Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 31.01.2003

Federal Law No. 200-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Service in the Customs Bodies of the Russian Federation

The Law is extended to include Article 22.1 specifying the guarantees to the employees of the customs bodies elected (appointed) to the legislative (representative) or executive bodies of state power or bodies of local government. After termination of their powers, the mentioned persons get the earlier occupied position or, with their consent, another position at the previous or another place of service. The period of implementation of the mentioned powers is included in the total length of service, as well as the length of service qualifying for the next special grade, additional leave, length-of-service pension, percent supplement for the length of service to the salary.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 199-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendment to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Federal Bodies of the Tax Police

The Law is extended to include Article 131 specifying the guarantees to the employees of the tax police elected (appointed) to the legislative (representative) or executive bodies of state power or bodies of local government. After termination of their powers, the mentioned persons get the earlier occupied position or, with their consent, another position at the previous or another place of service. The period of implementation of the mentioned powers is included in the total length of service, as well as the length of service qualifying for the next special grade, additional leave, length-of-service pension, percent supplement for the length of service to the salary.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 198-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Individual (Personified) Registration in the System of the State Pension Insurance

Innovations reflect the changes in the legislative regulation of the system of pension insurance occurred in 2002 pursuant to the adoption of the Federal Law No. 167-FZ of December 15, 2001 on the obligatory pension insurance in the Russian Federation. The Law refines the procedure of keeping of the individual personal account of the insured person, procedure of submission of information on the insured persons. Specifies, in particular, that such information is submitted by insurers once a year no later than March 1.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 197-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2003

Endorses the budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the year 2003 with expenses amounting to Rbl 864,898.3 million and incomes amounting to Rbl 822,841.4 million. Defines the sources of internal financing of the deficit of the Fund budget, as well as the procedure of use of resources received in 2003 in the Fund budget in excess of the specified amounts.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 196-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendment to Article 243 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

If in the reported (tax) period for the uniform social tax the amount of the applied tax exemption exceeds the amount of the actually paid insurance contribution for obligatory pension insurance for the same period, such difference is recognized as underpaid uniform social tax due for payment from the 15th of the month following the month of transfer of advance payments for the given tax.
According to the previous wording of the given norm, the mentioned difference must have been paid from the 15th of the month following the reported (tax) period where such underpayment occurred.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003, however, no sooner than one month after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 195-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendment to the Federal Law on the Amendments to Articles 149 and 164 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

The 10% VAT exemption rate used for the sale of works and services in production and distribution of periodicals and books in the sphere of education, science and culture is extended till January 1, 2005. The mentioned exemption must have been expired from January 1, 2003. Thus, the Law is aimed at prevention of the growth of prices for the printed matter.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 194-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Prolongation of the Federal Law on the Consumer Basket for the Whole of the Russian Federation

The mentioned Law is prolonged till December 31, 2003 inclusive. The Government of the Russian Federation is recommended to introduce before June 1, 2003 the draft law to the State Duma envisaging an increase from January 1, 2004 of the consumption of foodstuffs, non-food products and services comprising the consumer basket for the whole of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 193-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Invalidation of Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation on the Tax on the Purchase of Foreign Currencies and Payment Documents in Foreign Currencies

Abandons from January 1, 2003 the tax on the purchase of foreign currencies and payment documents in foreign currencies. The tax is abandoned because of its insignificant portion in the incomes part of the budgets of various levels and inconsistency of expenses for its collection and receipts from it. The revocation will simplify the tax system of the Russian Federation and reduce the tax burden for a significant portion of taxpayers.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 192-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendments to Article 5 of the Law of the Russian Federation on Currency Regulation and Currency Control

The amendments envisage that on the basis of the permission of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the residents being debtors under credit contracts concluded with non-residents being agents of the governments of foreign member-states of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development may enter monetary resources in foreign currencies from foreign-trade activities on their accounts or accounts of third parties in foreign banks. The mentioned resources in foreign currencies may be used only to fulfil their debt obligations by residents under the mentioned credit contracts or transferred to foreign currency accounts of the appropriate resident opened in the authorised banks. The residents are exempted from the obligatory sale of foreign currency receipts at the internal market of the Russian Federation within the limits of amounts necessary to fulfil obligations under the mentioned credit contracts.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 191-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendments to Chapters 22, 24, 25, 26.2, 26.3 and 27 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Some Other Acts of the Legislation of the Russian Federation

Amends individual chapters of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. In particular:
- refines the procedure of payment of excise duty taxes in operations with oil products;
- specifies the procedure of determination of the taxable base for the profit tax for incomes from production with a long process cycle; amends the procedure of determination of the taxable base of the transient period for the given tax;
- specifies that expenses for the cost of commodities purchased for further sale are taken into account in the calculation of the uniform tax according to the simplified system of taxation. The taxpayer having switched over from the simplified system to the common taxation regime may switch over again to the simplified system no sooner than one year after he lost the right of its application;
- taxation system in the form of the uniform imputed income tax for individual types of activities may be applied in retail trade in shops with the service area not greater than 150 square meters. The given criteria amounted earlier to 70 square meters. The tax declarations for the given tax are submitted no later than the 20th of the first month of the following tax period.
Amendments are introduced to the Federal Law No. 129-FZ of November 21, 1996 on the accounting work specifying the particulars of accounting work in organisations using the simplified system of taxation and a number of other legislative acts on taxes and fees.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003 with exceptions.

Federal Law No. 190-FZ of December 31, 2002 on Obligatory Social Insurance Allowances to Citizens Working in Organisations and with Independent Entrepreneurs Using Special Tax Regimes and to Some Other Categories of Citizens

Specifies the procedure of calculation and payment of obligatory social insurance allowances to citizens working in organisations and with independent entrepreneurs using special tax regimes and to some other categories of citizens, as well as the procedure of payment of insurance contributions by individual categories of insurers. The mentioned employers may pay on the voluntary basis to the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation insurance contributions for the social insurance of employees for temporary disability in the amount of 3.0% of the taxable base determined according to Chapter 24 "Uniform Social Tax" of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation for the appropriate category of payers and according to the procedure defined by the Government of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 189-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendment to Article 10 of the Federal Law on Tobacco Smoking Restrictions

Specifies that the requirement on the need to place warnings of the danger of smoking and information on the tar and nicotine content in the cigarette smoke per package (box) of tobacco items is entered into force from January 1, 2003 pertaining only to production and import of tobacco items for consumption on the territory of the Russian Federation. The mentioned requirements pertaining to the wholesale and retail trade of tobacco items on the territory of the Russian Federation are entered into force from July 1, 2003. Thus, tobacco items produced before January 1, 2003 enjoy an additional, 6-months long terms of sale.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 188-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance for the Year 2003

Endorses the budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance for the year 2003 with incomes amounting to Rbl 5,314.33 million and expenses amounting to Rbl 5,314.33 million. Defines the sources of internal financing of the deficit of the Fund budget, specifies the normalised insurance reserve of financial resources of the Fund, as well as the procedure of use of resources received in 2003 in the Fund budget in excess of the specified amounts.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 187-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the Amendments to Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Some Other Acts of the Legislation of the Russian Federation

The amendments correct the norms of the tax legislation pertaining to attorney activities aimed to ensure implementation of the rights and interests of attorneys. The handing over of the property (including the property rights) of the boards of attorneys and other attorney formations distributed at their reorganization in compliance with the requirements of the Law No. 63-FZ of May 31, 2002 on the advocacy in the Russian Federation is not recognized as sale and is not subject to the value added tax. The cost of such property is not included in the taxable base in the calculation of the amount of the income tax from natural persons under the condition that within six months from the day of receiving of this property it has been handed over by the taxpayer to the newly created board of attorneys or attorney bureau. The current currency operations include transfers including the payment for the legal aid rendered by the attorney including the award and the compensation of expenses pertaining to the execution of the order.
The Law on accounting work is amended to qualify attorneys engaged in attorney activities in an attorney cabinet for the purposes of registration of economic operations as citizens engaged in entrepreneurial activities without the forming of the legal entity.
The Federal Law is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 186-FZ of December 30, 2002 on the Amendment to Article 51 of the Federal Law on the Military Duty and the Military Service

The reasons for dismissal from the military service according to the health condition is considered to be the fact of being recognized by the commission of military physicians as partially fit for military service of a contract serviceman in the military position with the grade up to sergeant major or petty officer (earlier, up to ensign or warrant officer) inclusive or a draft serviceman.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 185-FZ of December 28, 2002 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Securities Market and on the Amendment to the Federal Law on Non-Commercial Organisations

The Law reflects practical experience is issue of securities, their registration, as well as disclosing of information by issuers, solves a number of practical problems preventing from issue and circulation of securities at the Russian stock market. In particular, provides a new, more refined as compared to the existing one, definition of the notion of the "bond" taking into account different forms of incomes obtained form the bonds, including the discount. Creates the basis to issue the bonds secured with methods envisaged in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation (bail, bank guarantee, pawn).
Creates the legal basis for issuer options. Earlier, the legislation did not envisage opportunities to issue such securities.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication with exceptions.

