The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has decided to postpone until January 1, 2020, the introduction of Euro-6 emission standards for imported or domestically produced cars when they are transported to Ukraine and undergo first state registration; this decision concerns new and used vehicles.

Respective bill No. 5624 on amendments to the Law of Ukraine on some issues of import of vehicles to Ukraine's customs territory and their registration was adopted as the basis by 243 lawmakers.

The author of the document, Robert Horvat, said that a new emission standard in the European Union is introduced every five years on the average, whereas Ukraine just made the Euro-5 standard effective from January 1, 2016 with Euro-6 being originally scheduled for January 1, 2018.

Horvat claimed that if Euro-6 had come into effect next year, it would have been virtually impossible for Ukrainian entities to import passenger cars, trucks, special vehicle, ambulances manufactured before 2015. This would entail a significant increase in prices of used cars with a simultaneous growth of production costs of cars and the price of new imported cars.

He also recalled that tax payments from imports of used cars in 2015 amounted to about UAH 3 billion.

Head of the Rada tax and customs police committee Nina Yuzhanina, in turn, added that the passed bill will let Ukrainians buy cheaper cars manufactured after 2010, paying a lower excise tax through the entire 2018.

In August 2016, Ukraine allowed imports of used cars (manufactured after 2010) at lower excise duty rates. This norm will be effective until August 2019.

"Today, the issue of buying used cars is sensitive, and 12 more months with lowered excise will be taken positively," she added.