KIEV, April 21 – A decision of the State Customs Service to classify TS-1 jet fuel imported to Ukraine as "light distillate – particular gasoline" is causing a crisis in the supply of resources to the market, a jump in the prices of fuel and a sharp increase in the prices of air tickets, reads a letter of Kiev-based TNK-BP Commerce sent to State Customs Service head Ihor Kaletnik, a copy of which has been forwarded to Interfax-Ukraine.

The company said that on April 3, 2012, the customs payment department of the Eastern Customs Service made decisions Nos. KT-700-0234-2012 and KT-700-0235-2012, which changed the classification of TS-1 jet fuel imported to Ukraine from "TS-1 Jet fuel and RT" (codes 2710117000 and 2710192100) to "Light distillate – particular gasoline: TS-1 Jet Fuel" (code 2710112500).

The new classification of fuel caused a rise in the excise duty on imported fuel from the previous EUR 30 per ton to EUR 198 per ton, although the quality and production technology of fuel supplied did not change.