Federal Law No. 184-FZ of December 27, 2002 on the Technical Regulation

The subject of the legislative regulation is relations between legal entities and natural persons, state bodies emerging, changing or terminating in view of the fixing of obligatory technical norms and rules, confirming of compliance of products, production processes (methods) with obligatory requirements, standardisation, accreditation of the bodies in charge of certification and testing laboratories (centres), suing for cases of inconsistency with the requirements of technical protocols and financing of works in the sphere of technical regulation. The Law does not apply to the state educational standards, regulations (standards) on accounting work and the rules (standards) of audit activities, standards of issue of securities and security prospectuses.
The requirements to the products are divided into obligatory ones specified in the technical protocols and the voluntary ones contained in the standards.
Obligatory technical requirements may be specified only in the federal laws, decrees of the President of the Russian Federation and decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation.
The Law changes the legal basis and principles of standardisation in the Russian Federation, national system of standardisation, procedure of development and application of the standards.
Certification may be carried out on the voluntary basis in the systems of voluntary certification or on the obligatory basis. Obligatory certification is carried out in cases and according to the procedure envisaged in technical protocols.
The Law specifies the responsibility and procedures applied in cases of inconsistency with the requirements of the technical protocols.
The Law also specifies the final and transient provisions for the seven year period from the day of entry of the Law into force.
The Federal Law is entered into force six months after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 183-FZ of December 27, 2002 on Insurance Tariff Rates for Obligatory Social Insurance against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases for the Year 2003

Specifies that in 2003, insurance contributions for obligatory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases are paid by the insurer according to the procedure and tariff rates fixed in the Federal Law No. 17-FZ of February 12, 2001 on insurance tariff rates for obligatory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases for the year 2001.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 182-FZ of December 27, 2002 on the Amendments to Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Some Other Acts of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on Taxes and Fees

Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation is extended to include Chapter 29 "Gambling Business Tax" entered into force from January 1, 2004. The Law refines the provisions of the actual Federal Law No. 142-FZ of July 31, 1998 on the gambling business tax inasmuch as they pertain to the fixing of particular rates of the given tax in the laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Federal Law No. 181-FZ of December 27, 2002 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Entering into Force of the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation

Specifies particular time limits for introduction of the jury courts in different subjects of the Russian Federation depending on the level of readiness of the respective courts, as well as imposes the duty of the Government of the Russian Federation to develop and introduce in the State Duma the draft law on the procedure of forming of the lists of candidates of jury members.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 941 of December 30, 2002 on the Procedure of Granting of the Work Permission to Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons

The work permission is the document confirming the right of a foreign employee for temporary work on the territory of the Russian Federation or the right of a foreign citizen having registered as an independent entrepreneur to carry out entrepreneurial activities.
The permission is issued to the employer or the orderer of work (services) for each foreign employee, as well as to the foreign citizen having registered as an independent entrepreneur. The permission is issued under the condition of transfer by the employer or the orderer of works (services) of resources necessary to ensure the departure of each foreign worker by the appropriate type of transport from the Russian Federation. Applications are submitted to the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The time limit for consideration of the application may not be greater than 30 working days from the day of submission of the application with all necessary documents drawn up appropriately.
The earlier issued confirmations for the right of work preserve their force until expiry.
Before the special blank forms of the work permission are made, the mentioned permission will be drawn up on blank forms of confirmations for the right of work endorsed by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 2146 of December 16, 1993.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 940 of December 30, 2002 on the Authority of the Federal Bodies of Executive Power to Implement the Rights of the Owner of the Property of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise

Federal bodies of executive power shall execute coordination with respect to their subordinate federal state unitary enterprises in:
- creation of branches and representations;
- conclusion of deals pertaining to granted loans, bails, obtained bank guarantees, other encumbrances, claims cession, debt transfers;
- borrowings;
- decisions on large deals, deals of interest of the head of the enterprise, except for the deals with immovable property;
- hiring of the chief accountant of the enterprise, signing, changing and termination of the labour contract with him.
Besides, these bodies endorse accounting and other reports of the enterprise.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 938 of December 30, 2002 on the Writing Off of the Restructured Debt of Credit Organisations to the Federal Budget in Penalties and Fines

The tax bodies, from the moment of redemption of the half or full amount of the restructured debt, as well as the debt in payment to the federal budget of amounts of taxes and fees of clients of credit organisations having concluded an adjustment accord in compliance with the Law on the restructuring of credit organisations, under the condition of the full and timely transfer of current tax payments by them, as well as the early redemption of this debt within two or four years after conclusion of the adjustment accord, shall write off the half or full amount of the debt respectively of credit organisations to the federal budget in penalties and fines.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 931 of December 26, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Commodities Exported from the Russian Federation Outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

Refines the number of commodities (fish, sea water and salt solutions, some minerals and metals, alcoholic drinks, paper and other) exported duty-free from the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 930 of December 26, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Medical Certification of the Intoxication of the Person Driving a Transport Vehicle and Drawing Up of Its Results

Medical certification shall apply to drivers of transport vehicles with enough reasons to suspect their intoxication. The certification is carried out on the basis of the protocol of medical certification order singed by the official in charge of the state enforcement of and control over the traffic and transport vehicle safety and the driver prosecuted for the administrative violation.
The certification is carried out in public health organisations possessing an appropriate license or in specially outfitted mobile stations.
The act of the medical certification is drawn up in duplicate with one copy handed out to the official having delivered the driver to the public health organisation, and the second one being preserved in the respective public health organisation.

Regulation of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the Central Bank of Russia No. 132n/210-P of December 20, 2002 on the Procedure of Termination of Operations on Accounts of the Federal Budget of 2002 Opened in OPERU-1 of the Bank of Russia

Sets forth the procedure of termination of operations on accounts of the federal budget of 2002 opened in OPERU-1 of the Bank of Russia.
The Regulation is entered into force from December 26, 2002.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 26, 2002. Reg. No. 4079.

Regulation of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the Central Bank of Russia No. 131n/209-P of December 20, 2002 on the Procedure of Termination of Operations on Accounts of the Federal Budget of 2002 Opened in the Divisions of the Payment Network of the Bank of Russia

Sets forth the procedure of termination of operations on accounts used to register the incomes distributed by the federal treasury bodies of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation between the levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation, incomes and resources of the budgets of all levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation and the state non-budgetary funds. Also specifies the procedure of termination of operations on accounts used to register the resources of the federal budget.
The Regulation is entered into force from December 26, 2002.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 26, 2002. Reg. No. 4078.

Regulation of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the Central Bank of Russia No. 130-n/208-P of December 20, 2002 on the Procedure of Termination of Operations on Accounts of the Federal Budget of 2002 Opened in Credit Organisations (Branches)

Sets forth the procedure of termination of operations on accounts of the federal budget of 2002 opened in credit organisations (branches). The heads and chief accountants of credit organisations bear responsibility for the timely carrying out of operations on accounts of the federal budget of 2002. The heads and chief accountants of financial control departments, organisations with the budget accounts opened in credit organisations bear responsibility for the timely submission of payment orders. The Regulation is entered into force from December 26, 2002.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 26, 2002. Reg. No. 4077.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 17-P of December 26, 2002 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provision of Paragraph 2 of Item 4 of Article 11 of the Federal Law on Obligatory State Insurance of the Life and Health of Servicemen, Citizens Called Up for the Muster, Rank and File and Officers of the Bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, State Fire Service, Employees of Institutions and Bodies of the Criminal Execution System and Employees of the Federal Bodies of the Tax Police Pursuant to the Appeal of Citizen M.A.Budynin

According to the challenged norm, untimely paying out of insurance amounts by the insurer because of the delayed transfer of insurance contributions by the insurer may not serve as grounds to pay out the fine. According to the applicant, the given norm deprives the insured of the guarantee of protection of their rights and permits to avoid reimbursement of the damage to health for an indefinite period of time, thus not complying with Articles 19 (Parts 1 and 2), 45, 46 (Part 1), 53 and 55 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation has decided to recognise the mentioned Paragraph as not complying with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, since it does not meet the requirements of the appropriate state protection of the rights and legal interests of the insured - servicemen and persons of similar status.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1230-U of December 27, 2002 on the Invalidation of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia on Cashless Payments in the Russian Federation No. 2-P of April 12, 2001

Pursuant to the entering into force of the new Regulation of the Bank of Russia regulating the procedure of cashless payments on the territory of the Russian Federation, invalidates the earlier Regulation No. 2-P of April 12, 2001.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of publication.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 179-T of December 26, 2002 on the Accounting Procedure for Individual Operations Pursuant to the Entering into Force of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 205-P of December 5, 2002 on the Rules of Accounting Work in Credit Organisations Located on the Territory of the Russian Federation

Explains the procedure and time limits for the transfer of the residues of personal accounts as of January 1, 2003 to be carried over to other or newly opened accounts pursuant to the entering into force from January 1, 2003 of the new rules of accounting work in credit organisations.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 126n of December 10, 2002 on the Endorsement of Accounting Regulation PBU 19/02 "Registration of Financial Investments"

