Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 16.05.2003

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.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 52 of January 30, 2003 on the Implementation of the Federal Law on the Financial Rehabilitation of Agricultural Producers

Endorses the method of calculation of parameters of financial standing of agricultural producers, the typical agreement on the restructuring of the debts, typical agreement on the writing off of the amounts of penalties and fines. Defines the basic terms of the restructuring of the debts of agricultural producers, requirements to the participant of the program of financial rehabilitation, as well as lists the documents attached to the application for the inclusion in the participants of the program of financial rehabilitation

Order of the Ministry of Power Supplies of the Russian Federation No. 6 of January 13, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Operation of Consumer Electric Installations

The Rules apply to organisations regardless of the forms of ownership and organisational and legal forms, independent entrepreneurs and citizens possessing electric installations with higher than 1,000 v rating. The Rules include the requirements to the consumers operating electric installations with up to 220 v rating inclusive. The Rules do not apply to electric installations of electric power stations, block-stations, enterprises of electric and thermal networks operated in compliance with the rules of operation of electric stations and networks.
The Rules are entered into force from July 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 22, 2003. Reg. No. 4145.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 1224 of December 16, 2002 "Issues of Licensing of Activities Pertaining to Employment Assistance to Citizens of the Russian Federation Abroad"

Examination of materials and taking decisions on the granting, prolongation, suspension and renewal, appealing to court for revocation, revocation of the license for activities pertaining to employment assistance to citizens of the Russian Federation abroad shall be carried out by the Federal Migration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and its regional divisions. The mentioned service shall also keep the register of licenses and draw up the documents confirming the presence of the license.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4168.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 6 of January 5, 2003 on the Amendment to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 441 of April 30, 2002

The experiment in the Baltic Customs Office in the customs registration of commodities imported to the Russian Federation by sea transport in the framework of the Transatlantic Direction project is prolonged for the year 2003. The particular feature of the customs registration in the framework of the experiment is the special procedure of declaring of the commodities by submitting the temporary or incomplete cargo customs declaration on the first stage of the customs registration followed by subsequent submission of the full or additional cargo customs declaration on the second stage of the customs registration including the conditional release of commodities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 31, 2003. Reg. No. 4163.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 46/ps of December 27, 2002 on the Amendments to Appendix 1 "List of Officials of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia Authorised to Drawn Up the Protocols of Administrative Violations" Endorsed by the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia No. 33/ps of August 14, 2002 on the Endorsement of the List of Officials of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia and Regional Divisions of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia Authorised to Draw Up the Protocols of Administrative Violations

The list includes now the Chief of the Department of Interaction with Self-Regulating Organisations of Professional Participants of the Security Market and Investors, as well as his Deputy.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 31, 2003. Reg. No. 4162.

Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 18560 of December 24, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Decisions, Statements and Certificates Pertaining to Issues of Citizenship of the Russian Federation

Endorses the forms of the following documents drawn up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation by diplomatic representations and consular institutions of the Russian Federation:
- decisions taken to applications for the change of citizenship according to the simplified procedure;
- statements drawn up to applications for the change of citizenship according to the common procedure;
- statements revoking the decisions on the issues of citizenship of the Russian Federation;
- certificates issued in confirmation of the expatriation from the citizenship of the Russian Federation, absence of citizenship of the Russian Federation or adoption for consideration of the application pertaining to issues of citizenship of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4172.

Decision of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation No. 85 of December 31, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Lists of Positions and Works Occupied or Fulfilled by Employees under Written Contracts of Full Individual or Collective (Team) Material Liability, As Well As the Typical Forms of Contracts on Full Material Liability

Lists the positions and works occupied or fulfilled by employees under written contacts on full individual material liability for the shortage of the managed property. Endorses the typical form of the contract on full individual material liability.
Also lists the works permitting to introduce full collective (team) material liability for the shortage of the managed property. Endorses the typical form of the contract on full collective (team) material liability. Specifies that in cases of change of the head of the collective (team) or more than 50% of its initial composition, the mentioned contract must be renewed.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4171.

Decision of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation No. 77 of December 10, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Accreditation of the Bodies in Charge of Certification and Rules of Accreditation of Testing Laboratories

Sets forth common requirements to accreditation of the bodies in charge of certification and testing laboratories in the system of certification of labour safety works in organisations.
The endorsed rules are intended for use in creation, accreditation and functioning of the bodies in charge of certification and testing laboratories, as well as in inspection control over their activities.
The body in charge of accreditation is the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation. The Decision lists the documents submitted to the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation to get the accreditation. The certificate of accreditation is issued for 5 years. Within the effective period of the certificate of accreditation, the body in charge of the accreditation carries out inspection control over the activities of the bodies in charge of certification and testing laboratories.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 31, 2003. Reg. No. 4168.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1284 of November 29, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Accepting of the Cargo Customs Declarations

Defines the procedure of submission by the declaring party and accepting by the customs body of the cargo customs declarations, including the temporary, incomplete, temporary periodic ones on Forms TD1 (main sheet) and on additional Forms TD2 (additional sheet) used for declaring different commodities in the same customs declaration.
The Order lists the documents necessary for the checking of information declared in the cargo customs declarations, as well as the procedure of their presentation. Specifies the procedure of entering changes to the cargo customs declaration or its revocation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4167.

