Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 29.06.2012

Order of the Federal Antimonopoly Service No. 22 of January 20, 2012 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Antimonopoly Service on the Provided State Service of Providing Explanations on the Issues of Application by the Federal Antimonopoly Body of the Antimonopoly Legislation of the Russian Federation

Specifies the above procedure.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 25n of February 15, 2012 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Tax Service on the Provided State Service of Personal Reception of Citizens, Timely and Complete Processing of Appeals of Citizens, Adoption of Decisions on Them and Sending Replies to the Applicants within the Deadlines Specified in the Legislation of the Russian Federation

Specifies a procedure for personal reception of citizens by the Federal Tax Service.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 535 of May 31, 2012 "Issues of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation"

Creates the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection regulating labour relations among other things

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 534 of May 31, 2012 "Issues of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Development of the Far East"

Creates a new ministry in the Russian Federation in charge of implementation of federal programs and federal property management in the Far East.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 30n of February 24, 2012 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation on the Provided State Service of Providing Information from the State Register of Self-Regulating Organisations of Auditors

Specifies the above procedure.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 543 of June 1, 2012 on the Endorsement of the List of Documents Permitting a Direct Debit Procedure for Collection of Debts on the Basis of Executive Notes

Specifies the above list

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 524 of May 30, 2012 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Fixing of Mark-Downs for Insurants and Mark-Ups to Insurance Tariff Rates for Obligatory Social Insurance against Occupational Accidents and Diseases

Introduces new such rules.

Resolution of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 53 of May 31, 2012 on the Amendments to the Joint Commodity Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activities of the Customs Union and the Rate of Import Customs Duty for Submersible Drilling Rigs for Oil and Gas Wells

Introduces the zero rate of the import customs duty for drilling rigs for the Kazakhstani part of the Caspian shelf.

Resolution of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 51 of May 31, 2012 on the Amendments to the Joint Commodity Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activities of the Customs Union and the Joint Customs Tariff of the Customs Union for Crude Oil

Introduces two new subheadings.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 530 of May 30, 2012 on the Amendments to Certain Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation in the Area of Forest Use

Adjusts the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation endorsing the regulation on the state control and supervision in the above area.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 442 of May 4, 2012 on the Functioning of Retail Markets of Electric Energy, Full and/or Partial Restriction of Regime of Consumption of Electric Energy

Introduces new such rules.

Federal Law No. 51-FZ of June 5, 2012 on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant to Adoption of the Federal Law on the Regulation of Activities of Russian Citizens and Russian Legal Entities in the Antarctic

Introduces administrative responsibility for the failure to observe the requirements and rules of activities.

Federal Law No. 49-FZ of June 5, 2012 on the Amendment to Article 333.33 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Specifies the state duty for the registration of light and ultra light civil air vessels.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 546 of June 4, 2012 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Essence of Border Control in the Cases of Transfer of People, Transport Vehicles, Cargo, Goods and Animals through the State Border of the Russian Federation

Specifies the above issues.

Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 2814-U of May 2, 2012 on the Amount of Transfer of Monetary Resources Obliging the Operator of Transfer of Monetary Resources to Send Application for Registration of Operator of Payment System to the Bank of Russia

Specifies the amount of transfer of monetary resources obliging the bank to register as operator of payment system.

Information of the Federal Tax Service of June 1, 2012 on the Opening of Business through the Internet in All Subjects of the Russian Federation

From May 31, 2012, it is possible to open a business through the Internet in all regions of Russia.

Federal Law No. 64-FZ of June 5, 2012 on the Amendments to the Agreement Establishing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Approved by Resolutions of the Board of Governors No. 137 of September 30, 2011 and No. 138 of September 30, 2011

Russia supports bank's activities in the Mediterranean.

Federal Law No. 61-FZ of June 5, 2012 on the Amendment to Article 26 of the Federal Law on the State Registration of Rights for Immovable Property and Transactions with It

Parts of subsoil resources cannot be leased.

Federal Law No. 60-FZ of June 5, 2012 on the Declaration of the Russian Federation on the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment

Participants of transactions can choose the right of the country to regulate their relations.

Federal Law No. 59-FZ of June 5, 2012 on the Ratification of the Treaty on Partnership Relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Chile

Ratifies the treaty signed on November 13, 2010 in Yokohama.

Federal Law No. 56-FZ of June 5, 2012 on the Ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006

Ratifies the above convention.

Federal Law No. 50-FZ of June 5, 2012 on the Regulation of Activities of Russian Citizens and Legal Entities in the Antarctic

Activities in the Antarctic can be carried out only in the presence of financial guarantees of reimbursement of possible damage.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. YeD-4-3/9126@ of June 4, 2012 on the Procedure for Filling the Tax Declaration for the Value Added Tax

Adjusts the above procedure pursuant to adoption of amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 13-P of June 5, 2012 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provision of Item 2 of Article 1086 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Appeal of Citizen Y.G.Timashov

Examines the issue of determination of income of entrepreneur applying the uniform imputed-income tax for reimbursement of these amounts in the cases of damage to health.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 559 of June 6, 2012 on the Federal Bodies of Executive Power Authorised to Issue a Permission for Creation of a Man-Made Land Plot on a Water Object

The Federal Agency for Water Resources is in charge.

Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 2815-U of May 2, 2012 on the Values of Criteria to Recognise the Payment System Important

Specifies the above figures.

Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 378-P of May 2, 2012 on the Procedure for Sending to the Bank of Russia Application for Registration of Operator of Payment System

Specifies the above procedure.

Resolution of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 72 of June 7, 2012 on the Amendments to the Joint List of Goods Subject to Prohibitions or Restrictions in the Cases of Import or Export by the Member-States of the Customs Union in the Framework of the Eurasian Economic Community in Trade with Third Countries

Updates the above list.

Resolution of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 68 of June 7, 2012 on the Amendments to the Instruction on the Procedure for Amending the Declaration for the Goods after Their Release

Adjusts the above instruction.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 570 of June 7, 2012 on the Amendments to the Rules of Issuance of Permissions for the Right of Arranging of a Retail Market Place

Adjusts the above rules.

Concept of the State Migration Policy of the Russian Federation for the Period Until 2025 (Endorsed by the President of the Russian Federation on June 13, 2012)

The program is excepted to inspire migration to promote population growth in Siberia and the Far East.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 558 of June 6, 2012 on the Endorsement of the Typical Charter of the Housing Construction Cooperative Created to Provide Dwelling Space to Individual Categories of Citizens Specified in the Legislation of the Russian Federation

Construction of economy-class dwelling space for employees of state-run institutions.

Federal Law No. 72-FZ of June 14, 2012 on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Statute of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Community of July 5, 2010

The amendments permit applying to court to economic subjects of other than member-states of the Customs Union.

Federal Law No. 71-FZ of June 14, 2012 on the Ratification of the Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the European Space Agency on the Permanent Representation of the European Space Agency in the Russian Federation and Its Status of April 10, 1995

The goods, works and services sold in Russia for the European Space Agency are exempted from VAT.