According to PBU 19/02, financial investments of the organisation include: state and municipal securities, securities of other organisations, including debt securities with fixed date and cost of redemption (bonds, promissory notes); investments in the registered (shared) capital of other organisations (including the branches and dependent economic objects); loans granted to other organisations, deposit accounts in credit organisations, receivables purchased on the basis of claims cession and other.
Financial investments for the purposes of subsequent assessment are subdivided into two groups: financial investments permitting to determine the current market value and financial investments not permitting to determine their current market value. The Order specifies the procedure of subsequent assessment of financial investments, introduces the notion of depreciation of financial investments.
The Order is entered into force beginning with accounting reports for the year 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 27, 2002. Reg. No. 4085.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 1205/112n of November 18, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Specimens of Excise Duty Stamps for Labelling of Foreign-Made Tobacco and Tobacco Items Imported to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation

Endorses the specimens and description of excise duty stamps for labelling of foreign-made tobacco and tobacco items imported from the territories of foreign states. The issue of excise duty stamps according to the endorsed specimens will be carried out from February 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 26, 2002. Reg. No. 4083.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1216-U of December 5, 2002 on the Invalidation of Individual Acts of the Bank of Russia Pursuant to the Adoption of the Regulation on the Rules of Accounting Work in Credit Organisations Located on the Territory of the Russian Federation

Pursuant to the entering into force from January 1, 2003 of the new rules of accounting work in credit organisations, invalidates the Rules No. 61 of June 18, 1997 with amendments.
Also invalidates the Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 821-U of July 12, 2000 pertaining to the procedure of registration in accounting work of individual operations with fixed assets and abandons the Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 149-T of July 2, 1998 on the amortisation taking into account the re-evaluation of the fixed assets as of January 1, 1997.
The Direction is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 300-O of December 27, 2002 on the Case of Constitutionality of Individual Provisions of Articles 116, 211, 218, 219 and 220 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the RSFSR Pursuant to the Request of the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and Appeals of a Number of Citizens

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation has examined the provisions of the Criminal Procedural Code of the RSFSR on the appeals against the decisions on the institution of the criminal proceedings and revocation by the prosecutor of the decision on its termination.
Provisions of Articles 116, 218, 219 and 220 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the RSFSR do not exclude the right of the person sued to appeal against the given decision in the court checking, in this case, its legality without forejudging the issues that may become the subject of court hearings. Proceedings pertaining to the constitutionality of the mentioned articles must be stopped.
According to Part 1 of Article 211 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the RSFSR, the prosecutor may revoke the decisions on the termination of the case and renew the proceedings any time for unlimited number of times. According to the new Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation having entered into force from July 1, 2002, the revocation of the decision on the termination of the criminal case is permitted only with the newly revealed circumstances. The checking of the mentioned norm by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation must be stopped because the rights of the applicant may be protected on the basis of the norms of the new Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation.
The Ruling is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 122n of December 4, 2002 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 4n of January 13, 2000 on the Forms of Accounting Reports of Organisations

The forms of reports now do not include references to account numbers corresponding to balance report articles. The OKVED codes will replace the OKDP codes.
The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2003.
According to the Statement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 07/12022-YuD of December 23, 2002, the present Order does not need state registration.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-6-02/1962@ of December 18, 2002 on the Procedure of Calculation and Payment of the Monthly Advance Payments for the Profit Tax for the I Quarter of 2003

Explains the procedure of recording in the taxpayer personal account cards of the amounts of the monthly advance payments for the profit tax for the I quarter of 2003.
Since Chapter 25 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation does not envisage submission by the taxpayers of any documents on the amount of the monthly advance payments for the profit tax due for payment in the I quarter of 2003, the tax bodies shall calculate the mentioned amounts in the taxpayer personal account cards independently on the basis of the tax declarations for the profit tax of organisations for the 9 months of 2002.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 6 of January 8, 2003 on the Procedure of Endorsement of the Rules of Internal Control in Organisations Carrying Out Operations with Monetary Resources and Other Property

The rules of internal control are endorsed by the heads of organisations within one month from the day of the state registration of the created organisations, and for other organisations, from the day of entry into force of the Decision. The rules of internal control are submitted for coordination to the appropriate enforcement body, and in the case of absence of enforcement bodies in the sphere of activities of such organisations, to the Committee for Financial Monitoring of Russia within 5 working days from the date of their endorsement.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 5 of January 8, 2003 on the Invalidation of the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Investigation of Industrial Accidents

Pursuant to Article 229 of the Labour Code of the Russian Federation defining the procedure of investigation of industrial accidents, invalidates the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 279 of March 11, 1999 on the endorsement of the regulation on investigation and registration of industrial accidents with amendments.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 4 of January 8, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 807 of July 6, 1994

Increases three times the amounts of the monthly supplement for the scientific grade to employees occupying staff positions in the budget-supported scientific institutions (organisations) and higher educational institutions. The supplement for the scientific grade amounts to: Rbl 1,500 for the doctor of sciences and Rbl 900 for the candidate of sciences. The supplement is paid out to professors and teachers of the budget-supported higher educational institutions from January 1, 2003, and other workers of the budget-supported scientific institutions (organisations) and higher educational institutions, from April 1, 2003.

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 9-R of January 8, 2003

The recommendation on the development by organisations carrying out operations with monetary resources and other property of the rules of internal control for the purposes of prevention of legalisation (laundering) of incomes obtained in a criminal way is amended to reflect the new provisions introduced by the Law No. 131-FZ of October 30, 2002 having entered into force from January 3, 2003.
The list of organisations developing the rules of internal control is extended to include those engaged in sales of precious metals and precious stones, gambling business, as well as managing investment and non-state pension funds.
The Order excludes the provision stating that the rules are endorsed within one month from the day of entry into force of the changed recommendations or registration of the newly created organisation.

Federal Law No. 15-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Adoption of the Federal Law on the Licensing of Individual Types of Activities

Amends 50 legislative acts of the Russian Federation regulating the procedure of licensing of particular types of activities.
The changes are aimed to exclude the norms regulating the procedures of licensing of particular types of activities not envisaged in the Law on the licensing of individual types of activities.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 14-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Non-State Pension Funds

The amendments envisage an opportunity of participation of non-state pension funds as insurers in the system of obligatory pension insurance. The Law regulates the legal, economic and social relations emerging at creation, operation of non-state pension funds in non-state pension support and as insurer in obligatory pension support, liquidation of non-state pension funds, as well as sets forth the main principles of state regulation, enforcement and control over their activities.
The investing of the accumulated pensions is carried out by non-state pension funds exclusively through management companies by concluding trust management contracts with participation of a specialised depositary.
Persons enjoying obligatory pension insurance through non-state pension funds may switch over from one non-state pension fund to another, as well as return to the building and investing of the resources of the pension savings through the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.
To carry out the activities in obligatory pension insurance, a non-state pension fund must have an appropriate license and meet the requirements additionally specified in the law.
Registration of accumulated pensions in a non-state pension fund is arranged on the individual pension account of the insured person. Identification of participants of the system of obligatory pension insurance is implemented using the insurance number assigned to the insured person in the system of the personified record keeping of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 13-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Geodesy and Cartography

Refines the criteria of qualifying the results of geodesy and cartography activities as the federal property. The geodesy and cartography activities include topographic monitoring, providing geodesy, cartography, topographic and hydrographical materials and data on institution and changing of the borders of the subjects of the Russian Federation, borders of municipal formations.
In addition, envisages regulation of issues of introduction and application of the local system of coordinates.

Federal Law No. 12-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation

The new wording of Article 34 defines the operative and territorial formation as the common form of organization of internal troops, with the particular type of the operative and territorial formation (district, regional command, regional department or other type) being endorsed by the President of the Russian Federation. According to the earlier wording, the districts of internal troops were the only type of operative and territorial formation of internal troops.
Article 51 is amended to envisage the opportunity of repair of the combat, special and aviation equipment of internal troops on contractual basis in organisations repairing the mentioned equipment to the orders of internal troops.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 11-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on Education and the Federal Law on the Higher and Post-Graduate Professional Education

The Law regulates the relations pertaining to the application of remote educational technologies.
The particulars of the subject matter and essence of the expert evaluation of educational institutions using remote educational technologies to implement educational programs partially or in full amount must be defined by the federal (central) state body in charge of the management of education. The branches of the educational institution implementing the educational program (educational programs) in full amount through remote educational technologies (with exception of several subjects) in these branches may undergo certification and state accreditation as a part of the educational institution.
The use of different methods of the educational process and educational technologies by educational institutions does not imply an increase in the financing normatives.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 10-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Execution of the Budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance for the Year 2001

Endorses the report of execution of the budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance of the Russian Federation for the year 2001 with incomes amounting to Rbl 4,029.8 million and expenses, to Rbl 4, 005.2 million.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 9-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Execution of the Budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2001

Endorses the report of execution of the budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the year 2001 with incomes amounting to Rbl 630,442.09 million and expenses, to Rbl 514,837.32 million.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 8-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Employment of the Population in the Russian Federation and to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Financing of the Measures to Promote Population Employment