Order of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation No. 4571 of December 24, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Credit Book of the Student of the Institution of the Secondary Professional Education

The credit book shows the results of intermediary certification, information on the course papers, practical lessons, graduation qualification paper, as well as the results of the interdisciplinary professional examination.
The form of the credit book of the student in institutions of the secondary professional education is introduced from September 1, 2004.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 31, 2003. Reg. No. 4161.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1243-U of January 24, 2003 on the Invalidation of Individual Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia

Invalidates the Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 510-U of March 11, 1999 on the procedure of gold purchase operations on advance payment terms carried out by the Bank of Russia with amendments.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia. The text of the Direction is published in the Herald of the Bank of Russia on January 29, 2003, No. 6.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. NA-6-21/115@ of January 27, 2003 on the Payment for the Pollution of the Natural Environment

The Letter is issued pursuant to the Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 284-O of December 10, 2002 preserving the previous procedure of collection of payments for the pollution of the natural environment and other types of negative intervention in it before the entry into force of the new procedure. Thus, both before the adoption of the mentioned Ruling and after it, the payment for the pollution of the natural environment is not returned by the tax bodies on the basis of Decisions of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 17-44/1 of January 4, 2003 on the Money Transfers to Orders of Natural Persons without the Opening of the Bank Accounts

Explains that money transfers to orders of natural persons without opening bank accounts are qualified as cashless payments. The given explanation is of importance in whether the object of taxation for the sales tax emerges in the mentioned method of payments of natural persons for the commodities (works, services) sold to them.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1208 of November 19, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Classification of Commodities According to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia

Classification of commodities is the qualifying of commodities in appropriate commodity headings and subheadings in the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation and appropriate digital codes. The classification is carried out for the purposes of determination of the measures of tariff and non-tariff regulation specified for the commodities moved across the customs border of the Russian Federation, keeping of the customs statistics of the foreign trade of the Russian Federation.
For the purposes of the uniform classification of commodities, the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation issues obligatory for application by all customs bodies and interested persons normative legal acts defining the classification of individual commodities.
When declaring the commodities, the declaring party defines the commodity code independently. For individual commodities, the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation may set the requirement to get the decision on the classification of the commodity accepted by the appropriate customs body.
Each interested party may appeal against the decision on the classification of commodities adopted by the customs body.
The Order is entered into force 30 days after its official publication.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4184.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 211-P/134n/01-100/8 of December 26, 2002 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the State Customs Committee of Russia Nos. 02-29/36, 11-05-02 and 01-20/10075 of October 6, 1993 (Respectively) on the Procedure of Export and Sending from the Russian Federation and Import and Sending to the Russian Federation of the Currency of the Russian Federation

The Regulation is extended to include the definition of "residents" in compliance with the Law on currency regulation and currency control.
Permits the import, export and sending of the currency of the Russian Federation by residents selling commodities and services to passengers while in travel on transport vehicles in international transportation.
Exported currency may be obtained directly from the cash department of the resident engaged in such sales or from the sale itself of commodities and services while in travel in transport vehicles. Exported currency must be imported back on the obligatory basis in the amount not less than the exported one. Imported currency must be accepted in the cash department of the resident.
In all mentioned cases, the fees for the customs registration are calculated from the nominal cost of the currency declared in the cargo customs declaration.
The Regulation 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 February 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4177.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 135n of December 26, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Methodology Directions on the Registration in Accounting Work of Special Tools, Special Auxiliaries, Special Equipment and Special Clothing

Defines the particulars of accounting work for such assets as special tools, special auxiliaries, special equipment and special clothing. The given assets are included in the means in circulation for accounting purposes and feature a special procedure of qualifying the cost as production and sale expenses of products (works, services).
The Order applies to organisations, except for the credit organisations and budget-supported institutions.
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 February 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4174.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 135 of February 6, 2003 on the State Investment Corporation

To improve investment policy, liquidates the State Investment Corporation while handing over all property to the Ministry of State Property of the Russian Federation.
The Decree is entered into force from the moment of signing.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 61 of February 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Form of Insert in the Birth Certificate Confirming the Presence of the Citizenship of the Russian Federation with a Child