Federal Law No. 69-FZ of June 14, 2012 on the Ratification of the Agreement on Cooperation of the Member-States of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation in the Area of Development, Production, Operation, Repair, Modernisation, Prolongation of Operation and Utilisation of Products of Military Destination

Ratifies the above agreement.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 808 of June 13, 2012 "Issues of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring"

The federal service is handed over to the President of the Russian Federation.

Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 2820-U of May 31, 2012 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 302-P of March 26, 2007 on the Rules of Accounting Work in Credit Organisations Located on the Territory of the Russian Federation

Introduces a separate group of accounts for clearing operations.

Order of the Federal Service for Regulation of the Alcoholic Market No. 93 of April 24, 2012 on the Procedure for Publication and Putting in Force of Orders of the General Service for Regulation of the Alcoholic Market Recognised by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation As Not Needing the State Registration

Reduces the number of official sources to publish the orders of the Federal Service for Regulation of the Alcoholic Market.

Order of the Federal Service for Regulation of the Alcoholic Market No. 132 of May 30, 2012 on the Introduction and Fixing from July 1, 2012 of the Bottom Price for Purchase (Other Than Import), Supplies (Other Than Export) of Ethyl Alcohol

The bottom price makes Rbl 35 per litre from July 1.

Information of the Bank of Russia of June 15, 2012

The rate of refinancing remains the same – 8% annual.

Federal Law No. 79-FZ of June 14, 2012 on Amending the Federal Law on the Securities Market and the Federal Law on the Details of Issuance of and Trading in State and Municipal Securities

Improves the procedure for issuing and trading state and municipal securities.

Federal Law No. 78-FZ of June 14, 2012 on Amending Some Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Connection with the Adoption of the Federal Law on Compulsory Insurance of the Civil Liability of a Carrier for Harm to the Lives, Health and Property of Passengers and on the Procedure for Compensating for Such Harm Caused When Passengers Are Carried by Metro

The amendments are due to the introduction, effective January 1, 2013, of compulsory insurance of carriers' civil liabilities for causing harm to passengers' lives, health and property. In the case of death of a passenger relatives will get 2 million roubles. All means of transport, save metro and taxi, are covered.

Federal Law No. 77-FZ of June 14, 2012 on Amending Article 84.2 of the Federal Law on Joint-Stock Companies

No public offer will be sent to the holders of minority stakes when the majority interest is transferred from one public-law entity to another.

Federal Law No. 76-FZ of June 14, 2012 on Amending Article 260 of the Civil Procedural Code of the Russian Federation

The reduced term for settling electoral disputes should not infringe on citizens' constitutional rights.

Federal Law No. 74-FZ of June 14, 2012 on Amending the Law of the Russian Federation on Sub-Soil

From 2013 Russia's government will define the procedure whereby harm caused to sub-soil is assessed. Persons at fault will have to compensate voluntarily or in a judicial procedure. Whether the person is held accountable or not, compensation will have to be provided.
Effective January 1, 2013.

Federal Law No. 67-FZ of June 14, 2012 on Compulsory Insurance of the Civil Liability of a Carrier for Causing Harm to the Lives, Health or Property of Passengers and on the Procedure for Compensating for Such Harm Caused When Passengers Are Carried by Metro

Carriers' civil liabilities for harm to passengers will have to be insured from January 1, 2013 in respect of all means of transport, except for metro and taxi, otherwise no carriage is permitted. Compensation rates are set for the various cases relating to accidents, except for force majeure. Rules for carriers and insurers are provided. The new compulsory insurance scheme will replace compulsory "third party insurance" for road carriers as well as air liability insurance. International carriers will not require yet another insurance policy if they have insured their liabilities under international rules, for instance abroad, provided insured risks and indemnity sums are not below the ones specified in this law.
A guaranteed-compensation system is going to be formed. The compulsory insurance is the prerogative of the insurers which are members of a single all-Russia professional association and whose deductions maintain a compensation fund operating as a cushion for cases when an insurer goes bankrupt or looses his licence.
Compensation to metro passengers will be provided by the carrier whose duty will be to pay it out at the rates set by this law.
The law enters into force as of January 1, 2013, save some provisions with other effective dates.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 851 of June 14, 2012 on the Procedure for Declaring Terrorism Threat Alerts Envisaging the Implementation of Additional Measures for Safeguarding the Security of the Person, Society and State

Colour-coded terrorism threat alarm levels, Blue, Yellow and Red, may be declared for a term of up to 15 days as involving the implementation of various security measures.
Effective as of the date of official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 591 of June 14, 2012 on Endorsing Rules for Preparation and Adoption of Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on Definition of a Purchase and Lists and/or Groups of the Goods, Works and Services about Which Information Is Not Deemed State Secret but May Not Be Placed on an Official Website

Draft acts may be prepared by federal authorities and other bodies, and relevant proposals be filed by state companies, natural monopolies, state corporations, the utility organisations pursuing regulated types of activity, unitary enterprises, business entities with a state (municipal) stake exceeding 50% and affiliates thereof.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 584 of June 13, 2012 on Endorsing Regulations on Data Protection in Payment Systems

Data protection provisions govern the elaboration, creation, commissioning and operation of information systems. Operators and agents have to take measures for protecting data from unauthorised access, destruction, modification, copying, dissemination etc. and avoid disclosure, for instance by means of using encoding techniques and facilities. Special data protection units and persons will be appointed and the holders of data protection licences may be recruited.
In force as of July 1, 2012.

Order of the Federal Antimonopoly Service No. 337 of May 25, 2012 on Endorsing the Administrative Rules of the Federal Antimonopoly Service for Provision of the State Service of Considering Notices of Acquisition by a Foreign Investor or a Group Including a Foreign Investor of Five and More Per Cent of Shares (Stakes) in the Charter Capitals of the Business Associations Having Strategic Importance for National Defence and State Security

An application is filed with the antimonopoly service by a foreign investor or by the natural persons and entities included in a group with such investor, this being done in person, by post, via the internet portal dedicated to state services or a multi-function centre. It will be considered within 30 days after being registered.

Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 2824-U of May 31, 2012 on Reporting on the Payment Systems of Payment System Operators

The form of operators' reports is established as well as rules for preparing and filing them. Every quarter an operator being a lending organisation is to file a report with the territorial institution of the Central Bank supervising the activities of its head office. An operator being a non-lending organisations will file its reports with the Bank of Russia's territorial institution in the Russia's region where the operator is registered as a legal entity.
Effective as of July 1, 2012

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. ED-4-3/9882@ of June 15, 2012

According to this letter the new form and format of a tax return for the purposes of profit tax approved by the Federal Tax Service (Order No. MMV-7-3/174@ of March 22, 2012) due to the modification of the tax legislation envisaging to the formation of a consolidated group of taxpayers will become applicable when a tax return is filed for nine months of the Year 2012, or a tax return is filed for seven months of the Year 2012 for those who calculate monthly advance payments on the basis of profit actually received. As explained earlier, the responsible participants in consolidated groups of taxpayers may start to use the new form while filing a tax return for Quarter 1 of the Year 2012.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 586 of June 13, 2012 on Endorsing the Regulations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to Register the Organisations Sending Russian Federation Citizens to Destinations outside of the Russian Federation

