through marking. Each tree should have a self-adhesive label or plastic tag made of special paper that tears upon removal, preventing reuse. Such labels contain an individual number and barcode registered in the Electronic Wood Accounting System. The label also includes information about the supplier, ownership form, harvest location, the name of the logging company, and its subordination.

To verify the legality of a Christmas tree, simply enter the number from the label/tag 

• on the website http://www.ukrforest.com or use 

• the app developed by the State Agency for Forest Resources of Ukraine, available at https://www.yalynka.info/.

If the information is not available on these websites, it may indicate questionable tree origins.

What Penalties Are Imposed for Selling Illegally Sourced Christmas Trees?

For each illegally cut tree, fines are imposed and losses are recovered. According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine's Resolution from July 23, 2008, No. 665 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/665-2008-%D0%BF#Text), the determination of damages varies depending on the tree's trunk diameter:

- For trees with a diameter up to 10 cm, a fine of 545 UAH (approximately 21 USD) must be paid.

- For trees with a diameter of 10 to 14 cm, the fine is 960 UAH (approximately 37 USD).

- For trees with a diameter of 14 cm or more, the fine is 2465 UAH (approximately 95 USD).

According to Article 65 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, illegal logging, damaging, and destruction of forest crops and young trees are subject to administrative fines:

- For individuals, fines range from 510 to 1,020 UAH (approximately 20 to 40 USD) or 30 to 60 non-taxable minimum incomes.

- For officials, fines range from 2,550 to 5,100 UAH (approximately 98 to 197 USD) or 150 to 300 non-taxable minimum incomes.

When Does Criminal Liability Arise for Illegally Sourced Christmas Trees?

Criminal liability for the sale of illegally sourced Christmas trees arises under the provisions of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine when the losses from such sales exceed twenty times the non-taxable minimum income (i.e., 22,700 UAH or approximately 875 USD) or more.

The facts of abuse or detection of violations must be reported to the territorial bodies of the National Police and the State Forestry Agency via Telegram @ukrforest_bot.