Procedure of drawing up and issue of the insert in the birth certificate confirming the presence of the citizenship of the Russian Federation with a child issued to children up to 14 years of age having acquired the citizenship of the Russian Federation and living on the territory of the Russian Federation is endorsed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The blank form of the insert is a strict accountability document.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 58 of February 6, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

Increases the specific component of the rates of import customs duties for the green tea (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 0902 10 000 1) and black tea (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 0902 30 000 1) in primary package with the net weight less than 3 kg in disposable package. The import rate for the mentioned commodities will amount to 20%, however, not less than EUR 0.8 per kg (earlier, 20%, however, not less than EUR 0.4 per kg).
The import duty for the "homogenised" or "reconstituted" tobacco (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 2403 91 000 0) is reduced two times (from 20% to 10%).
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication for 9 months.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 57 of February 6, 2003 on the Amendment to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

The rate of the import customs duty for aluminium rigid tubular containers with capacity not greater than 1 l (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 7612 90 100 1) is fixed to amount to 20% of the customs cost of the commodity, however, not less than EUR 22 per 1,000 pieces (earlier, 20%, however, not less than EUR 41 per 1,000 pieces).
The mentioned rate is entered into force one month after the day of official publication of the Decision for 9 months.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 04-15-3/371 of January 31, 2003 on the Experiment on the Introduction in the Enforcement Practices of the Institute of Curators of Credit Organisations

The experiment is carried out on the territories supervised by the Moscow Territorial Directorate of the Bank of Russia, Directorates of the Bank of Russia for the Volgograd, Kaliningrad, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Perm, Saratov, Sverdlovsk provinces, city of St.Petersburg and the National Bank of the Republic of Bashkortostan in coordination with them.
The Letter lists the requirements to the employee of the Bank of Russia permitting to be assigned as a curator. Credit organisations participating in the experiment should apply directly to the curator in all issues except for the operative activities.

Federal Law No. 26-FZ of February 9, 2003 on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Rehabilitation of the Victims of Political Repressions

The victims of political repressions and entitled for rehabilitation children include those left without parental support when underaged or one of them unreasonably victimised for political motives.
Article 2.1 listing the categories of citizens recognised as victims of political repressions is provided in the new wording taking into account the position of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation expressed in the Ruling No. 103-O of April 18, 2000. Now, the mentioned persons include children, spouse, parents of the persons killed or deceased in the places of imprisonment and rehabilitated post mortem.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 25-FZ of February 8, 2003 on the Budget of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2003

Endorses the budget of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for the year 2003 with incomes amounting to Rbl 134,525.9 million and expenses, to Rbl 143,185.4 million.
Specifies that the minimum amounts of the temporary disability allowance (including those in cases of industrial accidents and occupational diseases) and maternity allowances for the full calendar month may not be lower than the fixed minimum amount of labour remuneration (with regional coefficients in the regions and localities where they apply). Preserves the norm stating that the maximum amount of the temporary disability allowance and the maximum amount of the maternity allowance for the full calendar month may not be greater than Rbl 11,700.
The amount of the lumpsum insurance payment in cases of obligatory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases is determined taking into account the loss of professional abilities of the insured proceeding from Rbl 27,000. In case of death of the insured, the lumpsum insurance payment is fixed in the amount of Rbl 27,000.
The Law preserves the amounts of fines for the violation of the fixed time limits of submission or failure to submit of appropriate reports by insurers.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 24-FZ of February 8, 2003 on the Execution of the Budget of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2001

Endorses the report of execution of the budget of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for the year 2001.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 23-FZ of February 8, 2003 on the Ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (Convention 182)

Ratifies the convention adopted by the 87 session of the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva on July 17, 1999.

Federal Law No. 22-FZ of February 7, 2003 on the Amendments to the Patent Law of the Russian Federation