The amendments are stipulated by the changes in the system of financing of the measures pertaining to the implementation of the state policy in the sphere of population employment because of the abolishment of the State Fund of Population Employment of the Russian Federation and transfer of the appropriate expenses to the federal budget.
To improve material support to unemployed citizens (except for individual categories of citizens with amounts of allowances specified under Article 34), the minimum amount of the unemployment allowance is increased from 20% to 30% of the cost of living calculated in the subject of the Russian Federation.
The Law specifies an exhaustive list of reasons being justifiable for the dismissal at own will (moving to a new place of residence in another location; illness not permitting to continue working or living in the given locality; need to take care of the sick family members and other).
The Law specifies the procedure when the citizens dismissed because of the liquidation of the enterprise (staff cuts) and sent to get professional training by the bodies of employment service get stipends after the end of the period permitting to preserve the average earnings at the most recent place of work including the severance pay.
The Federal Law is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 7-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Procedure of Entry in the Russian Federation and Exit from the Russian Federation

Defines the types of visas, specifies the reasons and procedure of their issue and prolongation.
Refines the norms pertaining to additional reasons prohibiting the entry of foreign citizens or stateless persons. Envisages the placing of stamps of restriction of entry in the Russian Federation in the documents of deported foreign citizens and stateless persons.
Refines the legal grounds for the stay on the territory of the Russian Federation within the boundaries of the port city (residential settlement) without the Russian visa for 72 hours for passengers of cruise vessels arriving in the Russian Federation.
Also refines the procedure of exit opportunities for the underaged in cases when their parents, adoptive parents, trustees have declared their disagreement with such trip.
The Federal Law is entered into force three months after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 6-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to Article 2 of the Federal Law on the State Regulation of Tariff Rates for Electric and Thermal Power in the Russian Federation

To improve the stability of the budget system of the Russian Federation and enhance the responsibility of the budgets of all levels for the adopted budget obligations, the limiting levels of tariff rates for electric and thermal power supplied by power supply organisations to consumers, including the limiting levels of tariff rates for the population, are fixed once a year before the adoption by legislative (representative) bodies of the laws on appropriate budgets for the subsequent fiscal year.
The changing of the mentioned tariff rates during the fiscal year without simultaneous introduction by the Government of the Russian Federation (body of executive power of the subject of the Russian Federation) for consideration by the legislative (representative) body of the draft law on the amendments to the law on the budget for the current fiscal year is not permitted.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 5-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to Article 73 of the Federal Law on the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)

The Bank of Russia may arrange an additional check of the credit organisation (its branch) in the same issues for the same reporting period on the basis of the decision of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia taken to a motivated request of a structural division of the Bank of Russia to assess the financial standing and quality of assets and liabilities of the credit organisation. Such check is carried out with participation of the representatives of the central office of the Bank of Russia.
The Law also envisages introduction of one more reason for the renewed check of the credit organisation - to the decision of the Board of Directors taken in the course of control over the activities of the territorial institution of the Bank of Russia having carried out the check.
Thus, the new wording of Article 73 provides an exhaustive list of cases permitting for the mentioned repeated checks.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 4-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to Articles 12 and 13 of the Federal Law on the Bodies of the Federal Security Service in the Russian Federation

The amendments bring the Law in compliance with the new Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation defining the authority of the bodies of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation to reveal, prevent and stop administrative violations.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 3-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Ratification of the Shanghai Convention on the Combating of Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism

Ratifies the Convention singed in Shanghai on June 15, 2001.

Federal Law No. 2-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Pension Support for the Persons Having Undergone Military Service, Service in the Bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Fire Service, Institutions and Bodies of the Criminal Execution System and Their Families

Excludes Articles 59 and 60 pertaining to the payment of pensions to pensioners living in nursing homes, as well as during stationary treatment. This is stipulated by the entry into force from January 1, 2002 of the Laws on labour pensions in the Russian Federation and on the state pension support in the Russian Federation. The mentioned Laws do not contain any norms pertaining to any restrictions for the payment of the assigned amount of pensions.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication and applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2002.

Federal Law No. 1-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendment to Article 1 of the Federal Law on the Safe Handling of Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals

Provides the new wording for the notion of "agricultural chemicals" implying fertilisers, chemical reclamation agents, fodder additives for plant feeding, land fertility regulation and animal feeding. The given notion does not apply to peat used for other purposes.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 114n of November 19, 2002 on the Endorsement of Accounting Regulation PBU 18/02 "Registration of Profit Tax Estimates"

Application of PBU 18/02 "Registration of Profit Tax Estimates" permits to reflect in accounting work and accounting reports the difference between the accounting profit (loss) tax recognised in accounting work and the taxable profit tax built in accounting work and reflected in the tax declaration for the profit tax. The Regulation envisages reflection in accounting work of not only the amount of the profit tax due to the federal budget, or the amount of excessively paid and/or collected tax due to the organisation, or the off-set amount of the tax in the reported period, but also reflection in accounting work of amounts capable of influencing the amount of the profit tax of subsequent reporting periods in compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 31, 2002. Reg. No. 4090.

Federal Law No. 20-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the State Automatic System of the Russian Federation "Elections"

The Law fixes the legal, organizational and software-and-technical measures providing for the authenticity of data processing by the state automatic system "Elections".
Regulates at the legislative-level relations emerging during the use and development of the state automatic system "Elections". Defines the legal regime of the complexes of the means of automatisation, information resources and procedure of access to them, procedure of system financing, specifies fundamentals ensuring its security.

Federal Law No. 18-FZ of January 10, 2003 "The Charter of the Railway Transport of the Russian Federation"

The Charter regulates relations emerging between carriers, passengers, consignors, consignees, owners of infrastructures of the railway transport of public and non-public use, other persons when using the services of the railway transport and specifies their rights, duties and responsibility.
The Charter defines the main terms of organization and carrying out of transportation of passengers, cargo, luggage, rendering services pertaining to the use of the infrastructure of the railway transport of public use and other services pertaining to transportation.
The Federal Law is entered into force four months after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 17-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Railway Transport in the Russian Federation

Specifies the legal, organizational and economic conditions of the work of the railway transport of public and non-public use, fundamentals of interaction of organisations of the railway transport and independent entrepreneurs carrying out works (rendering services) on the railway transport with the bodies of state power and organisations of other types of transport.
The Law does not apply to operation of the technological railway transport.
Amends the Law on the licensing of individual types of activities. The list of the licensed types of activities includes transportation of passengers, luggage, cargo by the railway transport, activities in the granting of the infrastructure of the railway transport of public use to carry out transportation, cargo transportation over public use tracks, except for the removing of the arriving cargo from exhibition tracks and its return to the mentioned tracks.
The Federal Law is entered into force four months after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 16-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Natural Monopolies

In view of the carried out demonopolisation of the market of railway transportation, specifies that the natural-monopoly sector subject to state regulation includes only services in providing the infrastructure of the public use railway transport rather than all of the railway transportation.
Introduces prohibition on the restraining of the economically justifiable switch-over of the natural monopoly spheres to competitive market.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1366 of December 16, 2002 on the Invalidation of the Direction of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 01-12/556 of June 21, 1994

Invalidates the Direction of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation of June 21, 1994 specifying some particulars of application of the customs regime of re-export.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 9, 2003. Reg. No. 4102.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-09/722 of December 19, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Documents and Procedure of Registration of the Payers of the Uniform Imputed Income Tax in the Tax Bodies at the Place of Entrepreneurial Activities

To implement Chapter 26.3 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, endorses:
- Form 9-YeNVD-1 "Application for Registration of the Organisation Paying the Uniform Imputed Income Tax in the Tax Body at the Place of Activities Subject to the Uniform Imputed Income Tax";
- Form 9-YeNVD-2 "Application for Registration of the Independent Entrepreneur Paying the Uniform Imputed Income Tax in the Tax Body at the Place of Activities Subject to the Uniform Imputed Income Tax";
- Form 9-YeNVD-3 "Notification of the Registration of the Organisation Paying the Uniform Impute Income Tax in the Tax Body at the Place of Activities Subject to the Uniform Imputed Income Tax";
- Form 9-YeNVD-4 "Notification of the Registration of the Independent Entrepreneur Paying the Uniform Imputed Income Tax in the Tax Body at the Place of Activities Subject to the Uniform Imputed Income Tax".
The organisation or independent entrepreneur not registered in the tax bodies of the subject of the Russian Federation where the uniform imputed income tax has been introduced submits application for registration no later than within 5 days from the beginning of the entrepreneurial activities subject to the mentioned tax.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 8, 2003. Reg. No. 4097.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 129n of December 15, 2002 on the Prolongation for the Year 2003 of the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 9n of February 2, 1999 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Drawing Up and Issue in 1999 of Permissions to Open Accounts of Organisations Financed from the Federal Budget to Register Resources Obtained from Entrepreneurial and Other Profitable Activities

