The European Union has expanded the package of sanctions against Russia to include trade in paper, cardboard and pulp. Depending on the grade of paper, the ban may apply to imports or exports.
The regulation, which entered into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 8, 2022, contains some exceptions, such as trade contracts signed before April 9, 2022.
According to the official announcement of amendments to Regulation No. 833/2014 on restrictive measures in connection with Russia's actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, the Council of the European Union adopted Decision 2022/578 of April 8, 2022 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP.
Article 3i prohibits the importation of goods listed in Annex XXI. This applies to goods of heading 4804, comprising uncoated kraft paper and paperboard in rolls or sheets, other than those of headings 4802 and 4803. This also applies to goods of heading 4705, namely wood pulp obtained by a combination of mechanical and chemical pulping processes. cellulose (CTMP). The import of Russian newsprint is not regulated by the changes.
At the same time, according to Article 3k, EU producers are prohibited from exporting to Russia grades of paper and paperboard listed in Annex XXIII. This provision applies to goods in categories 4802, 4804-4811, 4814, 4819, 4822, and 4823. These include kraft paper and paperboard, testliner, filter paper, specialty paper, and printing and writing paper such as LWC. .
The ban also applies to the export of cardboard and folding cartons, waste paper (4707 10, 4707 30) and chemical pulp (4701, 4703-4706).Export of soluble cellulose is not affected.