Amends significantly the Patent Law of the Russian Federation.
Article 3 is extended to include the provision on the prolongation of the patent for individual categories of inventions.
Section III of the Patent Law is extended to include the norms regulating relations pertaining to patents for an invention, useful model or industrial prototype created while carrying out works under a state contract. The Law omits Article 9 specifying the grounds for creating the Federal Fund of Inventions of Russia. The changes to Section IV provide for the legal protection of inventions of authors requesting the patent in their own name and envisages reduction of the amount of the patent fee if they are ready to cede the patent (if granted) to any person expressed by the author in the application.
The changes to Section V are aimed to improve the procedure of consideration of applications and improve the patent conditions for domestic applicants (including the patent conditions abroad), as well as to prevent disclosure of information on the projects without ensuring their legal protection. The Law envisages introduction of the procedure of revising by the federal body of executive power on intellectual property of the decisions on the results of expert evaluation, including those pertaining to possible procedural violations. In this connection, the Patent Disputes Chamber is formed as the sole administrative body in charge of consideration of appeals against decisions of the export evaluation and against patent granting. The Appellate Chamber and the Higher Patent Chambers are abandoned.
Section VII now does not include provisions on the impossibility of consideration in courts of disputes qualified as the sphere of reference of the administrative appellate instance. The changes to Section VIII are aimed to remove the restrictions of the applicant rights and simultaneously regulate the procedures of patenting abroad of the objects of industrial property. The section includes the norms defining the procedure of application of the Law to applications for the objects of industrial property submitted in the framework of international treaties of the Russian Federation.
The Law refines the procedure of "exchange" of protective documents of the USSR for inventions and industrial prototypes for the patents of the Russian Federation envisaging the maximum possible prolongation of the time of such "exchange" and coordination of requests for it with the competent federal body of executive power for the objects of industrial property created at the expense of the resources of the state budget of the USSR, as well as the procedure of use of these objects and the terms of paying out of author royalties.
The Law specifies the particulars of the legal protection of secret inventions.
The Federal Law is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication except for the provisions pertaining to secret inventions (entering into force from January 1, 2004).

Federal Law No. 21-FZ of February 7, 2003 on the Temporary Measures to Ensure Representation of the Small Native Peoples of the Russian Federation in the Legislative (Representative) Bodies of State Power of the Subjects of the Russian Federation

When forming election districts on the defined in the law of the subject of the Russian Federation territories of compact living of small native peoples of the Russian Federation included in the Uniform List of Small Native Peoples of the Russian Federation, the permitted deviation from the average norm of representation in elections is fixed in the law of the appropriate subject of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication and applies to legal relations pertaining to election of deputies in the legislative (representative) bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation scheduled before the entry into force of the present Law.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 65 of February 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Federal Aviation Rules of Search and Saving in the State Aviation

Specifies the procedure of organisation and carrying out of aviation search and saving in peace time, summoning of aviation units and enterprises supervised by the federal bodies of executive power possessing air vessels of state aviation to watch measures in the framework of aviation search and saving and rescue operations, as well as the main requirements to the outfit of rescue forces with rescue equipment.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 62 of February 6, 2003 on the Fixing of the Cost of Living in Per Capita Figures and for the Main Sociodemographic Groups of Population for the Whole of the Russian Federation for the IV Quarter of 2002

The cost of living for the whole of the Russian Federation for the IV quarter of 2002 is fixed to amount to: Rbl 1,893 per capita, Rbl 2,065 for the able-bodies population, Rbl 1,432 for pensioners and Rbl 1,880 for children.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-06/41 of January 31, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Summary Financial Report of a Political Party and Procedure of Filling Out of the Financial Report of a Political Party

Endorses the new form of the summary financial report of a political party and its filling procedure.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4185.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 67 of February 6, 2003 on the Introduction in the Russian Federation of Certificates of Export of Untreated Natural Diamonds

Specifies that all consignments of exported untreated natural diamonds must have the certificate confirming their Russian origin or absence in them of diamonds from conflict zones. The certificate is an obligatory document for the customs purposes.
The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation is ordered to define the form of the certificate in coordination with the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation and specify its issue procedure during state control over the quality of sorting and assessment of the exported consignments of untreated natural diamonds.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 64 of February 6, 2003 on the Amendment to the Regulation on the Licensing of Activities in Technical Protection of Confidential Information

Instead of the certificate of state registration, the applicant for the license shall submit to the State Technical Commission of the President of the Russian Federation the document confirming the entry of information on the legal entity in the Uniform State Register of Legal Entities.

Order of the Federal Service of the Tax Police of the Russian Federation No. 426 of September 24, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Procedure of Carrying Out of Operative Investigation Measure - Inquiry in the Form of a Special Psycho-Physiological Examination in the Federal Bodies of the Tax Police

The special psycho-physiological examination is the inquiry carried out using technical means (lie detectors, computer technologies, audio and video records etc.) not affecting the human life and health and not hazardous to the environment to verify information reported by the respondent. The inquiry is an open operative investigation measure.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4196.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1404 of December 25, 2002 on the Lifting of Restrictions on the Use and Control of Transport Vehicles

Endorses the Instruction regulating the actions of the customs bodies in the procedure of removal of restrictions for the use and control of transport vehicles classified in Headings 8702 and 8703 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation if the customs registration is not over, but the customs payments are transferred by the interested persons.
Any natural person buying the transport vehicle may apply to the customs body covering his region of permanent residence and registration requesting to apply the norms of the Instruction to this transport vehicle. To do it, the buyer shall submit to the customs body application drawn up in free form for the voluntary transfer of the customs payments for the actually possessed transport vehicle attaching the documents for the transport vehicle, as well as the documents pertaining to its import.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4195.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 47 of January 21 of 2003 on the Customs Registration of Transport Vehicles of Natural Persons in Moscow and the Moscow Province