The Order is prolonged for the year 2003 where it pertains to the drawing up and issue by the federal treasury bodies of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation of permissions to open accounts in institutions of the Bank of Russia and credit organisations on the Balance Account 40503 "Accounts of Federally Owned Enterprises. Non-Commercial Organisations" to recipients of the resources of the federal budget located on the territories (city, region) without federal treasury bodies and on the Balance Account 40302 "Resources Available for Temporary Management of the Budget-Supported Organisations" to budget-supported institutions financed at the expense of the resources of the federal budget.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4094.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 347 of December 20, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Organization of Forensic Investigations in Forensic Institutions of the System of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation

Defines the terms and procedure of organization of forensic investigations in the state forensic institutions of the system of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Forensic investigations are arranged for the courts, bodies of investigation and prosecutors according to the list of the types of investigations (profile) and the served territory specified for each institutions of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4093.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 207-P of December 20, 2002 on the Procedure of Submission by Credit Organisations to the Authorised Body of Information Envisaged in the Federal Law on the Countermeasures Against Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way and Financing of Terrorism

Sets forth the new procedure of submission by credit organisations to the authorised body of information on operations with monetary resources or other property subject to obligatory control, as well as other operations with monetary resources or other property pertaining to the legalisation (laundering) of incomes obtained in a criminal way and financing of terrorism.
The new wording elaborates on the list of the types of operations reported to the authorised body.
The Regulation provides the guide of the codes of signs of unusual operations and deals.
The Regulation is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4092.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1226-U of December 20, 2002 on the Invalidation of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 161-P of November 28, 2001 on the Procedure of Submission by Credit Organisations to the Authorised Body of Information Envisaged in the Federal Law on the Countermeasures Against Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way

The mentioned Regulation looses its power pursuant to the adoption of the Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 207-P of December 20, 2002.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 127/n of December 11, 2002 on the Prolongation of the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 38n of May 25, 1999 on the Endorsement of the Directions on the Procedure of Application of the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation and Introduction of Amendments to It

Prolongs for the year 2003 the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 38n of May 25, 1999 on the endorsement of the Directions on the procedure of application of the budget classification of the Russian Federation. The majority of appendices to the Directions endorsed by the mentioned Order (including "The Classification of Incomes of the Budgets of the Russian Federation") is provided in the new wording.
The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 181-T of December 27, 2002 "Recommendations on the Regulation and Registration in the Reports of Credit Organisations of Individual Types of Risk-Bearing Deals"

Explains particulars of registration of risk-bearing deals in the reports of credit organisations. Credit organisations are recommended to provide in their internal documents pertaining to the management and assessment of risks the procedure of assessment of the risks emerging in risk-bearing deals.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 180-T of December 27, 2002 on the Individual Issues of Application of the Legislation on the Notification of the Bank of Russia of the Election of the Members of the Board of Directors (Supervising Board) of Credit Organisations

When nominating candidates for the position of the member of the board of directors (supervising board), participants (stock-holders) of the credit organisation must be guided by the requirements and restrictions directly specified in the federal laws. Such requirement, in particular, is the prohibition to elect in the board of directors (supervising board) persons convicted for crimes in the economic sphere.
The notification of the credit organisation pertaining to the election of the members of the board of directors (supervising board) must contain information on the absence of reasons preventing from election of the mentioned persons in the board of directors (supervising board).

Federal Law No. 19-FZ of January 10, 2003 on the Election of the President of the Russian Federation

The new Law takes account of the provisions of the Laws on the main guarantees of electoral rights and the right to participate in the referendum of the citizens of the Russian Federation and on political parties.
The Law preserves the actual majority election system envisaging that election of the President of the Russian Federation may be carried out in two ballots.
However, in view of the creation of the legislative base providing for the participation of political parties in the election, the Law contains some innovations. In particularly, it sets forth the requirements to electoral blocks taking part in the election. The electoral block must include at least one political party. Together with it, there may be also other all-Russia public associations created in the form of a public organisation and public movement. The mentioned public associations may not take part in the election of the President of the Russian Federation independently.
The self-nominated candidate, as well as the political party or electoral block having nominated the candidate must collect at least two million signatures of the electorate in favour of the nominee, which is two times as great as the number required under the previous Law, with the number of signatures of the electorate per subject of the Russian Federation being reduced from 70,000 to 50,000.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 15 of January 8, 2003 on the Supplies of Liquefied Hydrocarbon Gases to the Internal Market in the First Six Months of 2003

In the first six months of 2003, the registration of supplies of liquefied hydrocarbon gases for export is carried out by the customs bodies under the condition of submission by oil and oil-and-gas processing organisations of resource certificates confirming the availability with supplier organisations of the mentioned products in volumes necessary for export taking into account the balance targets fixed by the Ministry of Power Supplies in coordination with the Ministry of Economic Development.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 158 of December 24, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Fire Safety Rules on the Vessels of Internal Water Transport of the Russian Federation

Sets forth the fire safety requirements on the internal and intermodal (river- and sea-goring) vessels being in operation, under repair and in idle condition obligatory for execution by all ship owners and members of vessel crews regardless of their organizational and legal forms and forms of ownership.
The rules apply to self-propelled vessels with main engine power rating of at least 55 kW, non-self-propelled vessels with at least 80 ton capacity, passenger vessels and tankers, ferries.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4091.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 129 of October 14, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Navigation on Internal Waterways of the Russian Federation

The rules apply to vessel crews, legal entities and independent entrepreneurs involved in navigation on internal waterways pertaining to operation and use of floatable objects, maintenance of navigation waterways and hydrotechnical structures in the navigation on internal waterways of the Russian Federation. The Order sets forth permitted vessel dimensions, requirements to the placing of signals on the vessels, defines the signs regulating the traffic on internal waterways.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 30, 2002. Reg. No. 4088.

Decision of the Management Board of the Pension Fund of Russia No. 122p of October 21, 2002 on the Forms of the Documents of the Individual (Personified) Records in the System of the State Pension Insurance and Their Filling Instruction

Endorses the forms of the "Questionnaire of the Insured Person (ADV-1)", "Individual Information on the Length of Service, Earnings (Awards), Incomes and Accrued Contributions to the Pension Fund of Russia of the Insured Person (SZV-3)" and other documents of the individual (personified) records in the system of the state pension insurance.
The Order provides the Instruction on the filling of the endorsed forms.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 19, 2002. Reg. No. 4051.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-06/756 of December 31, 2002 on the Procedure of Entering into Force of the New Forms of Tax Declarations

To adjust the procedure of entering into force of the new forms of tax declarations, endorses the uniform requirements to the building of the new tax declarations. Specifies that when new forms of tax declarations are entered into force, it is obligatory to have:
- the form of the tax declaration;
- its filling instruction;
- format of the declaration submitted in the electronic form;
- document containing control factors, including those with information obtained from external sources to carry out the automatic office tax check.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. VG-6-02/2025@ of December 30, 2002 on the Procedure of Calculation and Payment of the Profit Tax from Organisations by Taxpayers Incorporating Separate Divisions

To simplify the procedure of drawing up of the payment documents to transfer the tax to the budget for each of the separate divisions, the organisation may decide, before the beginning of the tax period, to pay the profit tax to the budget of the subject of the Russian Federation at the place of location of the organisation determined according to the total amounts of the tax calculated for the organisation without the separate divisions and for each of the separate divisions on the territory of the same subject of the Russian Federation as the organisation itself. If the organisation has separate divisions on the territory of another subject of the Russian Federation, it may also decide to pay the profit tax to the budget of this subject of the Russian Federation determined according to the total amounts of the tax calculated for each of the separate divisions.
The Order sets forth the procedure of switchover to the mentioned procedure of transfer of the profit tax.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 17 of January 15, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1358 of December 8, 1999 and No. 1364 of December 9, 1999

The rate of the customs duty for raw zinc (Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature code 7901) exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements is reduced two times and is fixed to amount to 5% of the customs cost.
Phenol (hydroxibenzol) and its salts (Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature code 2907 11 000 0) are exported free (earlier, 6.5% of the customs cost).
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 13 of January 14, 2003 on the Procedure of Endorsement of the List of Professions (Positions) and Works Directly Associated with the Movement of Transport Vehicles

The list of professions (positions) and works directly associated with the movement of transport vehicles is endorsed jointly by the federal bodies of executive power in the sphere of transport in coordination with the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of the Railway Transport of the Russian Federation are ordered to endorse before July 1, 2003 the list of professions (positions) and works directly associated with the movement of transport vehicles.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1220-U of December 10, 2002 on the Participation of Authorized Banks in the Registered Capitals of Foreign Credit Organisations Created and Operating in Compliance with the Legislation of Foreign Member-States of FATF and/or OECD and Not Being Branches of the Authorised Banks

Authorised banks may carry out according to the notification procedure money transfers, as well as purchase stocks to participate in the registered capitals of foreign credit organisations created and operating in compliance with the legislation of foreign member-states of OECD and/or FATF under the condition that in compliance with the legislations of the mentioned foreign states pertaining to foreign credit organisations, authorised banks would not dominate in their registered capitals and would not be able to define their adopted decisions otherwise. The Direction provides the list of foreign member-states of OECD and/or FATF.
No later than five working days after the date of carrying out of such operations, the authorised banks must submit to the Bank of Russia the notification of participation in the registered capital of a foreign credit organisation according to the attached form.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 14, 2003. Reg. No. 4115.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1349 of December 16, 2002 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 402 of April 27, 2001

