Companies@UA: База компаний Украины

Kyiv, August 4 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine's Economy Ministry as of August 4, 2009, started the registration of applications for licenses for the import of sugar cane under a 260,000-tonne quota.

The announcement has been posted on the ministry's official Web site. The applications are being registered in coordination with the Agriculture Ministry.

The Economy Ministry earlier announced it would start accepting applications for sugar cane import licenses as of April 2, 2009. However, this was postponed for an indefinite period.

As reported, Ukraine has agreed to World Trade Organization requirements that it introduce a quota for the annual import of 260,000 tonnes of sugar cane on preferential terms.

In November 2008, Ukraine's government approved the distribution of the quota, having allocated 80% of the 2009 quota to the countries that supplied that product onto the Ukrainian market in 2001, 2003 and 2004, while 20% was allocated to new supplying countries.

The Ukrtsukor association of sugar producers, which unites Ukrainian sugar refineries has urged the government to postpone until January 1, 2012, the introduction of the quota by Ukraine, saying that this may trigger the closure of many Ukrainian refineries.