The Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation officially allowed the dispensing of drugs by electronic prescription from October 25. However, it may take some time for the region to take a decision on the use of electronic prescriptions and to connect to the corresponding information system.
 

December 1, 2020 is the last day for the proper payment of property taxes for individuals for 2019. If the tax notification has not been received by November 1, and taxable property (vehicle, land plot, residential premises, garden house, garage, etc.) is available, this is a reason to contact the tax office and clarify the data. This may be done in any convenient way: in person, by mail, through the authorised multifunctional centre or via electronic services "Personal account of the taxpayer" or "Contact the Federal Tax Service".
 

In 2021, one day of the public holiday will be moved from Saturday (February 20) to Monday (February 22). As a result, the weekend in connection with February 23 will last three days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday). However, the previous business week will be six days.
November holidays will last four days - starting from the 4th to the 7th (from Thursday till Sunday) due to the transfer of the public holiday from Sunday (the 3rd of January).
New Year's holidays in 2022 will begin on Friday (that is December 31, 2021) due to the transfer of a day off weekend from Saturday (the 2nd of January).
 

In connection with the receipt of applications from citizens, the Bank of Russia recalled that the inspection and organisation of an independent technical examination of the damaged car are the direct responsibility of the insurer.
Imposing the obligation to pay for the inspection and organisation of an independent technical examination on the victims shall be inadmissible.
 

In August, the Government of the Russian Federation established the rules for the return of funds to tourists when buying tours of Russia. The money is returned to tourists by the JSC "National system of payment cards".
If the conditions stipulated by Item 68 of Article 217 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, the income of tourists received by them as part of the loyalty programme for MIR card users shall be exempt from personal income tax.
 

Restrictions on entry into Russia for citizens of three more countries - Cuba, Serbia and Japan, introduced due to the situation with the coronavirus, have been cancelled. Citizens of these states, as well as persons entitled to reside in these countries, may now enter Russia from these countries through air checkpoints.
As explained on the official website of the RF Government, air traffic with these countries will be resumed as quid pro quo.
 

The Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) set the dates for sales of tour packages with cashback. They will be available for purchase from October 15 to December 5, 2020.
Submission period - from October 15, 2020 to January 8, 2021.
For such tour packages the Government will refund 20% of the tour cost, but not more than 20 thousand roubles. The voucher shall be paid for with a MIR card.
 

The Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation indicates that mandatory laboratory examination (passing tests for COVID-19 or antibodies) of teachers and other employees of educational organisations before the start of the school year or during the educational process shall not be provided.
 

The Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation announces the posting on its website of the initial list of interchangeable drugs.

In accordance with the new Regulations emergency training will include training for the working population in emergency response at least once a year and when applying for a job within the first month, as well as participation in exercises and training.

The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation recalled the possibility of state registration of a legal entity whose location is the place of residence of an individual who is a permanent executive body or a person authorised to act on behalf of this legal entity.
In this case, the address of the legal entity, which is also the address (place of residence) of the individual, must be used to communicate with the legal entity.

Russians will be able to use the tourist cashback programme on new terms.
The term for the provision of the service shall be extended until January 10, 2021. Now, not only hotels and tour operators, but also travel aggregators will be able to participate in the programme. The dates of the start and end of sales of travel services with cashback will be announced later by the Federal Agency for Tourism.
Minimum tour or hotel duration reduced from four nights to two nights, the minimum cost of the tour is no longer limited (before it was - 25 thousand roubles). The maximum refund will be 20% of the tour cost, but not more than 20 thousand roubles (before it was - 15 thousand roubles.
The prerequisite for the programme (payment with a Mir card) remains the same. Cashback for the card will be credited automatically within five days from the date of payment for the trip.
 

On October 1, 2020 the deadline for the mandatory transition to Mir cards to receive social benefits actually expired.
However, the Central Bank informed credit institutions about the non-application of liability measures for crediting these payments to bank accounts, transactions on which are carried out using payment cards that are not national payment instruments, until December 31, 2020.
Thus, before the new year, benefits can be transferred to those cards that recipients of benefits have, and banks must accept such payments.
 

From October 1 to December 31, 2020, draftees aged 18 to 27 years old are called up for military service (who are not in reserve).
 

Airports were allowed to equip smoking areas in buildings and outdoors. It has been established that surveillance from other rooms for smokers in smoking areas, is excluded.
 

It contains provisions that allow individuals to initiate their bankruptcy out of court.
 

The Russian Agency for Health and Consumer Rights tightened the rules for returning citizens from foreign travel by air. Now tourists returned to the Russian Federation are subject to isolation at home (or in a hotel) until they receive the test results for the absence of COVID-19. And if the test turns out to be positive, then isolation for the whole family will drag on for 14 days.

The taxpayer has the right to take into account the costs of the purchase of a garden land plot where a residential building was built, as part of a property tax deduction after state registration of ownership of the house. This can be done starting from January 1, 2019.
 

The Federal Customs Service reminds that from October 1, 2020, Russia introduces mandatory labelling of perfumes and eau de toilette, as well as cameras (except for motion-picture cameras), photo flashes and flash lamps.
 

From March 1, 2021, the new Rules for the technical inspection of vehicles will come into force.
These amendments provide for the introduction of photographic recording of the vehicle inspection procedure; preparation of diagnostic cards mainly in the form of an electronic document, etc.
 

The International Labour Organisation has developed a guidelines for employers who switched their employees to remote working mode in 2020 in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations address the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees when transferring to remote work, as well as methods for solving problems arising in this regard.

GRANTING THE RIGHT TO IT HAS BEEN APPROVED
On July 27, 2020, a federal law entered into force, which introduced provisions in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation that determine the legal regime of geographical indications. At the same time, the legal regime for appellations of origin was adjusted.