Pursuant to the increase in the rates of excise duty tax for commodities subject to this tax, endorses the new rates to calculate the amount of security of importer obligations. The rate for alcoholic items with ethyl alcohol content greater than 9% is increased by EUR 0.2 and is fixed to amount to EUR 2.4 per litre, EUR 14.5 (earlier, 10) per litre for champagne, EUR 15.7 per 1,000 pieces for filter cigarettes (earlier, 19 and 11 depending on the length).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 9, 2003. Reg. No. 4105.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 143 of December 15, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Procedures of Keeping of the State Registers of Inventions, Industrial Prototypes, Useful Models of the Russian Federation

Sets forth the requirements to the keeping of the state registers of inventions, industrial prototypes and useful models: their registration, introduction of amendments to information, as well as to the building of the books of the state registers and their storage. The keeping of the registers is vested in the Russian Patent Agency.
The endorsed procedures are entered into force ten days after the day of official publication of the Order.
According to the Statement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 4087 of December 30, 2002, the Order does not need state registration.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 22 of January 17, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Raw Oil and Oil Products from Bituminous Materials and Commodities of Oil Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

The rates of export customs duties for raw oil and oil products from bituminous materials and commodities from oil exported outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements are reduced from USD 26.9 to USD 23.3 per 1,000 kg.
The rate for raw oil and oil products from bituminous materials (Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature code 2709 00) is reduced from USD 29.8 to USD 25.9 per 1,000 kg.
The Decision is entered into force from February 1, 2003.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-03/716 of December 17, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Declaration for Excise Duty Taxes and Its Filling Instruction

Endorses the form of the tax declaration for excise duties and its filling instruction.
The Order is applied in the calculation of the amounts of excise duties for operations carried out from January 1, 2003 and recognised as object of taxation under Article 182 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 9, 2003. Reg. No. 4100.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 124n of December 6, 2002 on the Amendments to the Acts of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation on Accounting Work in Insurance Organisations and Reports Submitted in Compliance with Enforcement Procedure

Reports of insurance organisations submitted in compliance with enforcement procedure includes now intermediate reports drawn up according to Forms 11-Insurer "Information on Operational Segment", 12-Insurer "Information on Affiliated and Dependent Companies of the Insurance Organisation" and 13-Insurer "Information on Branches and Representations of the Insurance Organisation". The earlier available forms are also provided in the new wording.
Among intermediate accounting reports for the first six months submitted to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and its territorial bodies in charge of insurance enforcement, insurance organisations present a copy of the publication of the accounting balance report and accounts of profits and losses of the previous year indicating the date and source of the publication.
The Order is entered into force beginning with annual reports for the year 2002 and intermediate reports (month, quarter) for the year 2003.
According to the Statement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 07/195-YuD of January 13, 2003, the Order does not need state registration.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 28 of January 18, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Registration in the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring of Organisations Carrying Out Operations with Monetary Resources or Other Property Where Enforcement Bodies Are Not Available

According to the endorsed Regulation, registration applies to leasing companies, pawnshops, organisations keeping totalizators and bookmaker offices, engaged in purchase and sale of precious metals and precious stones, items of them and scrap of such items. Registration of the organisation is carried out within 30 days from the date of publication of the Regulation, and for the newly created organisation - within 30 days from the date of its state registration. The Decision lists the documents to be submitted to the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring for registration.
In case of liquidation of the organisation or change of its type of activities, the organisation sends to the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring application drawn up in a free form to remove it from records, signed by the head and certified with the seal of the organisation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 27 of January 18, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Procedure of Determination of the List of Organisations and Natural Persons Known To Be Involved in Extremist Activities and Conveying of This List to Organisations Carrying Out Operations with Monetary Resources or Other Property

The Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring shall compile and amend the list on the basis of information presented by the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation, subjects of the Russian Federation and the bodies of local government. The list, no later than the working day following the day of its compilation, is sent in the form of information letters directly to organisations carrying out operations with monetary resources or other property, or through appropriate enforcement bodies.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1265 of November 26, 2002 on the Customs Registration of Commodities Moved Across the Customs Border of the Russian Federation in Execution of the Foreign-Trade Contracts Envisaging Commodity Exchange Operations

Customs registration of commodities moved across the customs border of the Russian Federation as counterdeliveries under foreign-trade contracts is carried out regardless of the customs regime declared for the mentioned commodities (except for the customs regimes of transit shipment and moving of reserves) while presenting a copy of the operation ID (import deal ID).
The cargo customs declaration is filled out according to its filling rules when declaring the commodities placed under the declared customs regime with particulars. Column 28 "Financial and Bank Requisites" indicate the number and date of the operation ID (import deal ID) under Item 1.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 16, 2003. Reg. No. 4123.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 25 of January 17, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 245 of April 17, 2002 and 425 of June 14, 2002

Amendments to the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation are stipulated by the changes in the Law on the countermeasures against legalisation (laundering) of incomes obtained in a criminal way and financing of terrorism. Pursuant to the Law, the Decision extends the list of organisations submitting information to the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring. Specifies that persons getting information on operations of such organisations must keep not only the commercial secret that became known to them, but also the communication secret.

The text of the document has not been published officially as of the moment of placing on the site.

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 69-r of January 18, 2003

Approves the concept of forestry development for the years 2003-2010.

The concept defines the goals, tasks and priorities of forestry development and state management of the forestry fund and forests not included in the forestry fund. It is planed to significantly improve before 2010 the sanitary condition of forests, carry out fire safety measures, carry out inventory and monitoring of the condition of the forestry fund, ensure technical modernisation of production facilities on the basis of introduction of up-to-date high-efficiency technical means and technologies. It is suggested to preserve the forestry fund until 2010 in the state federal property having redistributed the authority in the management of the forestry fund among the participants of the forestry relations, as well as preserve the multitude of the forms of ownership for the forests and bushes not included in the forestry fund.

The text of the document has not been published officially as of the moment of placing on the site.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-05/747 of December 26, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Declaration for Insurance Contributions for Obligatory Pension Insurance for Persons Making Payments to Natural Persons and Its Filling Instruction

Endorses the form of the declaration for insurance contributions for obligatory pension insurance for persons making payments to natural persons: organisations, independent entrepreneurs, natural persons not recognised as independent entrepreneurs and its filling Instruction.

The given declaration is submitted no later than March 30 of the year following the expired accounting period. The accounting period for insurance contributions is the calendar year. Noteworthy, the estimates of advance payments for insurance contributions for obligatory pension insurance endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-05/153 of March 28, 2002 (registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 15, 2002, reg. No. 3363) are submitted upon expiry of the reporting period. The reporting periods for insurance contributions to the Pension Fund of Russia are recognised to be the first quarter, six months, nine months of the calendar year (Article 23 of the Federal Law No. 167-FZ of December 15, 2001).

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 16, 2003. Reg. No. 4132.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-09/730 of December 20, 2002 on the Registration of Commercial Concession (Subconcession) Contracts

Commercial concession (subconcession) contract, its changes and early discontinuation must be registered in the territorial body of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation having registered the legal entity acting as the possessor of rights under the contract. The registration is carried out no later than within five working days from the day of submission of the documents by entering the record in the logbook and placing an inscription (stamp) and the seal of the body in charge of the registration on the copies of the contract.

The Order lists the documents to be submitted to the body in charge of the registration.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 16, 2003. Reg. No. 4125.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1223-U of December 17, 2002 on the Particulars of the Purchase by Resident Legal Entities of Foreign Currencies for the Currency of the Russian Federation at the Internal Currency Market of the Russian Federation to Make Payments under the Contracts of Import of Commodities to the Russian Federation

After importing the commodities, the resident legal entity must submit to the executing bank where the purchased foreign currency is entered on the special transit account the purchase order, substantiating documents, as well as the certified copy of the cargo customs declaration. If the commodities are imported from Belarus, it is permitted to present instead of the cargo customs declaration certified copies of other documents confirming the receipt of commodities (way-bills, warehouse certificates).

If the purchase of foreign currency is carried out before the import of commodities, it is necessary to open the deposit in the currency of the Russian Federation in the executing bank in the amount of 20% of the total amount necessary to purchase the foreign currency no later than the day preceding the day of entry of the purchased foreign currency on the special transit currency account of this person. The requirement to open the bank deposit does not apply to the cases when the price of the contract for the import of commodities is not greater than USD 10,000 equivalent, as well as the cases of purchase of foreign currency under the contracts concluded by the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation, subjects of the Russian Federation and the state unitary enterprises.

The Direction does not apply to the purchase of clearing currencies and foreign currencies not being free convertible ones.

