KIEV, July 20 – The Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry has suspended issuing permits to explore and produce amber, and the ministry will only resume issuing permits after a law which regulates amber production in Ukraine is passed.

The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the ministry's commission for issuing permits to use deposits held on July 17.

"There is no transparent scheme for issuing permits now, and cabinet resolution No. 615 is in effect that permits providing fields for exploration without holding an auction. There is no legal production and there is no one to punish [for infringements in amber production]," Deputy Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Svitlana Kolomiyets said at a press conference in Kiev on July 17.