From 28 March 2009, mobile phone imports require permits from the National Commission for Communications Regulation.
The change is intended to suppress ‘grey’ imports and involves permits being granted by a special authority, the Ukrainian State Centre of Radio-Frequencies, operating under NCCR supervision.
There is a special regime for imports of mobile handsets:
- authorised handset imports (those using Incoterms DDU or CIP) require a permit for both manufacturer and importer if imported on CIP terms and only a manufacturer’s permit if imported on DDP terms
- authorised handset imports (unless exempted) receive a special protection mark from the manufacturer before shipment
- unauthorised handset imports (those using any method other than DDU or CIP) do not have to be marked but still require a permit for manufacturer
- consignments supplied to Ukraine must be notified to USCR within 10 working days (by the manufacturer if on DDP terms and by the importer if on CIP terms)
- USCR will create a registry of all mobile handset importers, based on notifications received from the manufacturers
- USCR also intends to create a unified IMEI database by requiring importers and manufacturers to provide it with the unique identity number of each imported handset. Access to the IMEI database will be limited to interested parties such as mobile operators, manufacturers, official importers and law enforcement bodies
More general permit requirements apply to the import (including by post or courier) by anyone of radio-electronic facilities or emissive devices (unless specifically exempted) for use in Ukraine on mainstream radio frequencies (or for use in advertising or as a demonstration model).
Importers seeking permits must apply to the USCR in the prescribed manner (with accompanying documents). Assuming the application is in order, the permit for up to 6 months will be granted within five working days.
