Agreements and permitting regulation in the field of amber production

Abstract

The article analyzes the contracts and licensing regulations in the field of amber mining. It is noted that Ukraine from the first years of independence began to develop local amber deposits and immediately encountered problems similar to those of amber plants in Russia and Poland: lack of protection of natural resources from looting and destruction, theft at all stages of exploration. exploration work, illegal amber mining and trafficking, illegal fishing by miners (diggers), etc. Ukraine ranks second in the world in terms of amber deposits, which also has the world's highest percentage of amber jewelry quality. It is determined that the problem of illegal amber mining has become especially relevant, as cases and volumes of such amber production have grown significantly. The issue of illegal amber mining and smuggling is also widely discussed in the media, as journalistic investigations often show that officials and high-ranking officials play a significant role in sustaining and benefiting from this shadow business, although these rumors are not officially confirmed. It is concluded that in modern conditions the issue of permitting regulation of legal amber mining and punishment of subjects of its illegal mining is on the agenda. Significant progress in permitting regulation was the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in December 2019 of the Law of Ukraine «On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Settlement of Amber Mining» № 2240, which amended the Subsoil Code of Ukraine, which introduced a new species subsoil use «geological study of amber subsoil, including experimental and industrial development of deposits with subsequent extraction of amber (industrial development of deposits»), as well as the presence of a mandatory permit for special subsoil use for subjects of amber subsoil use. Keywords: amber, subsoil, contract, permit, illegal mining, auction, permit regulation, subsoil use