Association “UKRLEGPROM” to initiated embargo for Russian and Belarussian leather goods.

13/04/2022

As you know, Ukraine is facing many extraordinary challenges because of the unprovoked Russian invasion, which started on 24 February 2022.

The Ukrainian Association of Textile & Leather Industry Enterprises “Ukrlegprom” was created in 2000. It brings together more than 270 leading producers of the country. The Association represents all relevant industries: advanced enterprises of garment manufacturing, textile production and knitting, hosiery production, wool production, fur production, production of leather, footwear and accessories. Some of our members could be found here: https://ukrlegprom.org/ua/our-members/.

From the first days of the full-scaled military aggression of the Russian Federation, the Ukrlegprom Association has been working with the Government and manufacturers. For more than six weeks we have been proposing relevant government decisions to ensure proper processing of critical imported raw materials, working on production of necessary goods for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, etc.

Unfortunately, due to incessant shelling by the Russian aggressor, many companies have already been lost and destroyed, some have been partially damaged. Other companies are trying to move production facilities to new locations, to evacuate their specialists and to continue our critical work in these arduous times.

There are many textile & leather industry enterprises are all over Ukraine. Our manufacturers have actively responded to the challenges and selflessly joined the process of meeting the priority needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense units.

Naturally, different kinds of innovative equipment, raw materials, chemicals for the textile, non-woven, knitting, safety, apparel, leather and footwear production, Ukrainian producers are buying from European countries.

Government decisions have been made to better provide the production process with critical imported raw materials – primarily raw materials for the production of products to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including leather raw materials for the manufacturing of combat boots for the Army.        As we know, the Russian Federation and Belarus also import from EU countries and the UK necessary equipment, raw materials and chemicals for production of leather and shoes. The same way they make export of produced goods to European countries.        We can see from our own experience that the presence of a comfortable military uniform and footwear significantly increases the combat superiority over the enemy. After all, we have evidenced many cases of Russian soldiers taking possession of uniforms, shoes and even underwear of Ukrainian combatants because of their high quality and ergonomic.

That’s why in order to block the supply of raw material, chemical materials, and equipment for the production of leather and footwear components to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, which is related to the supply of the army of the Russian Federation, WE CALL ON YOUR ORGANIZATIONS:

Leather Working Group

British Footwear Association

British Safety Industry Federation

European Footwear Confederation

European Safety Federation

  1.  To block supply to Russia and Belarus of the next commodities: Dyes. Chemical materials, Accessories. Equipment.
  2. To include to the sanctions lists the enterprises of raw materials, semi-finished and finished leather.
  3. To deprive Russian and Belarussian leather production of international certificates, such as one of the international Leather Working Group.Because of this certification, the tanneries of the Russian Federation continue to export their semi-finished leather products to Turkey and then to Europe, China and India.Revoking these certificates will reduce exports of the leather industry of Russia and Belarus!Why should you do it? Because LWG-certified tanneries are now producing leather for the Russian army, which is killing the civilian population of Ukraine! We should not forget that a part of this certification is related to the social responsibility.

We urge you to promote the immediate implementation of these much-needed steps to #StopTheRussianAgression!

 

#StandwithUkraine

#StopSupplyforRussianArmy