Customs registration of transport vehicles moved by natural persons across the customs border of the Russian Federation included in Heading 87 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation and getting transport vehicle certificates and chassis certificates is carried out for the Moscow region by the Moscow and the Moscow Province Motor Transport Customs Stations of the Central Excise Duty Customs Office, as well as the Butovo Customs Station of the Western Moscow Customs Office.
The Order does not apply to new cars with the places of delivery and customs registration defined in the Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1152 of October 30, 2002.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 7, 2003. Reg. No. 4193.

Order of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation No. 4304 of December 9, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Admission to the State and Municipal Institutions of the Secondary Professional Education (Special Secondary Educational Institutions) of the Russian Federation

Sets forth the new procedure of admission to the state and municipal institutions of the secondary professional education of the Russian Federation for the main programs of the secondary professional education.
Accepting of the documents from applicants to the on-site form of studies (other than art specialities) begins no later than June 15 and ends no earlier than July 31.
The Order defines the procedure of accepting and consideration of appeals as a result of the entrance testing. Specifies that the institution of the secondary professional education shall work out independently on the annual basis no later than June 1 the rules of admission endorsed by its director (principal) and defining the time limits for accepting applications, amount, list, forms of carrying out and the system of marks for the entrance testing, procedure of admission under contracts with natural persons and legal entities envisaging payment for the studies and other.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4169.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. 03-1-08/204/26-V088 of January 21, 2003 on the Payment of the Value Added Tax for the Property Purchased for Own Needs of the Organisation

When purchasing property for own needs not pertaining to production and sale of commodities (works, services) without subsequent handing over to the structural divisions, there emerges no object of taxation for the value added tax. VAT amounts paid for the property purchased for own needs are not accepted for deduction.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 82 of February 7, 2003 on the Procedure and Terms of Partial Financing in 2003 of Preventive Measures to Reduce Industrial Injuries and Occupational Diseases of Employees at the Expense of Insurance Contributions in Obligatory Social Insurance against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases

The Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation is ordered to endorse in coordination with the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation the mentioned list having included in it periodic medical examinations and preventive sanatoria and resort rehabilitation of the workers employed in works involving adverse and hazardous industrial factors.
The amount of resources allocated for partial financing of preventive measures may not be greater than 20% of the amount of insurance contributions transferred for the year 2002.
Decision on the financing and its amount is taken by the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation within 15 days from the date of submission of the application by the insurer indicating preventive measures for the year 2003, plan of their partial financing and necessary substantiation. Applications of insurers are accepted by the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation until July 1, 2003.
The insurer shall submit on the quarterly basis the report of the use of the received resources to the Fund.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 79 of February 7, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Preparation and Signing of International Intergovernmental Acts Not Being International Treaties of the Russian Federation

Sets forth the procedure of preparation, adoption of decisions on the signing and the signing on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation with the governments of foreign states or international organisations or their bodies of international intergovernmental acts not being international treaties of the Russian Federation.
The mentioned procedure does not apply to the acts of international organisations, intergovernmental commissions and other international bodies.
Suggestions on the signing of international acts are submitted to the Government of the Russian Federation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation or other federal bodies of executive power together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation or in coordination with it.
The international act is signed as a rule by the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation or, at his order, one of his deputies or federal minister. The power to sign the international act is not being drawn up.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 72 of February 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Rendering Services in Passenger, Luggage, Cargo Transportation for Personal (Household) Needs on the Internal Water Transport

The endorsed rules regulate the relations between executors of services and their consumers in view of the rendering of services on internal water transport when transporting passengers and their luggage, as well as the cargo for personal, family, domestic and other needs not pertaining to the carried out entrepreneurial activities.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 71 of February 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Special Conditions of Use of the Coast Strip of Internal Water Ways of the Russian Federation

The special conditions of use of the coast strip envisage restrictions of economic activities within this strip fixed to ensure the safety of navigation. The Decision specifies that the use of the coast strip for economic and other activities without ensuring the safety of navigation is not permitted. The mentioned portion may be granted to legal entities and natural persons for temporary use in the presence of the permission of the basin body.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 70 of February 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Granting Subventions to Organisations Carrying Out Individual Types of Works in the Sphere of Standardisation, Metrology and Certification

Defines the procedure of granting of subventions at the expense of the federal budget to organisations regardless of the organisational and legal form carrying out individual works in the sphere of standardisation, metrology and certification other than budget-supported organisations. Recipients of the subventions are defined by the State Standards Committee of the Russian Federation on the contest basis.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 68 of February 6, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 439 of June 19, 2002

The list of the forms of documents used in the state registration of legal entities is extended to include form R16002 "Application for the State Registration of the Termination of the Unitary Enterprise Because of the Sale of Its Property Complex".