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4134.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 34 of January 22, 2003 on the Assignment of the Bank of Foreign Economic Activities of the USSR (Vnesheconombank) to Act As the State Management Company in Charge of Trust Management of Resources of the Pension Savings

Vnesheconombank is assigned to act as the state management company in charge of trust management of the resources of pension savings in favour of the insured who did not enjoy their right of choice of investment portfolio.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 33 of January 21, 2003 on Additional Payments to Employees of the Bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Institutions and Bodies of the Criminal Execution System of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, State Fire Service of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, Federal Bodies of the Tax Police and the Customs Bodies of the Russian Federation

The listed employees shall get bonuses for exemplary execution of service duties and material aid.
Lumpsum monetary awards for conscientious execution of service duties at the end of the calendar year may be paid out in the amount of 3 salaries proceeding from the amount of salaries as of December 31 of the year for which the award is paid out. The Decision lists the cases when the bonus is not paid out.
Besides, the mentioned persons may get material aid on the annual basis in the amount of at least 2 salaries.
The heads of the appropriate federal bodies of executive power are permitted to define within allocated resources the procedure of paying out of increased lumpsum monetary awards at the end of the calendar year, single bonuses to employees for especially complicated and important tasks, as well as rendering of additional material aid.
The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from July 1, 2002.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 32 of January 21, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 887 of August 2, 1999

Federal bodies of executive power envisaging military service in them, possessing their allocated state housing fund and providing housing and communal services shall compensate expenses pertaining to subsidies to persons undergoing or having undergone contract service and members of their families at the expense of resources allocated from the federal budget.
Procedure of submission of information and drawing up of the documents necessary for the granting of the mentioned subsidies is defined by the heads of the federal bodies of executive power.
Some categories of citizens that cannot get subsidies on common grounds because of the particulars of their military service may get the subsidy in the form of the monetary compensation of the housing and communal services expenses. The monetary compensation is paid out in the amount of the subsidy these citizens could get on common grounds.
The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from July 1, 2002.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 155 of December 5, 2002 on the Licensing of Individual Types of Activities at the Internal Water Transport

Endorses the form of the license to carry out cargo and passenger transportation by internal water transport, as well as for loading an unloading activities on internal water transport.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4133.

Order of the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation No. 309 of December 25, 2002 on the Implementation in 2003 of Subprogram "Relocation of the Citizens of the Russian Federation from Decrepit and Breakdown Housing Fund" in the Framework of the Target Federal Program "Housing" for the Years 2002-2010

Sets forth the procedure and principles of granting to regions of monetary resources allocated from the federal budget to relocate citizens from ramshackle and wreck housing fund.
The resources are allocated to relocate the citizens from two categories of houses and space unfit for living:
- houses and space that may be fit for living after capital repair, modernisation and reconstruction;
- houses and space that cannot be rebuilt (including those for economic expediency reasons).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 16, 2003. Reg. No. 4121.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 109n of November 12, 2002 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 3n of January 15, 2001 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Entry of Contributions in the Framework of the Uniform Social Tax (Contribution) on Accounts of the Federal Treasury Bodies of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and Transfer of These Resources to the Budgets of the State Social Non-Budgetary Funds, As Well As Entry of Arrears, Penalties and Fines in Insurance Contributions to the State Social Non-Budgetary Funds (Including the State Employment Fund of the Russian Federation) as of January 1, 2002 on These Accounts and Transfer of the Mentioned Resources to the Budgets of the State Social Non-Budgetary Funds and the Federal Budget

The rules of entry of the uniform social tax on the accounts of the federal treasury bodies of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation are being brought in compliance with the amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation introduced by the Federal Law No. 198-FZ of December 31, 2001.
The Order is entered into force ten days after the day of its publication.
According to the Statement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 07/11967 YuD of December 19, 2002, the Order does not need state registration.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 36 of January 22, 2003 on the Extension to Item 4 of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1223 of November 5, 1999

The State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation is permitted to carry out customs registration of correspondence and not prohibited from sending to the Russian Federation popular consumption goods sent in international postal dispatches to the Chechen Republic, as well as to natural persons and legal entities registered on the territory of the Chechen Republic and operating on the territory of the Russian Federation in the name of and/or in the interests of the Chechen Republic. For other arriving commodities and cargo, the customs registration is still not carried out.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 30 of January 21, 2003 on the Procedure of Qualifying the Citizens As Radiation-Exposed Because of the Nuclear Tests at Semipalatinsk Test Ground and Issue of Uniform Certificates to Them

Qualifying the citizens as radiation-exposed is carried out on the basis of information of their residence or military service in 1949-1963 in radiation-exposed residential settlements because of the nuclear tests at Semipalatinsk test ground included in the lists endorsed by the Government of the Russian Federation. To get the uniform certificate confirming the right for benefits and compensations, the victims submit to the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation at the place of residence (registration) application and other listed documents. Before getting the mentioned documents, the benefits and compensations specified in the Law are granted on the basis of the earlier issued certificates.
The Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation is ordered to provide for the exchange before January 1, 2006 of the earlier issued certificates for the uniform ones.

Order of the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring No. 102 of December 24, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Form of the Written Requests and the List of Officials Entitled to Send Requests to Credit Organisations

Requests are sent in written form on the official letterhead of the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring to the head of the credit organisation. The requests must contain the following requisites: list of requested information, including the documents and certified copies of documents, the form and time limits of their presentation, signature of the official of the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring. If necessary, written requests and answers to them may contain restrictive remarks to ensure confidentiality of information exchange and are sent using the methods providing for the safety and non-disclosure of the reported information.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 22, 2003. Reg. No. 4140.

Operative Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 6-T of January 16, 2003 on the Amendments to the Operative Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 137-T of November 28, 2001 on the Recommendations on the Working Out of Internal Control Rules by Credit Organisations to Combat Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way

Adoption of the amendments is stipulated by the entering into force of the Federal Law on the amendments to the Federal Law on the countermeasures against legalisation (laundering) of incomes obtained in a criminal way.
The list of programs of implementation of internal control worked out by credit organisations includes the program defining the procedure of refusal to conclude the bank deposit contract with natural persons and legal entities and refusal to execute client orders to execute an operation, as well as to suspend operations with monetary resources or other property.
The Direction lists the cases when the credit organisation may refuse to conclude the bank deposit contract with a natural person or legal entity.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 44 of January 23, 2003 on the Procedure of Management of the Federally-Owned Stocks of Open-Type Joint-Stock Companies and Use of the Special Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in the Management of the Open-Type Joint-Stock Companies ("Gold Stock")

The stock-holder rights in the name of the Russian Federation are implemented by the Ministry of State Property of the Russian Federation and the Russian Federal Property Fund. The will of the stock-holder - Russian Federation - is drawn up by the Decision of the Ministry (Fund). The position of the Russian Federation on the agenda of the general meeting of stock-holders is expressed in written directives issued by the Ministry (Fund) to the representative to take the vote at the general meeting of sock-holders.
The Decision sets forth the procedure of assigning and work of the representatives of the Russian Federation in the board of directors and the audit commission of the joint-stock company where the decision was taken to use the special right of the Russian Federation to participate in its management ("gold stock").

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 43 of January 23, 2003 on the Procedure of Calculation of the Length of Service Qualifying for the Length-of-Service Supplement to the Salary to Employees of the Bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Institutions and Bodies of the Criminal Execution System of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, State Fire Service of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, Federal Bodies of the Tax Police and the Customs Bodies of the Russian Federation

The mentioned categories of persons shall get the percent length-of-service supplement to the salary on the monthly basis. The Decision specifies the fixed amounts of the supplement to the salary in proportion to the length of service. With the length of service from six months to 1 year, the supplement amounts to 5%, 25 years and more - 70%.
The Decision lists the periods included in the length of service to assign the supplement.
Appropriate bodies of power are ordered to recalculate the length of service as of July 1, 2002 to assign the percent supplement to the salary.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 41 of January 23, 2003 on the List of the Types of Periodicals and Books in the Sphere of Education, Science and Culture Subject to the 10% Rate of the Value Added Tax at Sale

Lists the types of periodicals and books pertaining to education, science and culture subject to the 10% VAT rate at sale. The Decision applies to legal relations pertaining to VAT taxation of the mentioned publications and items emerging from January 1, 2002.
Correspondence of the types of items produced and sold by the editorial boards of mass media, publishing houses and publishing organisations and information agencies to the items mentioned in the list is confirmed with documents (certificates) issued by the Ministry of the Press of the Russian Federation. The mentioned documents (certificates) are not issued for the imported periodicals and books.

Decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. 2 of January 20, 2003 on Some Issues Emerging Pursuant to the Adoption and Entering into Force of the Civil Procedural Code of the Russian Federation

Explains the particulars of the civil proceedings in the general jurisdiction courts from February 1, 2003 stipulated by the entry into force from the mentioned date of the Civil Procedural Code of the Russian Federation.
Invalidates some of the Decisions and Explanations of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation pursuant to the entering into force of the new Civil Procedural Code of the Russian Federation.

