Ukrtiutiun, the association of cigarette producers, has said the main task in battling bootleg cigarettes is to make smuggling the product a crime.

"The main task in the battle against the illegal cigarette market should be the introduction of criminal liability for smuggling large amounts of cigarettes. An administrative fine plus confiscation of the smuggled cigarettes and means of their transportation does not pose enough a risk to smugglers. High profits from smuggling cover the costs. Harsh criminal penalties are needed," Ukrtiutiun General Director Valentyna Khomenko said.

She said most of the European Union countries, namely, Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania, treat tobacco smuggling as a criminal offense.

"The Ukrainian parliament is considering bill No. 3227, which foresees criminal liability for the smuggling of excisable goods on an especially large scale (the value of which exceeds the non-taxable minimum of citizens' incomes by a factor of one thousand or more.) The committee recommends that it be adopted in first reading," she said.

In her words, changes introduced to legislation in November 2016 which obliges requisite law-enforcement agencies to invite cigarette importers and association members to witness destruction of seized contraband are implemented with violations.

She said Ukrtiutiun seeks full compliance with existing legislation regarding contraband destruction.

"We want to be sure that confiscation of illegal [cigarette] products will not return to the market after it is 'destroyed' on paper," Khomenko said.