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 66 of February 6, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 211 of April 2, 2002

The changes introduced in the Regulation on the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring are stipulated by the entry into force from January 2, 2003 of the amendments to the Law on the countermeasures against legalisation (laundering) of incomes obtained in a criminal way and financing of terrorism. The Committee is entitled to issue decisions on suspension of operations with monetary resources or other property if at least one of the parties is an organisation or natural person known to be participating in the terrorist activities or a legal entity directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such originations or persons, or natural person or legal entity acting on behalf of or at the order of such organisations or person.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. SA-6-05/89@ of January 23, 2003 on the Procedure of Filling Out by the Tax Bodies of the Tax Notification of Advance Payments for the Uniform Social Tax

The tax notification sent to the taxpayer by registered mail is considered to be received by the taxpayer six days after the date of sending of the registered mail. The field "Received…" is used to enter the date of reception of the registered mail by the taxpayer, and the line "Taxpayer Signature" is not filled out.

Decision of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 488/01 of December 17, 2002

Unilateral altering of the procedure of redemption of the short-term state bonds by entering the resources on the special investment bank account with operations suspended at present before the end of the restructuring of the short-term state bonds is not permitted. The Decision does not exclude opportunities to satisfy the demands of the holders of the short-term state bonds to collect monetary debts for them. It is not permitted to novate the obligations on the unilateral basis, since the replacement of the initial obligation with another according to Item 1 of Article 414 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation is permitted only at the agreement between the parties.
Earlier, arbitration courts proceeded from the fact that legal relations of the parties in cases of state loan contracts are regulated not only by the civil, but also by the budget legislation. The legality of the unilateral refusal of the state to execute assumed obligations on initial terms was stipulated by the norms of the budget legislation regardless of the provisions of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 96 of February 12, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Licensing of Activities in Restoration of the Objects of Cultural Heritage (Monuments of History and Culture)

Defines the procedure of licensing of scientific research, design and production works carried out to reveal and preserve objects of cultural heritage by legal entities and independent entrepreneurs. The licensing is vested in the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. The license is issued for 5 years.
The earlier issued licenses for the works in investigation of the condition, conservation, restoration and repair of the monuments of history and culture of the federal (for the whole of Russia) significance preserve their force until expiry.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 90 of February 11, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 988 of December 21, 2000 and No. 262 of April 4, 2001

Introduction of the state registration of the new foodstuffs, materials and items, as well as individual types of products potentially hazardous for the human being and individual types of products imported for the first time to the territory of the Russian Federation is transferred from January 1, 2003 to January 1, 2004.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 89 of February 11, 2003 on the Amendments to the Rules of Restructuring of the Debts of the Subjects of the Russian Federation in the Bonds of the Subjects of the Russian Federation Owned by the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 619 of August 22, 2001

The restructuring of the debts of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the bonds of the subjects of the Russian Federation owned by the Russian Federation is prolonged for the year 2003.
Agreement on the restructuring of the debt in the bonds is concluded under the condition of the preliminary payment by the subject of the Russian Federation to the federal budget before December 15, 2003 of the lumpsum of at least 20% of the debt.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 85 of February 10, 2003 on the Measures to Implement the Federal Law on the Federal Budget for the Year 2003

Ministries and agencies of the Russian Federation get instructions in execution of the federal budget for the year 2003. The Decision sets the limit of the granted tax credits, respites, extension schedules in the payment of the federal taxes and fees (except for the cases pertaining to the moving of commodities across the customs border of the Russian Federation ) in the amount not greater than Rbl 850 million during the year 2003. For the cases of moving of commodities across the customs border, the limit is also fixed in the amount not greater than Rbl 850 million during the year 2003.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, Ministry of the State Property Management of the Russian Federation and the State Statistics Committee of the Russian Federation No. 25/bn/14/7 of January 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Carrying Out of the Reassessment of the Fixed Assets and Non-Material Assets of the Budget-Supported Institutions

The reassessment is carried out for the purposes of periodic recalculation of the value of fixed assets and non-material assets in mixed prices of various years that were used to register them in accounting works into the uniform prices as of the date of the reassessment and reflection of the results of this recalculation in accounting and statistic records.
The reassessment as of January 1, 2003 is carried out in the first six months of 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4212.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-03/38 of January 31, 2003 on the Procedure of Placing the Marks of the Tax Bodies on Invoice Registers Submitted by Taxpayers Carrying Out Operations with Oil Products

The marks on invoice registers are placed by the tax bodies where the taxpayers buying (receiving) oil products and possessing certificates of the registration of the persons carrying out operations with oil products are registered for taxation purposes. The invoice registers drawn up according to the attached form are filled out by the buyer separately for each supplier. Each page of the invoice register is certified with the signature of the head of the organisation or independent entrepreneur and the seal (if available).
The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4208.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 9n of January 28, 2003 on the Procedure of Entering of Associations of Insurers in the Uniform State Register of Insurers and Associations of Insurers

Lists the documents submitted by associations of insurers registered as legal entities to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation to enter them in the Uniform State Register of Insurers and Associations of Insurers.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 11, 2003. Reg. No. 4206.

