Business supports the proposal of the Ministry of Digital Transformation to extend eExcise testing until 1 November 2026

11/ 09/ 2025

On 10 September, a meeting took place between the business community and Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation, to discuss the implementation of the eExcise system. Earlier, member companies of the European Business Association representing the tobacco, alcohol, and retail sectors submitted official letters and a public statement highlighting the system’s incomplete readiness and the insufficient time allocated for its full testing. During the meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry of Digital Transformation team responsible for introducing the system, participants were able to raise business concerns and call for a postponement of the eExcise launch by at least ten months. The business community recognises the challenges of developing such a system under the current difficult circumstances and expresses gratitude to the Ministry’s team and all those involved for their efforts to create a transparent and effective mechanism for monitoring the circulation of excisable products. However, for market operators, the opportunity to conduct comprehensive testing of the system is critically important. The meeting resulted in a fundamental agreement between business and the Ministry of Digital Transformation to extend the testing period until 1 November 2026, with all other legal deadlines linked to the postponed launch of eExcise correspondingly adjusted. Following these agreements, Mykhailo Fedorov is expected to send an official letter to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation, and Customs Policy by no later than 8 October of this year, requesting legislative amendments to extend the testing period and ensure the system’s launch on 1 November 2026. The EBA’s business community expresses its gratitude to Mykhailo Fedorov and the Ministry’s team for engaging in dialogue with business and for their understanding of the situation. Companies now expect the prompt initiation of the necessary legislative changes and the appropriate support of Members of Parliament.

Earlier, member companies of the European Business Association representing the tobacco, alcohol, and retail sectors submitted official letters and a public statement highlighting the system’s incomplete readiness and the insufficient time allocated for its full testing.

During the meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry of Digital Transformation team responsible for introducing the system, participants were able to raise business concerns and call for a postponement of the eExcise launch by at least ten months.

The business community recognises the challenges of developing such a system under the current difficult circumstances and expresses gratitude to the Ministry’s team and all those involved for their efforts to create a transparent and effective mechanism for monitoring the circulation of excisable products. However, for market operators, the opportunity to conduct comprehensive testing of the system is critically important.

The meeting resulted in a fundamental agreement between business and the Ministry of Digital Transformation to extend the testing period until 1 November 2026, with all other legal deadlines linked to the postponed launch of eExcise correspondingly adjusted.

Following these agreements, Mykhailo Fedorov is expected to send an official letter to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation, and Customs Policy by no later than 8 October of this year, requesting legislative amendments to extend the testing period and ensure the system’s launch on 1 November 2026.

The EBA’s business community expresses its gratitude to Mykhailo Fedorov and the Ministry’s team for engaging in dialogue with business and for their understanding of the situation. Companies now expect the prompt initiation of the necessary legislative changes and the appropriate support of Members of Parliament.