"Illegal Christmas Tree 2025": Eco-inspectors found 142 violations.

Starting from late November 2024, the State Environmental Inspection has intensified efforts to preserve coniferous plantings during their harvesting and sales in the pre-New Year period. Special groups have been established, consisting of representatives from the State Environmental Inspection, the National Police, and local government bodies.

The State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine regularly conducts raids to monitor the transportation, harvesting, and sale of coniferous plantings, aiming to prevent illegal logging. Measures to identify offenders will take place at locations where New Year trees are sold.

This year, the State Environmental Inspection has already identified 142 violations. Among these are 24 cases of unauthorized logging, 11 related to harvesting procedures, and 107 violations at sales locations.

As a result of these activities, 137 reports have been filed, 97 of which have been forwarded to judicial authorities, and 40 individuals have been held administratively accountable.

We remind you that Christmas trees can be purchased only from specialized sales locations.

It should be noted that entrepreneurs involved in the transportation and sale of New Year trees must carry a waybill from the forestry, a goods transport waybill, a radiation inspection certificate for the trees, and a trading permit with an official stamp. Additionally, each tree must be equipped with an electronic chip.

Where to Buy a New Year Tree?

You can find all contacts and locations on the Facebook page and the website of the State Enterprise " Forests of Ukraine "

How to Determine if a Tree is Legal?

Each tree comes with a special tag containing a barcode, which provides information about the harvesting location, the logging company, and its authority.

This information can be verified in just a few seconds through the website.

It is important to note that illegal logging of coniferous trees incurs fines ranging from 510 to 5100 UAH (according to Article 65 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses).

Additionally, illegal logging of green plantings within forest areas carries criminal liability (Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Illegal logging or illegal transportation, storage, sale of timber”), punishable by fines ranging from 17000 to 25500 UAH or imprisonment for up to six months.