EBA Retail Committee discusses de-shadowing with the Business Ombudsman Council

07/ 05/ 2026

The Retail Trade Committee of the European Business Association held a meeting with Yuliia Andrusiv, Deputy Business Ombudsman, during which participants discussed the importance of de-shadowing the retail market. The Association consistently advocates for the establishment of equal, transparent, and competitive conditions for doing business, including in the retail sector. At the same time, according to business estimates and analytical studies, the shadow economy remains one of the most significant systemic challenges, negatively affecting legitimate businesses, public finances, and consumers who purchase substandard goods, often counterfeit, without proper documentation. According to various estimates, the scale of the shadow economy remains substantial, with annual losses to the state budget reaching up to UAH 400–450 billion. This situation is accompanied by a range of systemic violations in the retail sector, including: unofficial payment of wages, failure to use cash registers (RRO/PRRO) in retail operations and non-issuance of fiscal receipts to consumers, fragmentation of retail networks into separate entities operating through individual entrepreneurs (FOPs), as well as the sale of grey imports, counterfeit goods, and smuggled products in retail chains. For her part, Yuliia Andrusiv presented the mission of the Business Ombudsman Council, the complaint review process, and the recommendations the Council provides to the government on addressing systemic issues, including those related to de-shadowing. As a result of the meeting, participants agreed to establish cooperation between the Committee and the Business Ombudsman Council in order to develop further joint steps to combat the shadow economy.

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The Association consistently advocates for the establishment of equal, transparent, and competitive conditions for doing business, including in the retail sector. At the same time, according to business estimates and analytical studies, the shadow economy remains one of the most significant systemic challenges, negatively affecting legitimate businesses, public finances, and consumers who purchase substandard goods, often counterfeit, without proper documentation. According to various estimates, the scale of the shadow economy remains substantial, with annual losses to the state budget reaching up to UAH 400–450 billion.

This situation is accompanied by a range of systemic violations in the retail sector, including: unofficial payment of wages, failure to use cash registers (RRO/PRRO) in retail operations and non-issuance of fiscal receipts to consumers, fragmentation of retail networks into separate entities operating through individual entrepreneurs (FOPs), as well as the sale of grey imports, counterfeit goods, and smuggled products in retail chains.

For her part, Yuliia Andrusiv presented the mission of the Business Ombudsman Council, the complaint review process, and the recommendations the Council provides to the government on addressing systemic issues, including those related to de-shadowing.

As a result of the meeting, participants agreed to establish cooperation between the Committee and the Business Ombudsman Council in order to develop further joint steps to combat the shadow economy.