At the initiative of UNLA, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine clarified the classification of lobbying activities under the KVED
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association continues its systematic efforts aimed at establishing clear and predictable conditions for the professional activities of lobbyists.
As part of this effort, a representative of UNLA — Oleksandr Rudakov, a member of the Association’s Ethics Council and a lobbyist—contacted the State Statistics Service of Ukraine to request an official methodological clarification regarding the classification of lobbying activities under the Classification of Economic Activities (KVED).
The need for this appeal stemmed from practical issues faced by individual entrepreneurs and legal entities engaged in lobbying in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Lobbying.” In particular, the current Classification of Economic Activities does not contain a separate code whose name would directly refer to lobbying.
Following its review of the inquiry, the State Statistics Service reported that, in accordance with the Methodological Guidelines and Explanatory Notes to the KVED classifications, services involving the provision of consulting, management, and operational assistance—including lobbying—are classified under Class 70.21 “Public Relations Activities.”
Thus, the State Statistics Service has officially confirmed the methodological approach under which lobbying services, according to the current KVED-2010 classification, fall under class 70.21. This classification is also consistent with the European statistical methodology NACE Rev. 2.
This clarification is of significant practical importance to the professional community, as it establishes a more specific approach to specifying the type of economic activity carried out by individual entrepreneurs and legal entities that provide lobbying services.
At the same time, the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association emphasizes that the mere presence of KVED code 70.21 does not, in and of itself, grant an individual the status of a lobbying entity or the right to engage in lobbying activities. Acquiring such status, entering information into the Transparency Register, filing reports, and complying with other established requirements are carried out in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Lobbying.”
The State Statistics Service also noted that KVED-2010 is a statistical classification and does not constitute a regulatory act. It is used to classify economic activities, but does not in and of itself establish any rights or obligations for business entities.
The appeal to the State Statistics Service is part of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association ongoing efforts to ensure the practical implementation of lobbying legislation, protect the professional interests of lobbyists, and establish a unified approach to organizing their activities.
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association will continue to work toward eliminating practical legal uncertainties, establishing dialogue with government institutions, and promoting transparent, lawful, and professional lobbying in Ukraine.
