OREANDA-NEWS. November 09, 2012. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the draft Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine" regarding rates of excise tax on substances used as components of motor fuels, at its meeting.

The bill was drafted by the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine to prevent producing by some business entities of counterfeit motor fuels with the addition of carboniferous benzene and technical methanol (methyl alcohol), as well as in order to increase state budget revenues.

It is proposed to include carboniferous benzene and a technical methanol (methyl alcohol) in excise goods.

The adoption of this bill enables to establish state control over sales of crude carboniferous benzene and methanol, to stop business by producing of counterfeit motor fuels with the addition of benzene and methanol and lead to an increase in state budget revenues.

It should be noted that according to statistics, during 2011, in Ukraine, there have been produced approximately 160 tons of crude carboniferous benzene. Meanwhile, just only about 34 tons benzene aim for organic synthesis products (chemical industry).

Thus, almost 125 tons of benzene was also directed for the production of counterfeit motor fuels. It should be noted that concentration of benzene is higher than it provided by state standards for motor fuels, leads to a significant increase environmental pollution while working internal combustion engines and is a threat to health and life.

Also in the production of counterfeit motor fuels, by some business entities, there is being used technical (methyl alcohol), which is very poisonous substance, as a methanol component in those motor fuels. High concentration of methanol in technical motor fuels causes environmental pollution and poses a threat to health and life.