Order of the State Nuclear Power Enforcement Agency of the Russian Federation No. 116 of December 9, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Typical Regulation on the Interregional Territorial Body of the Federal Enforcement of Russia in Charge of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety

The interregional territorial body of federal enforcement of Russia for nuclear and radiation safety in charge of the state regulation of the nuclear and radiation safety when using nuclear power for peaceful and defence purposes is the interregional territorial district. The Order defines the tasks of the districts, their functions, rights, duties, fundamentals of work.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 23, 2003. Reg. No. 4150.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 48 of December 27, 2002 on the Entering into Force of Hygienic Normatives GN 2.1.6.1181-02

Enters into force from January 1, 2003 hygienic normatives "Alert Levels of Toxic Substances for Atmospheric Air of Residential Areas. GN 2.1.6.1181-02".
The hygienic normatives are intended for organisations designing and operating production facilities destroying chemical weapons, as well as specialists of institutions of the state sanitary and epidemiological service in charge of enforcement in the sphere of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 22, 2003. Reg. No. 4148.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1268 of November 27, 2002 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 897 of October 3, 2000

Customs fees for the customs escort of transport vehicles moving the commodities or transport vehicle moving as a commodity on its own are specified in fixed amounts in roubles (earlier, in the minimum amounts of labour remuneration).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 22, 2003. Reg. No. 4146.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 47 of January 24, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Indexing Coefficient of the Basic Part of the Labour Pension from February 1, 2003

From February 1, 2003, the indexing coefficient of the basic part of the labour pension is fixed to amount to 1.06 (the previous one fixed from August 1, 2002 amounted to 1.09). The mentioned coefficient is used to increase the pensions assigned according to the Federal Laws on labour pensions in the Russian Federation and on the state pension support in the Russian Federation.

Decision of the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation No. 14 of January 27, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the State Construction Committee of Russia No. 16 of April 8, 2002 on the Measures to Finish the Switchover to the New Estimate and Normative Basis of Price Forming in Construction

Normative documents of the State Construction Committee of the USSR drawn up in the level of prices envisaged in the estimate and normative bases of 1991 and 1984 are invalidated from September 1, 2003, not from January 1, 2003 as was envisaged earlier.
Before September 1, 2003, it is permitted to submit for consideration by the Directorate of State Non-Agency Expert Evaluation of the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation design and estimate documentation for the newly started construction objects drawn up on the basis of the estimate and normative basis of 1991 (1984).
From September 1, 2003, the mentioned design and estimate documentation drawn up on the basis of the estimate and normative basis of 1991 (1984) will not be accepted by the Directorate of State Non-Agency Expert Evaluation.

Information Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 21 of December 27, 2002 "Summary of the Practice of Application of the Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia on Currency Regulation and Currency Control"

Explains some issues pertaining to the sale of foreign currency by residents from transit currency accounts and special transit currency accounts, as well as to the existing procedure of payments between residents and non-residents under the contracts for works, services or transfer of results of intellectual activities.
Fixes the provision that without presentation by the resident to the authorised bank of the order for obligatory sale (back sale) of the foreign currency, it may be purchased directly by the authorised bank serving the client or sold at the non-exchange inter-bank currency market, to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, at inter-bank currency exchanges.
Also explains that the resident may enter on its account in the authorised bank without the permission of the Bank of Russia foreign currency forming the prepayment under the foreign-trade contract concluded with a non-resident regardless of the effective period of this contract.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 51 of January 23, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Respite for the Draft to the Military Service Granted to the Clergy

Requests of religious organisations to grant respites for the draft to the military service to the clergy are sent by the management bodies of these organisations to the Government of the Russian Federation 3 months ahead of the subsequent draft of the citizens to the military service. The requests must have attached the lists of the clergy, as well as the reasons of the need to grant the respite for each ecclesiastic. The citizen included in the list gets the respite from the draft commission at the place of registration for the purposes of military service. The ecclesiastic enjoying the respite presents to the military commissariat on the annual basis in September the certificate issued by the religious organisation confirming his dignity (cloth), position he occupies and the place of service.
If the ecclesiastic is assigned to another position or looses the clergy status, the granted respite is revoked.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 49 of January 23, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

From April 1, 2003, introduces restricting quotas for the import of beef and pork for 9 months. The quota amounts to 315,000 tons. Within this volume, the duty in the amount of 15% of the customs cost will be collected, however, not less than EUR 0.15 per kg. The customs registration of these commodities imported under release-for-free-circulation customs regime will be carried out in the presence of the license issued by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. If the quota is exceeded, the duty will amount to 60%, however, not less than EUR 0.6 per kg of meat.
The Decision also adjusts items of Heading 02 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation "Meat and Edible Meat Offal".
The main part of the Decision is entered into force from April 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 48 of January 23, 2003 on the Measures to Protect the Russian Poultry Industry

From April 30, 2003, introduces for the term of 4 years restrictive quotas for the import of meat and edible offal of poultry (Heading 0105), fresh, chilled or frozen (Code 0207 according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation), including the boneless one (Codes 0207 14 100 0 and 0207 27 100 0 according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation). Import of poultry meat in excess of the fixed quotas under release-for-free-circulation customs regime is prohibited.
Customs registration of these commodities will be carried out in the presence of the license issued by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
The main part of the Decision is entered into force 3 months after the day of official publication.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 17 of January 13, 2003 on the Amendments to Appendices 1 and 2 to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 567 of June 3, 2002

Provides the new wording for the form of the decision on suspension of operations on bank accounts. According to the amendments, the procedure of suspension of operations on bank accounts does not apply to debtor independent entrepreneurs.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 27, 2003. Reg. No. 4154.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 50 of January 23, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

From April 1, 2003, introduces restrictive quotas for the import of pork for 9 months. The quota will amount to 337,500 tons per year. Within this volume, the duty will be collected in the amount of 15% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.25 per kg. The customs registration of these commodities imported under release-for-free-circulation customs regime will be carried out in the presence of the license issued by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. If the quota is exceeded, the duty will amount to 80%, however, not less than EUR 1.06 per kg of meat.
The Decision also adjusts the items of Heading 02 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation "Meat and Edible Meat Offal"

Order of the Ministry of Communication of the Russian Federation No. 144 of December 3, 2002 on the Nominal Value of the Postal Stamps Designated with Letters A and B.

From February 1, 2003, the nominal value of the postal stamp designated with letter A will amount to Rbl 3.70, with letter B - Rbl 2.75.
From May 1, 2003, accepting for delivery of postal envelopes and stamped cards with the nominal value designated with letters A and B will be carried out according to the specified tariff rates. Incompletely paid mailed correspondence will be returned to the sender without stamp grilling to make the full payment.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 29, 2003. Reg. No. 4156.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 138n of December 30, 2002 on the Amendments to the Instruction on the Procedure of Registration of Incomes of the Federal Budget and Distribution of Incomes According to the Regulation Procedure between the Budgets of Various Levels of the Budget System of the Russian Federation

Provides the new wording for the summary register of received expenses, summary sheet of registration of incomes, some of the sheets of registration of incomes and other appendices.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 22, 2003. Reg. No. 4147.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 9-T of January 22, 2003 on the Distribution of Profits

Explains that distribution of profits of the current year by credit organisations created in the form of joint-stock companies for the purposes other than payment of profit taxes and dividends after July 1, 2002 is not legal.
The mentioned requirement is stipulated by the entry into force of the changes to the Law on joint-stock companies stating that distribution of profits (including the paying out (declaring) of dividends, except for the profits distributed as dividends for the first quarter, six months, nine moths of the fiscal year) is carried out by the general meeting of stockholders at the end of the fiscal year.
If the mentioned provisions are not observed, enforcement response measures may be applied to credit organisations.

Decision of the State Standards Committee of the Russian Federation No. 121 of December 2, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the System of Certification of Medicines

Sets forth the main goals, principles, structure, requirements and rules of the systems of certification of the registered medicines permitted for medical application.
The Regulation does not apply to medicines made in apothecaries to doctors' prescriptions, to orders of public health institutions, to internal apothecary prefabricated items and packages, as well as to medicines intended for clinical tests.
Organisation and carrying out of works in obligatory certification of medicines is carried out jointly by the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation and the State Standards Committee of the Russian Federation.
When selling medicines to wholesale enterprises, confirmation of compliance of the sold medicines with state quality standards is carried out by the handing over from the seller to the buyer of a copy of the compliance certificate and commodity accompanying documents.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 29, 2003. Reg. No. 4158.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 7-T of January 20, 2003 on the Execution of the Federal Law on the Countermeasures against Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way and Financing of Terrorism

Credit organisations opening accounts should identify the person concluding the client (depositor) bank account (deposit) contract, persons carrying out money transfers or handing out of resources from the account in the name of the client (depositor), third parties entering monetary resources on the client (depositor) account. It is recommended to avoid using the word "numbered" in the name when concluding the mentioned contacts.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. MM-6-09/1846@ of November 29, 2002 on the State Registration of Notary Chambers

The state registration of notary chambers as non-commercial organisations is carried out according to the procedure of registration of legal entities specified in the Federal Law No. 129-FZ of August 8, 2001 on the state registration of legal entities.