Russian citizens sent abroad by legal entities may file travel passport applications through these entities, and in this case documents are prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Such organisations are to register with that ministry and hold a relevant certificate that is issued for one-year term and may be re-issued. Unless an organisation submits appropriate documents or provides reliable information on its constitutive documents, no registration is granted thereto.
The decision supersedes earlier provisions concerning the issue.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 583 of June 13, 2012 on the Procedure for Keeping Record of Foreign Economic Transactions for Export Control Purposes

A new procedure is established for keeping record of foreign economic transactions.
From August 1, 2011 participants in foreign economic activities shall keep record of foreign economic transactions involving only the goods, information, works, services and the results of intellectual activities (rights in respect thereof) which can be used in the creation of weapons and military equipment or terrorist activities. Accordingly, a list of pertaining goods, works and services is established.
A participant in such transactions is to keep records for at least three years and provide access thereto to the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 581 of June 13, 2012 on Licensing the Development, Manufacturing, Testing, Installation, Assembly, Maintenance, Repair, Disposing and Sale of Weapons and Military Equipment

A new licensing procedure is established for activities involving weapons and military equipment in keeping with the new Law on Licensing. It does not extend to R&D relating to the development of weapons and military equipment. The licensor is the Federal Service for Defence Orders. A set of licensing criteria and a list of required documents are provided.
The decision supersedes earlier provisions concerning this kind of licensing.

Order of the Financial Markets Service No. 12-26/pz-n of April 19, 2012 on the Bonds of Business Associations Which May Be Contributed into the Contributed Capital of a Business Partnership

Under the law on business partnerships securities cannot be contributed into the contributed capital of such legal entities, save the bonds of business associations designated by the empowered executive governmental body in charge of financial market matters. Bonds of business associations may be contributed into the contributed capital before maturity and they have to meet at least one of the following criteria: be included in a list of the securities cleared for trading on a stock market or another organiser of trade on the securities market; the face value thereof together with the face value of other floated and traded bonds does not exceed the sum of the business association's charter capital; the performance of the liabilities relating to the bonds is secured with mortgage, surety, banker's, state or municipal guarantee.
Effective from July 1, 2012.

Information Letter of the Federal Tax Service of June 18, 2012 on the Data Required for Calculating Mining Tax on Oil for the Month of May 2012

From January 1 through December 31, 2012 the rate of mining tax on oil is 446 roubles per ton of produced water-free salt-free stabilised oil. It is multiplied by the coefficients characterising world oil price variation (Kts), the degree of depletion of a specific sub-soil tract (Kv) and the amount of reserves (Kz).
For the month of May 2012 the data used in mining tax calculation is provided. With the average level of prices for Urals oil on the Mediterranean and Rotterdam oil markets of $108.89 per barrel and the average exchange rate of the US dollar to the rouble of 30.6620 the value of Kts is determined as 11.0301. The values of Kv and Kz are assessed at the taxpayer's discretion.
Thus, due to the fall of oil prices the rate of mining tax on oil has fallen as compared with the previous tax period.
The data used for the purposes of mining tax calculation for the month of April 2012 is available in the Letter of the Federal Tax Service of May 17, 2012.

Order of the Federal Antimonopoly Service No. 356 of May 30, 2012 on Endorsing the Form of the Register of Persons Held Accountable under Administrative Law for Breach of the Antimonopoly Legislation of the Russian Federation

The order provides details to be entered in the form of the register of persons held accountable for breach of the antimonopoly legislation kept by the Federal Antimonopoly Service. The persons concerned are officials of governmental and local self-government bodies held accountable for imposition of restrictions on competition as well as employees of business associations sanctioned for abuse of dominant position on a commodity market. For the latter criminal liability is possible if abuse is repeated more than twice in three years.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MMV-7-8/238@ of April 16, 2012 on Endorsing the Forms of a Document on Discovery of the Arrears of a Taxpayer (Payer of a Fee, Tax Agent, the Responsible Participant in a Consolidated Group of Taxpayers), a Claim for Payment of Tax, Fee, Penalty or Fine and Also the Documents Used by Tax Bodies in the Event of Distraint or Debt Recovery in Respect of Compulsory Payments Owing the Budget System of the Russian Federation

The order provides modified forms of the documents used by tax bodies when distraint or debt-recovery measures are taken in respect of compulsory payments owing the budget system of Russia. The new forms supersede the former ones.

Decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 82 of June 13, 2012 on the Form of a Certificate of State Registration of a Product Subject to Conformity Assessment in the Form of State Registration According to Provisions of Technical Regulations of the Customs Union

Uniform-design certificates will be issued in respect of the products subject to conformity assessment under provisions of the technical regulations of the Customs Union in the form of state registration. The design is endorsed by Decision of the Commission of the Customs Union No. 299 of May 28, 2010. This assessment concerns the conformity of some kinds of perfumes and cosmetic products as well as goods for children and teenagers.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 878 of June 18, 2012 on the Council for Economic Modernisation and Innovative Development under the President of the Russian Federation

A Council for Economic Modernisation and Innovative Development is formed under the President of the Russian Federation. Regulations on the council and its charter are endorsed. The council is chaired by the President of the Russian Federation.
Within its cognisance the council ensures the cooperation of federal, regional and local governmental bodies as well as public associations, scientific and other organisations. Inter alia the council prepares proposals for designating main guidelines and mechanisms of modernisation and defines priority lines of state regulation and the forms and methods thereof. It forms inter-departmental commissions with representatives of federal, regional and local bodies as members.
As a rule, meetings of the Council are convened at least once in six months. Decisions are formalised as instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, and decrees and orders may be issued for the purpose of realising them. The council's decisions are sent to the Government, the Federation Council, State Duma and governmental bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The presidium of the Council holds it meetings at least once a month, with its decisions being formalised as instructions of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.
The Commission for Modernisation and the Technological Development of the Economy of Russia has been abolished.
The Decree enters into force when signed.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 876 of June 18, 2012 on the Presidential Directorate for Public Relations and Communications

It is decided to form a Presidential Directorate for Public Relations and Communications within the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. Regulations on the newly formed directorate are approved.
The directorate is a self-sustained unit of the Administration. Its objectives are set as follows: analysing the positions of mass media, the public opinion concerning the implementation of state policies in the various fields and feeding information concerning it on real-time basis to the President of the Russian Federation, coordinating information support for international events in Russia and abroad (like the Sochi Winter Olympics). The directorate's functions encompass the coordination of operation of the press services of federal executive governmental bodies in terms of implementing presidential decisions of special importance, participation in event planning etc.
Effective when signed.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 597 of June 18, 2012 on Amending the List of Codes of the Foodstuffs in Accordance with the All-Russia Classification of Products Which Are Subject to Value Added Tax at the Rate of Ten Per Cent at Sale

The list of codes of the foodstuffs subject to VAT at sale at the rate of 10% has been modified. The adjustments affected dairy products (including cheeses), vegetable oils, baby mixes, infant food and diabetic foods.
Moreover, some products have been removed from the list of the goods subject to said rate at sale. Among them are fruit and vegetable diabetic preserves, cottage-cheese items and dairy beverages for baby feeding.
Effective as of the time of official publication.
Confectionery, semi-cooked foods, animal-feed fats and those used in bakery will not be taxed at 10% rate after one month since the publication of the decision (but not before the first day of the next tax period for VAT purposes).

Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation No. 404 of May 15, 2012 on Endorsing the Forms of Certificates of Recognition of Foreign States' Documents on Academic Degrees and Academic Titles on the Territory of the Russian Federation and on the Technical Requirements Applicable Thereto

In the past applicants received relevant certificates as the result of recognition and establishment of the equivalency of their foreign states' documents concerning academic qualifications and ranks.
Starting from February 1, 2012 applicants receive certificates of recognition of foreign states' documents on academic degrees and titles on the territory of Russia. The forms thereof and the technical requirements applicable thereto are established.
The certificate confirms that a foreign state's document confers the same academic and/or professional rights on the holder thereof as those possessed by the holders of state-approved design documents concerning an academic degree (title).
Printed certificate forms are counterfeit-proof.
The Order on Endorsing the Forms of Certificates of Recognition and of Establishing the Equivalency of Foreign States' Documents on Academic Degrees and Titles on the Territory of the Russian Federation is deemed no longer effective.

Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. 11 of June 14, 2012 on the Practices of Courts' Hearing Cases Relating to the Extradition of Persons for Criminal Prosecution or Execution of a Sentence and Also the Extradition of Persons for Serving Sentences

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation provided clarifications concerning the extradition of persons for criminal prosecution or execution of a sentence and also the extradition of persons for serving sentences. A person may be extradited to a foreign state if the offence in connection with which extradition was requested is punishable under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and the legislation of the state that requested it. Extraditing and handing over a person and recognising a foreign state's court's judgement are to be based on an international treaty of the Russian Federation or on the principle of reciprocity. Accordingly, courts have to find out if the requesting foreign state is party to an international treaty of the Russian Federation.
Grounds for refusing extradition are provided. For instance, no extradition is possible to a state being party to the European Convention on Extradition if there is immunity by reason of lapse of time from criminal prosecution or punishment. Courts' attention is drawn up to the fact that the conditions and grounds for refusing to extradite someone are provided not only in the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation and other laws but also in international treaties of the Russian Federation.
While a person is held in custody awaiting an extradition request courts have to consider other measures of restraint that might be sufficient to ensure the possible extradition of the person. If no other measure of constraint may be chosen this has to be explained in a court's judgement.
According to an international treaty of the Russian Federation a person may be extradited to serve a sentence not only in the state whose citizen he/she is but also to the one where he/she permanently resides.
A list of officially published international treaties of the Russian Federation dealing with extradition matters is provided.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 596 of June 18, 2012 on Amending Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 982 of December 1, 2009

From July 1 the conformity of goods intended for children and of cosmetics, perfumes and some other products with the provisions of technical regulations of the Customs Union requires confirmation. Five technical regulations of the Customs Union enter into force as of July 1, 2012, concerning the safety of package, light industry products and of products intended for children and teenagers as well as toys, perfumes and cosmetics. Accordingly, the lists of the products subject to compulsory certification or declaration of conformity in the System GOST R are adjusted.
The decision enters into force as of July 1, 2012. The certificates and declarations of conformity will keep effective until the expiry of their effective term but in any case not after July 1, 2014 for light industry products, cosmetics and perfumes, and until February 15, 2014 for other items. Said products may be manufactured and traded in accordance with the provisions of GOST standards. The products and packing made under said documents need not be re-marked with the conformity mark.

Regulations of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia) N 380-P of May 31, 2012 on the Procedure for Observation in the National Payment System

The Bank of Russia monitors the state of affairs in the national payment system, observing the activities of operators and of other entities acting in the national payment system as well as the development of payment systems and infrastructure. This is done by sending binding requests for provision of the necessary information to entities acting in the national payment system and by holding working meetings with authorised representatives thereof etc.
A significant payment system will be appraised by the Central Bank at least once in two years, the procedure being completed within three months. The objective is to assess the degree to which observed organisations and the significant payment systems related thereto meet the recommendations of the Bank of Russia. The results of the appraisal shall be published.
At least once in two years the Bank of Russia will prepare a review of the results of the entire observation.
The regulations enter into force as of July 1, 2012.

Direction of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia) No. 2827-U of June 4, 2012

Rules for furnishing information on the persons significantly affecting the decisions taken by the managerial bodies of a bank are modified. Shareholders having less than 1% of votes have to be mentioned in information on the persons significantly affecting the decision-taking of the bank's managerial bodies. The information is published on the official website of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. If a bank refuses to place information on such website a notice is to be sent to the Bank of Russia's territorial institution.
This direction enters into force upon the expiry of ten days after being officially published in Vestnik Banka Rossii.

Direction of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia) No. 2831-U of June 9, 2012

The forms of reports are established as well as rules for drawing up and filing such reports in respect of data protection in the course of money remittances of three categories of operators, i.e. payment systems, payment infrastructure services and money remittance services.
Effective from July 1, 2012

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MMV-7-3/346@ of May 22, 2012 on Amending Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MMV-7-3/656@ of October 24, 2011

Amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, effective July 1, 2012, affect the procedure for excise tax payment when transactions involve excisable goods and also the details of exemption from taxation when the goods are sold to foreign countries.
Thus, producers of alcohol products are exempt from the duty to pay excise tax in advance if a banker's guarantee is filed with the tax body together with the relevant notice. If taxpayers have paid excise tax on products sold in Russia in the amount shown in that banker's guarantee the tax body notifies the bank of relief from liabilities under the guarantee, this being done not later than on the day following the completion of verification of the tax return concerning excise taxes. The taxpayers which export their products and have to pay excise tax in advance are entitled to submit one banker's guarantee to the tax body for relief from the duty to pay the excise tax accrued on the exported products and also the excise tax advance payment.
Unless the taxpayer is in arrears on excise taxes, penalties or fines, the tax body sends a notice of relief from the liabilities under the guarantee to the bank.
Effective as of July 1, 2012

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 435n of May 2, 2012 on Endorsing the Procedure for the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation to Provide a Non-State Pension Fund with the Information Required for Non-State Pension Funds to Administer the Accumulated Portion of a Labour Pension and Also Other Disbursements Effected with Accumulated Pension Funds

When a non-state pension fund is in need of information for the purposes of administering the accumulated portion of a labour pension and other disbursements effected with accumulated pension funds the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation shall provide such information. A procedure is defined for sending such information.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 53n of April 26, 2012 on Endorsing the Forms of, and Due Dates for Filing, Reports on Lotteries

The forms of reports are confirmed in respect of three types of lotteries, i.e. all-Russia state (regional), non-state and promotion ones. Reports shall be filed for national level to the Federal Tax Service and for the regional level to the empowered executive governmental body of the relevant subject of the Russian Federation. Organisers (operators) are responsible for this.
Also, the form of a report on the regional non-state and promotion lotteries registered on the territory of a subject of Russia as well as municipal lotteries is provided.
Two acts of the Ministry of Finance are deemed no longer effective: the one endorsing the Rules for Monitoring State Lotteries and Non-State Lotteries Conducted on Behalf of a Municipality and Also the Forms of, and the Term for Filing, Reports on Them, and the one establishing the forms and term for filing reports on lotteries and the methodology for conducting lotteries.
Effective from July 1, 2012.