Order of the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring No. 9 of January 31, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Card of Registration in the Committee for Financial Monitoring of Russia of Organisations Carrying Out Operations with Monetary Resources and Other Property Where the Enforcement Bodies Are Not Available

Endorses the form of the card of registration in the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring submitted to the mentioned body by leasing companies, pawnshops, organisations maintaining totalizators and bookmaker offices, as well as arranging lotteries and other games and organisations carrying out operations with precious metals and stones.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 11, 2003. Reg. No. 4202.

Decision of the Plenum of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 2 of January 27, 2003 on Some Issues Pertaining to the Entering into Force of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

Explains the issues pertaining to the entering into force from July 1, 2002 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation. When considering the cases, the courts must proceed from the fact that the norms of the federal laws specifying responsibility in the sphere of public legal relations that were not abandoned by the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation must be applied after June 30, 2002 where they do not contradict it.
Suing of officials of organisations for administrative violations in the tax sphere does not exclude opportunities to sue organisations for responsibility specified in the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.
If the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation specifies a milder responsibility as compared to the one in the earlier legislation for the violation committed before July 1, 2002, the responsibility specified in the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation shall apply. Collection of the earlier imposed fines for such violation after June 30, 2002 may not exceed the maximum amount of fines envisaged in the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation for such violation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 100 of February 14, 2003 on the Authorised Body in Bankruptcy Cases and Bankruptcy Procedures and the Regulating Body in Charge of Control over Self-Regulating Organisations of Bankruptcy Commissioners

The authorised body representing in bankruptcy cases and in bankruptcy proceedings the claims of obligatory payments and claims of the Russian Federation in monetary obligations is the Federal Service of Russia for Financial Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy. The regulating body in charge of the control over the activities of self-regulating organisations of bankruptcy commissioners is the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation from March 3, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 98 of February 12, 2003 on the Access to Information on Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Federal Bodies of Executive Power

Endorses the list of information on the activities of the Government of the Russian Federation and the federal bodies of executive power obligatory for placing in public-use information systems. In particular, the given list includes the normative legal acts and other acts including those on amendments, on invalidation, as well as information on court rulings on the invalidation of the mentioned acts.
The office of the Government of the Russian Federation and the federal bodies of executive power are ordered to place in due time and regularly the listed information resources in public-use information systems including the Internet.
The Decision is entered into force 3 months after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 94 of February 12, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Transfer of the Resources of the Federal Budget to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Transfer of Individual Categories of Employees of the Bodies of the Tax Police and the Customs Bodies of the Russian Federation to the Terms of Labour Remuneration of the State Federal Service

Resources of the federal budget are transferred to the Pension Fund of Russia in the amount of the uniform social tax that might have been accrued for the monetary subsistence and clothing supplies of the mentioned persons entered in the federal budget. Calculation of the amount of the transferred resources of the federal budget is carried out from the date of transfer of the mentioned categories to the terms of labour remuneration of the state federal servants to December 31, 2002.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 93 of February 12, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1301 of November 26, 1999

Employees of the state federal archives and their branches shall get the monthly supplement for the complex nature, intensity and high labour achievements in the amount of 50% to 100% (earlier, to 50%) of the salary for position. Besides, when endorsing the labour remuneration funds for the mentioned employees in excess of the resources allocated for position salaries, a monthly supplement for the complex nature, intensity and high labour achievements is envisaged in the amount of 8.5 position salaries (earlier, 2.5).
The Decision is entered into force from April 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 91 of February 12, 2003 on the Identification Card of the Serviceman of the Russian Federation

Identification card of the serviceman of the Russian Federation is the documents certifying the person and legal status of the serviceman of the Russian Federation. The certificate is handed out to commissioned officers, ensign and warrant officers personally against the signature. The card contains the following information on the serviceman: full name, date of birth, personal No., ranks and occupied military positions. Identification cards of ensign and warrant officers must be replaced for the new type ones before December 31, 2004. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation is ordered to work out and endorse the blank form of the certificate.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 86 of February 11, 2003 on the Suspension in 2003 of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 55 of January 25, 2001 on the Procedure of Payment of the Monthly Monetary Compensation Envisaged in Article 133 of the Federal Law on the Federal Budget for the Year 2001

