Representatives of the largest tobacco companies met with the leadership of Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.
So, members of the Ukrtiutiun Association, VAT Pryluky, Imperial Tobacco Ukraine, Philip Morris Ukraine and JT International Company Ukraine arrived in Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated March 20, 2019, No. 172-p, according to which Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine was designated as the main state expert institution responsible for forensic examinations on the authenticity of tobacco products and identification the equipment on which it is made.
The relevant decision was made as part of the implementation of the “Strategy in the field of combating the illegal production and trafficking of tobacco products for the period up to 2021”. The provisions of the document are aimed at eliminating the illicit trade in cigarettes and other tobacco products, their illegal production and counterfeiting.
According to Oleksandr Ruvin, the Director of Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, the problem of counterfeit manufacture of tobacco products is extremely relevant for Ukraine and requires an immediate solution. Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise actually has a complete set of equipment (in particular, a special hardware complex for determining the characteristics of tobacco and its origin), which allows quickly and fully explore both tobacco products and its packaging materials. The cooperation of experts with companies that produce tobacco products will allow solving problems more promptly.
Representatives of tobacco corporations during the conversation noted that they are making every effort to combat smuggled products on the ground, but local efforts are not enough. Coordination of activities at the state level, cooperation with forensic experts will make a significant step forward in this direction.