Order of the Federal Service on Alcohol Market Regulation No. 131 of May 30, 2012 on Establishing and Introducing, Effective July 1, 2012, the Prices below Which the Purchase (Except for Import), Delivery (Except for Export) and Retail Sale of Alcohol Products over 28 Per Cent Proof Is Inadmissible

Minimum admissible prices for alcohol products are raised, effective from July 1, 2012. For instance vodka supplied by a producer will not be sold below 101 roubles per a half-litre bottle (77.7 roubles before). If sold by someone else, it will not be below 112 roubles, and in retail it will be 128 roubles and higher.
The new prices do not extend to alcohol products export and import.

Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 2829-U of June 7, 2012 on the Procedure for an Money Remittance Operator to Notify the Bank of Russia of the Commencement of Participation in a Payment System for the Purposes of Transborder Money Remittance

Money remittance operators (except for the Central Bank of the Russian Federation) may take part in payment systems for the purposes of transborder money remittance, provided the Bank of Russia is notified accordingly. A procedure for doing so is defined and a pertinent document form is provided.
At least ten days after the beginning of participation in a payment system a lending organisation is to send a notice in writing to the territorial institution of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation responsible for supervision over the operation of its head office. Within the same term Vneshekonombank is to notify the Moscow Head Territorial Directorate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
The direction enters into force ten days after its official publication. If as of the direction's effective date an operator has been already taking part in a payment system for transborder money remittance he is to send a notice within ten calendar days after that date.

Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 2830-U of June 9, 2012 on Requirements Applicable to the Lending Institutions and Foreign Banks in Which the Central Depositary Is Entitled to Place Funds

In which lending institutions and foreign banks is the central depositary entitled to place funds in correspondent accounts and deposits? The requirements to be met by such institutions and banks are established. For instance, a lending institution formed under Russian law is to have a long-term international credit rating at "BBB-" or higher (Fitch Ratings or Standard&Poor's) or "Ваа3" (Moody's Investors Service).
Also a foreign bank incorporated in the countries having country risk category 0 or 1 is to have a similar international rating.
Same country risk categories are required from the states of incorporation of the foreign banks acting as international centralised systems intended to keep record of the rights to securities and/or to settle accounts in respect thereof or central depositaries according to the law of the country where they are based. It also concerns the banks settling accounts for securities according to the results of trading on foreign stock exchanges or other regulated markets or effecting clearing according to the results of such trading.
Country risk categories are shown in accordance with the classification of the export credit agencies being party to the OECD's Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits.
Apart from that funds may be placed in a foreign bank which is incorporated in a member state of the Commonwealth of Independent States and acts as a central depositary according to the law of the country where it is located.
The direction enters into force upon the expiry of ten days after its official publication in Vestnik Banka Rossii.

Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 2832-U of June 9, 2012 on the Details of Rules of the Payment Systems Within which Money Remittances Take Place for Transactions Concluded in Organised Trading

By January 1, 2013 the rules of payment systems are to be brought in line with newly adopted provisions in as much as its concerns money remittance for transactions concluded in organised trading.
Such rules should envisage the methods of interaction of a payment system operator with a clearing organisation, save cases when the clearing organisation is party to the payment system or when such methods are established by a contract concluded by the clearing organisation with the payment system operator. The rules will also define how a payment clearing centre (settlement centre) is to cooperate with a clearing organisation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 607 of June 19, 2012 on the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation

The Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation has been transformed into
Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation. Its functions in the area of youth policy are assigned to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and those in the area of tourism to the Ministry of Culture of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 615 of June 19, 2012 on Endorsing the Rules for Keeping a State Register of Medical Articles and of the Producers and Manufacturers Thereof

Rules are provided for keeping a state register of medical articles and of the producers and manufacturers thereof. The register is a federal information system run by the Federal Service for Supervision over Public Health.
The decision enters into force as of July 1, 2012.
Information on the articles registered in Russia before that date are subject to inclusion in the register.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 614 of June 19, 2012 on Amending Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 323 of June 30, 2004

The Federal Service for Supervision over Public Health and Social Development has become the Federal Service for Supervision over Public Health. The powers thereof have been modified, for instance it is no longer responsible for monitoring the observance of state standards of provision of social services, the procedure for establishing the degree of loss of occupational working ability due to on-the-job accidents and occupational diseases. And it does not monitor the operation of guardianship bodies.
It is in line with the splitting of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation into two separate ministries, the one for public health and the other for labour and social protection.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 613 of June 19, 2012 on Setting the Level of Living Wage on Per Capita Basis for the Main Social-Demographic Groups and as a Whole for the Population for the Russian Federation for Quarter I of 2012

Per capita living wage for Quarter I of 2012 is equal to 6,307 roubles for Russia as a whole, 6,827 roubles for able-bodied population, 4,963 roubles for pensioners and 6,070 for children. In the preceding Quarter it was 6,209, 6,710, 4,902, and 5,993 roubles respectively.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 609 of June 19, 2012 on Amending Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 206 of April 11, 2005

The functions of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency are modified in line with the reform of federal executive governmental bodies structure. The agency is under the jurisdiction of the newly formed Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 601 of June 19, 2012 on Amending Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 420 of June 2, 2008

The status of the Federal State Statistics Service is amended due to the reform of federal executive governmental bodies structure. Now the service is directed by the Government of the Russian Federation (previously it was under the Ministry of Economic Deployment of the Russian Federation), and its powers have expanded, for instance it submits draft normative acts to the government concerning the all-Russia census and other federal statistical observation techniques etc.

Federal Law No. 85-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending Article 21 of the Federal Law on the Development Bank

The disbursement reserve maintained in the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation as relating to the accumulated portions of pensions will be under the trust management of Vneshekonombank.
From July 1, 2012 accumulated pension funds will start to be paid out to citizens. Those who made additional contributions may choose either to receive a pension disbursement during at least ten years or the accumulated portion of old-age labour pensions. To finance the latter the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation maintains the disbursement reserve.

