Illegally gathering of spring primroses will be punished by fines

To preserve early-blooming plants, the State Environmental Inspectorate of the region enhances the measures to counter gathering and trade of rare plants.

Specialists of the State Environmental Inspectorate, together with representatives of the National Police, forest protection service and public environmental inspectors until May 25 will be conducting raids in places of gathering and sale of plants, transportation routes and at checkpoints on the state border.

The State Environmental Inspectorate warns: flowers listed in the Red Book of Ukraine are protected by law. Their destruction entails fines: for citizens – twenty to thirty non-taxable minimum incomes (340 – 510 UAH) with confiscation of illegally gathered flowers, and for officials – thirty to fifty non-taxable minimum incomes (510 – 850 UAH). The purchase, sale or distribution of such plants is punishable by a fine of thirty to one hundred non-taxable minimum incomes (510-1700 UAH). The same actions on the territories of nature reserve fund shall be punishable by a fine of fifteen hundred to two hundred non-taxable minimum incomes (1700-3655 UAH).