Federal Law No. 83-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Deeming as No Longer Effective Paragraphs 2 and 4 of Part 2 of Article 7 of the Federal Law on Mortgage Securities

The list of binding standard ratios for the lending institutions issuing mortgage-secured bonds is reduced.
The ratio N 19 has been removed in line with the amendments to the legislation according to which the assets making up the mortgage collateral that secures the performance of obligations relating to bonds is not included in the bankrupt's estate. Accordingly, N 19 is of no significance. Moreover, lending institutions are not required to observe N 17, i.e. the minimum ratio of the amount of provided mortgage-secured loans and owner's equity (capital).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 616 of June 21, 2012 on Endorsing the List of the Goods, Works and Services Purchased in an Electronic Form

Which goods, works and services the companies having a stake of the state and natural monopolies have to purchase in an electronic form?
A list of such items is established. It concerns state companies, natural monopoly entities, state corporations, the organisations pursuing regulated types of activity in the field of electricity, gas, heat and water supply, water removal and disposal of solid household waste, unitary enterprises, autonomous institutions, business associations with a state (municipal) stake of over 50% as well as the affiliates thereof.
The list includes for instance paper, printed matter, office items, computers, medical devices, motor vehicles and parts for them, natural water etc., as well as motor-vehicle and office-appliance maintenance and repair services.
No electronic purchase is compulsory when information about purchase is not subject to placement in the internet or if a product (service) is bought from a sole supplier. Also the rule does not extend to emergencies.
Effective one month after the date of official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 611 of June 19, 2012 on Amending the Regulations on the Federal Labour and Employment Service

Responsibility for control and supervision functions in the field of social protection has been vested in the Federal Labour and Employment Service due to the change of the federal executive governmental bodies structure. The service is now under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 610 of June 19, 2012 on Endorsing the Regulations on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 21, 2012 transformed the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development into the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation.
Regulations on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation are endorsed. The ministry is responsible for elaborating and implementing state policies and for normative legal regulation in the field of demography, labour, pensions and social insurance (except for compulsory medical insurance) etc. The Federal Labour and Employment Service reports to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation. Also the ministry co-ordinates the activities of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation and the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation.
The decision enters into force upon the expiry of seven days after official publication, save specific provisions effective as of July 1, 2012.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 608 of June 19, 2012 on Endorsing the Regulations on the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation

By a presidential decree the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development is transformed into the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation.
Regulations on the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation are endorsed. The ministry carries out the functions of elaborating and implementing state policies and normative legal regulation in such areas as public health, compulsory medical insurance, handling of medicines for medical purposes, including prevention of diseases, medical assistance, health rehabilitation, medical examinations (except for medical-social and military-medical ones), pharmaceutical activities, for instance ensuring the quality, effectiveness and safety of medicines etc. Also it deals with the sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing of the public, medical support to employees of hazardous sectors of economy, medical assessment of the effects of hazardous physical and chemical factors on the human body, health resort matters etc.
Apart from that, the ministry manages state properties and provide state services in public health.
The ministry co-ordinates and monitors the activities of the Federal Service for Supervision over Public Health, the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, the federal state institutions and federal state unitary enterprises which report thereto. Also it co-ordinates the activities of the Federal Fund for Obligatory Medical Insurance

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 604 of June 19, 2012 on the Federal Service for Defence Orders

Rosoboronzakaz (The Federal Service for Defence Orders) has acquired the powers to produce normative acts. The service which previously was under the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation now reports directly to the Government of the Russian Federation.
New regulations on the service are endorsed. The field of the service's activities has remained the same, i.e. control and supervision concerning defence orders and the deliveries of secret goods (works and services). Rosoboronzakaz is empowered to carry out normative legal regulation in this field.

Review of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of June 20, 2012 "Review of the Judicial Practices of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation for Quarter I of the Year 2012"

The review traditionally presents a set of materials dedicated to controversial aspects of civil-law and criminal-law cases concerning for instance contracts of simple partnership, land ownership and lease, protection of consumers' rights, labour disputes, occupational diseases etc.

Resolution of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. 13 of June 19, 2012

Clarifications are provided to courts concerning the various aspects of application of the civil procedural legislation governing proceedings in a court of appellate instance.

Information Letter of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 150 of May 22, 2012

The letter analyses practices in cases relating to the dismissal of bankruptcy receivers. Ground for dismissing a bankruptcy receiver may be the minutes of a meeting of creditors who decided to refer to court for such purpose. In this case the lack of a petition proper does not prevent the hearing of the case. Also a petition of the creditors committee may serve as such ground, even though no decision on that matter is taken by a meeting of creditors.
Causing actual losses is dealt with to show that if no exact amount of actual losses has been established, the bankruptcy receiver may be dismissed if it is established that they could have occurred due to his fault. A definition of "actual losses" is provided.
If a bankruptcy receiver fails to indemnify actual losses in one bankruptcy case this may serve as ground for his being removed in another proceeding.
If a winding-up proceeding has been completed and the bankruptcy receiver has filed a report (with no grounds for refusing to confirm it) on the results thereof with a court then the court is entitled to refuse to dismiss the receiver, even though there are reasons for doing so, because if such petition were upheld it would not cause the reinstatement of the rights infringed upon.

Federal Law No. 94-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending Parts 1 an 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Some Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

These amendments affect special taxation regimes. A licence-based simplified taxation system may be practiced without cash registers on the condition that if the buyer so wishes the seller is to provide a receipt for the money received. Rules for taxation in such case are provided.
The licence-based trade system is going to be instituted by laws of Russia's regions. The previously effective list of the relevant types of activity is cut from 69 to 47. The newly inserted items include dry-cleaning, dyeing and laundering and hiring services, passenger and cargo carriage by waterways, excursion services and retail trade.
Effective as of January 1, 2013, save some provisions with other effective dates.

Federal Law No. 93-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending Some Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation on Issues of State Control (Supervision) and Municipal Control

Improvements are made in state control (supervision) and municipal control in the field of land, environmental, housing and building supervision as well as the licensing of printed matter production, fire-fighting, hazardous waste disposal, trade in alcohol and the commissioning of sources of radiation.
For instance, off-schedule inspections of economic entities do not require prior notification if harm is inflicted to historical and cultural monuments. The powers of Moscow authorities to carry out a state expert examination of the design documents pertaining to unique sites and to exercise building supervision over them are extended until 2017. The content of federal state supervision over trading in medicines is adjusted.
Effective as of the date of its official publication, save some provisions.

Federal Law No. 92-FZ of June 25, 2012 on the Ratification of the Treaty on the Unified Board of the Customs Services of the Member States of the Customs Union

A Unified Board of the Customs Services of the Member States of the Customs Union is instituted. It will co-ordinate the activities of the customs services, take part in the formation of the uniform legal base of the Customs Union and ensure a uniform application of the customs legislation of the Customs Union.
Decisions of the board will be adopted by consensus. The functions of the Secretariat of the Board are vested in the Federal Customs Service of Russia.

Federal Law No. 91-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending the Federal Law on the General Principles of Organisation of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation

The Law on the General Principles of Organisation of Local Self-Government has been amended to update certain issues, like heat, electricity, gas, water supply, water removal etc.

Federal Law No. 90-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending Article 15 of the Federal Law on the Status of Military Servicemen and Articles 9 and 13 of the Federal Law on the Accumulation Mortgage System Intended to Provide Living Quarters to Military Servicemen

Laws on the status of military servicemen and the provision of living quarters to military servicemen have been adjusted and clarified.

Federal Law No. 89-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending Article 101 of the Federal Law on the Fundamentals of Protection of the Health of Citizens in the Russian Federation

The law concerns trading in the medical items which are registered in the procedure established by the Government of Russia or the empowered federal executive body. That provision in respect of state registration procedure was to be applicable starting from July 1, 2012. However no normative legal act endorsing the new registration procedure has been adopted. Accordingly the due date is extended to January 1, 2013.

Federal Law No. 88-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending Article 54 of the Federal Law on Police and Article 6 of the Federal Law on Amending the Federal Law on Bailiffs and Some Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

Police will keep foreigners and stateless persons deported from Russia on police premises until 2013, not thereafter. Effective January 1, 2012, according to the Law on Police police ceased to carry out the duty to effect the administrative deportation of foreigners and stateless persons. Police had to keep deported persons on special premises of internal affairs bodies until relevant institutions get created and commissioned by regional executive governmental bodies, with July 1, 2012 being the deadline. Now the deadline is moved to January 1, 2013.

Federal Law No. 87-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending Article 178 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation (it is not in force)

Unidentified corpses have to undergo DNA tests and registration, apart from photography and fingerprinting.

Federal Law No. 86-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending the Arbitration Procedural Code of the Russian Federation in Connection with the Improvement of the Simplified Procedure

The purpose of the amendments is to improve the simplified arbitration judicial and appellate proceedings.
For instance now the simplified procedure is applicable to the following categories of cases: the collection of funds if the amount is up to 300,000 roubles for legal entities and 100,000 roubles for individual entrepreneurs, the contesting of non-normative legal acts and decisions of bodies relating to claims for amounts of up to 100,000 roubles, cases of administrative liability envisaging only a fine of up to 100,000 roubles and the collection of compulsory payments and sanctions totalling up to 100,000 roubles.
The simplified procedure do not apply to corporate disputes and cases of protection of the rights and legal interests of a group of persons.
Term for consideration of a claim (application) is extended to two months. A decision taken in a case is subject to appeal within ten days instead of one month and it takes effect immediately.
The law enters into force upon the expiry of 90 days after official publication.

Federal Law No. 82-FZ of June 25, 2012 on the Administration of the Budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2004

The results of administration of the budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for 2004 are produced.

Federal Law No. 81-FZ of June 25, 2012 on Amending the Federal Law on the Budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2012 and for the Planned Period 2013 and 2014

The law on the budget of the Pension Fund for 2012-2014 is amended to reflect the resources of the disbursement reserve.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 55n of April 27, 2012 on Amending Normative Legal Acts on Bookkeeping

The bookkeeping of socially-oriented not-for-profit organisations is now made easier. Amendments are made in the accounting regulations PBU 9/99, PBU 10/99, PBU 19/02, PBU 1/2008 and some others.
The amendments enter into force starting from the annual statements for the Year 2012.

Regulations of the Bank of Russia No. 377-P of April 28, 2012 on the Procedure for a Bank to Inform a Tax Body in an Electronic Form about the Grant or Termination of the Right to Use Corporate Electronic Payment Facilities for the Purpose of Electronic Money Remittances and about Change of the Details of a Corporate Electronic Payment Facility

A procedure is provided for a bank to inform electronically a tax body about the termination or grant of the right of using corporate electronic payment facilities for money remittance purposes. Such right may belong to institutions, individual entrepreneurs, private notaries, the lawyers who have instituted barristers/solicitors offices and also investment partnerships.
The procedure enters into force as of November 6, 2012.

Federal Law No. 95-FZ of June 27, 2012 on Amending Article 1.1 of the Federal Law on the Days of Military Glory and Commemorative Dates of Russia

April 27 is declared as "Day of Russian Parliamentarism" to commemorate that day of 1906 when the first State Duma of Russia commenced its deliberations.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 906 of June 27, 2012 on the Functions of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

According to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 21, 2012 the activities of Rospatent are directed by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and those of the Federal Forestry Agency (Rosleskhoz) by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation. Accordingly, it is no longer mentioned that the agency and the service report to the Government of the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology has acquired the functions of elaborating state policies and normative legal regulation in respect of forestry relationships. Rosleskhoz no longer is responsible for control and supervision over forestry matters.
The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation has acquired the functions of elaborating state policies and normative legal regulation in the field of control and supervision over the legal protection and use of the results of intellectual property created with federal budget funds and also control and supervision in said field in respect of state customers and the organisations acting as contractors under state R&D contracts.
At the same time Rospatent has lost its powers to exercise normative legal regulation in the field of control, supervision and provision of state services in the established area of activity.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 634 of June 25, 2012 on the Types of Electronic Signature One May Use While Applying for State and Municipal Services

Rules are provided for defining the types of electronic signature that may be used when someone is applying for state and municipal services.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 630 of June 25, 2012 on Support to the Federal Executive Governmental Bodies and the Top Executive Governmental Bodies of Subjects of the Russian Federation in Their Implementing Administrative Reform in 2012

Measures are provided for implementing administrative reform in Russia in 2012, including financing and rules for provision of assistance.
A subject of the Russian Federation may seek a subsidy granted on the basis of a decision of the Government of the Russian Federation if there is a normative legal act endorsing a programme for lowering administrative barriers and enhancing the quality and accessibility of state and municipal services on the territory thereof.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 618 of June 25, 2012 on Endorsing the Rates of Export Customs Duties on Crude Oil and Some Categories of Petroleum Products Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation and the Territories of the Member States of the Agreements on the Customs Union

The rate of export duty on oil is reduced effective July 1.
For instance, the rate for oil is cut from $ 419.8 per ton to $ 369.3. The rate for oil with density from 694.7 to 887.6 kg/cu. m at 20°С and sulphur from 0.04 to 1.5 weight-percent is $ 173 (instead of $210.8). The exception is oil from Talakan (Eastern Block),West-Ayan, Yarakta and Markovo oil & gas condensate fields and Alinskoye and Danilovskoye gas & oil fields. It is subject to export duty on general terms at the rate of $369.3.
The rate for propylene trimers and tetramers is reduced from $ 27.2 to 24. The rates for light and medium distillates, gasoils, fluid fuels, oils, spent petroleum products, petrolatum, mineral waxes (with some exceptions) and similar products, oil coke and bitumen etc. are set at $243.7 instead of 277. Some exceptions are still taxed at zero rate.
Propane, butane, ethylene, propylene, butylene, butadiene and other liquefied gases at export are now taxed at the rate of $133 ($237.1 before).
Effective July 1, 2012.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 602 of June 19, 2012 on the Accreditation of the Certification Bodies and Testing Laboratories (Centres) Which Carry out the Work of Confirming Conformity, Appraising Accreditation Experts and Also on the Recruitment and Selection of Accreditation Experts and Technical Experts to Take Part in Accreditation

New rules are provided for the accreditation of certification bodies and testing laboratories involved in the confirmation of conformity. The Federal Accreditation Service (Rosakkreditatsiya) is a service specifically set up to carry out accreditation. Accreditation criteria are defined by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. A certificate of accreditation is issued for a five-year term. It may be terminated if irregularities are discovered during inspections.
The new rules enter into force four months after signing. An accreditation document issued earlier will keep effective until the end of its effective term.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 95 of June 7, 2012 on Endorsing the Form of the Notice Whereby a Notary Notifies a Pledgor/Mortgagor (Debtor) of the Performance of a Secured Obligation

If a debtor defaults on or improperly performs a secured obligation the pledged (mortgaged) item may become the subject matter of levy of execution on a notary's writ of enforcement in a prejudicial procedure, if the contract of pledge/mortgage comprises such clause and is attested by a notary.
While producing a writ of enforcement a notary is first to propose that the pledgor/mortgagor (debtor) perform his obligation voluntarily within seven days, with a notice to this effect being sent thereto. Unless the notice is complied with, levy of execution takes place.

Information Message of the Federal Service on Alcohol Market Regulation of June 25, 2012 on the Need for Re-Issuance of an Effective Licence

From July 1, 2012 licences for the production, storage and delivery of produced wines, alcoholic beverages and alcohol-containing foodstuff items are to be re-issued. The definitions of "ethyl alcohol", "wine", "alcohol-containing foodstuff products" are updated and definitions are provided for new products like "liqueur wine", "fruit wine" and "wine beverage".
A licence re-issuance application is to be filed with the licensor within 30 days after the occurrence of relevant circumstances and it is to contain the reasons for the re-issuance.

Information Message the Federal Service on Alcohol Market Regulation of June 21, 2012

Effective July 1, 2012 the basic notions of types of activity and types of products used for the purposes of the Law on State Regulation of the Production of and Trade in Ethyl Alcohol, Alcohol Products and Alcohol-Containing Products are modified. Accordingly, relevant licences have to be re-issued. The application form is available on the internet website of the Federal Service on Alcohol Market Regulation.

The Budget Message of President of the Russian Federation V.Putin of June 28, 2012 on Budget Policies in 2013-2015

In his budget message for 2013-2015 President Putin highlighted seven problems. First, there is a significant oil and gas deficit. Second, the structure of budget expenditures is not best suited to provide incentives for economic development. It manifests itself in the deficiency of funding for infrastructure, education and science projects. Third, a low level of the financial and economic feasibility studies underlying the decisions that lead to new expenditure undertakings. Fourth, frequently the effectiveness of budget spending is low and the socioeconomic effects thereof are incommensurate to the amount of funds spent. Fifth, inter-budget relationships are not fully tuned to encourage regional and local authorities to foster favourable conditions for entrepreneurial and investment activities, and dependence on financial aid from other budgets is high. Sixth, the budget policy is unclear for the public as the need for and the essence of authorities' decisions and actions are not properly disclosed. Seventh, permanent segmentary modifications of the tax legislation. Continuous anticipation of such amendments hinders the implementation of long-term investment projects.
The objective of the budget policy for 2013 and for the mid-term period is a cardinal enhancement of the quality of strategic governance in economy and public finance. To achieve it ten basic goals shall be pursued. First, the budget policy is to become a more effective tool of implementing the socioeconomic policy of the state. Second, the budget is to be administered on the basis of state programmes. Third, the mechanisms of implementation of and the supply of resources for the state programmes and the alignment thereof with the long-term goals of socioeconomic policy of the state. Fourth, the quality of municipal and state services provided to the public is to be enhanced. Fifth, macroeconomic stability and budget sustainability are to be ensured. Sixth, parameters are to be set for further development of the pension system to cater for demographic changes in the structure of the population. Seventh, the taxation system is to be adjusted to improve the quality of investment climate, boost entrepreneurial activities, improve the structure of the economy and rise its competitiveness. Eighth, a new phase of development of inter-budget relationships is to be implemented as broadening the self-sustainability and accountability of the regions. Ninth, Russia's government is to ensure Russia's permanent access to debt markets on acceptable terms, cut the cost of borrowing and expenses towards debt liabilities, get additional income from the management of the Reserve Fund and the National Wealth Fund. Tenth, the transparency and openness of the budget and budget process for the public is to be ensured.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 642 of June 26, 2012 on the Federal Executive Governmental Bodies Authorised to Keep an Official Internet Website when Goods, Works and Services Are Purchased by Some Types of Legal Entities

Information on the purchase of goods, works and services by certain types of legal entities is to be placed on the official internet website at the following address: www.zakupki.gov.ru. Responsibility for keeping this website is vested in the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the Federal Treasury.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 635 of June 25, 2012 on Amending and Deeming as No Longer Effective Some Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on Issues of Licensing Some Types of Activity

Acts of Russia's government are brought in line with the Law on Licensing Some Types of Activity. This concerns expedient measures for preventing counterfeiting in respect of the securities forms used in Russia. Earlier such measures were intended for the legal entities being holders of licences for making securities forms. Now they are of importance for the organisations holding licences for making and selling counterfeit-proof printed matter.
Also water supply matters are clarified.
Among the acts deemed no longer effective there are regulations on licensing building activities (1996), electricity sale to the public (2005) and the manufacturing and repair of metering devices (2006).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 631 of June 25, 2012 on Amending the Regulations on the Federal Antimonopoly Service

The powers of the Federal Antimonopoly Service are broadened to be in line with the Law on the Purchase of Goods, Works and Services by Some Types of Legal Entities.
Thus, the service now endorses the procedure for determining the aggregate stake of Russia, a region, a municipal formation and a legal entity in the charter capitals of business associations. Also it elaborates the procedure for notifying customers of a change in the aggregate stake in the charter capital of business associations. Approval is such cases has to be sought from the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
According to clarifications the Federal Antimonopoly Service is responsible for keeping the registers of mala fide suppliers envisaged by the Law on the Purchase of Goods, Works and Services by Some Types of Legal Entities and the Law on the Placement of Orders for Delivery of Goods, Performance of Works and Provision of Services for State and Municipal Needs.

Order of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation No. 220 of June 1, 2012 on Amending the Methodology of Assessing the Cost of Building Products on the Territory of the Russian Federation

Inter alia the method of calculating a contingency reserve for unforeseen works and costs is updated. The amount of the reserve shall not exceed 2% for non-industrial major construction sites, 3% for industrial ones and 10% for unique major construction sites as well as atomic power plants, space-flight infrastructure, Class 1 hydraulic engineering structures and metro.

Information of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation of June 27, 2012 "The Territories Joined with Moscow Shift to Code "495"

Updated dialling rules are provided due to the change of the boundaries between the City of Moscow and Moscow Region, effective July 1, 2012. Phone codes are changed and new figures inserted in phone numbers on the territories so joined to Moscow. Phone operators are obliged to inform users accordingly. Transition period to the new system is from July 1 through September 1, 2012.

Information Message of the Federal Service on Alcohol Market Regulation of June 27, 2012 "For Alcohol Market Operators"

The Federal Service on Alcohol Market Regulation announced that declarations of retail sales of alcohol products and the output and sales of beer and beer beverages for Quarters I and II of 2012 are going to be accepted until September 1, 2012. Accordingly the organisations pursuing relevant types of activity have to undergo a registration procedure on a personal account of the service. Information is available from a hot line service and an official forum.

Information Message of the Federal Service on Alcohol Market Regulation of June 26, 2012 on a Statement for a SMR Note Concerning Ethyl Alcohol, Alcohol Products and Alcohol-Containing Products

The updated form of a statement relating to a SMR note for ethyl alcohol, alcohol products and alcohol-containing products endorsed by decision of Russia's government No. 422 of May 2, 2012 is applicable from May 22, 2012.
An exhibit explaining the completion of Sections A and B of the form is available on the official internet website of the Federal Service on Alcohol Market Regulation. If Sections A and B had been drawn up before May 22, 2012 they need not be re-made.