In 2003, suspends the norm stating that judges of the courts of the Russian Federation get from January 1, 2001 the monthly monetary compensation at the place of getting of earnings in the amount of the incomes tax for natural persons collected from the earnings of the judge.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-03/46 of February 4, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-03/716 of December 17, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Declaration for Excise Duty Taxes and the Filling Instruction for the Declaration for Excise Duty Taxes

The changes in the form of the tax declaration for excise duty taxes and its filling instruction are stipulated by the changes in Chapter 22 "Excise Duty Taxes" of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation introduced by the Federal Law No. 191-FZ of December 31, 2002. The changes pertain to the declaration drawn up according to Form 3 for excise duty taxes for oil products.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4214.

Telegram of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1250-U of February 14, 2003

Beginning with February 17, 2003, the refinancing rate (accounting rate) of the Bank of Russia is reduced from 21% to 18% annual.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 101 of February 14, 2003 on the Length of Working Time of Medical Workers Depending on Their Occupied Position and/or Speciality

Lists the positions and/or specialities of the medical workers, organisations, as well as departments, wards, cabinets and working conditions permitting to enjoy a reduced working week. Thus, for medical workers engaged directly in gamma therapy and experimental gamma radiation works with gamma preparations in radiology cabinets and laboratories, the length of working time amounts to 24 hours a week.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 95 of February 12, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Licensing of Activities in the Finding of Electronic Devices Intended for Secret Obtaining of Information in the Rooms and Technical Devices (Except for the Case When the Mentioned Activities Are Carried Out to Provide for the Own Needs of the Legal Entity or Independent Entrepreneur)

The licensing of activities in the finding of electronic devices intended for secret obtaining of information in the rooms and technical devices of state organisations, as well as in the main technical devices and systems, elements of information and telecommunication systems with remote access to information resources and resources of state bodies is vested in the Federal Agency of Governmental Communication and Information.
The licensing of activities in the finding of electronic devices intended for secret obtaining of information in the rooms and technical devices owned by legal entities regardless of their organisational and legal form without remote access to the mentioned information resources means and resources and independent entrepreneurs is vested in the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and the territorial security bodies.
The license is granted for five years.

Decision of the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation No. 150 of October 29, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Procedure of Development, Coordination, Expert Evaluation and Endorsement of the City Planning Documentation

Defines the requirements to the composition and content of materials, organisation of development, examination, coordination, expert evaluation and endorsement of the city planning documentation. The mentioned requirements are obligatory for observation by organisations regardless of the organisational and legal from, as well as independent entrepreneurs, engaged in activities in development of the city planning documentation, federal bodies of executive power, bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, bodies of local government planning within their sphere of reference development of territories, settlements and use of lands for city planning activities, as well as the bodies coordinating and controlling the city planning activities.
The Instruction is entered into force from March 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4207.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 108 of February 17, 2003 on the Fixing of the Transient Period for the Introduction of the All-Russia Classifier of the Types of Economic Activities

The years of 2003-2004 make the transient period for the introduction of the All-Russia Classifier of the Types of Economic Activities replacing the All-Union Classifier of the Sectors of the National Economy. Within the mentioned transient period, preparation of the official statistical information, draft state forecasts and monitoring of the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation are carried out on the basis of the all-union classifier while extending on consistent basis the use of all-Russia classifier.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 105 of February 17, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1027 of December 30, 2000

Employees of individual federal bodies of executive power fulfilling the tasks in the sphere of defence, law enforcement and state security shall get the monthly supplement for the complex nature, intensity, high labour achievements and the special working regime in the amount of 50% to 100% (earlier, up to 50%).
The Decision also specifies that when labour remuneration funds are endorsed for the mentioned employees in excess of the resources for salaries, resources for the monthly supplement for the complex nature, intensity, high labour achievements and the special working regime are envisaged (as per annum figure) in the amount of 8.5 salaries (earlier, 4 salaries).
The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2003.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 27-r of January 22, 2003 on the Calculation of the Taxes and Fees Due for Undelivered Commodities

The customs bodies are ordered to calculate customs payments due for the import to the customs territory of the Russian Federation for undelivered commodities as if the commodities were released for free circulation. In this case, they accrue (calculate) customs payments due for the undelivered commodities as of the day of expiry of the term of submission of the customs declaration, namely, the 15th day after the expiry of the time of delivery of commodities to the customs body of destination. After the expiry of the mentioned time, the penalties for the untimely transfer of the customs payments are accrued.
For undelivered commodities, if classified according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation at the level of commodity heading (four digits only), tariff rates are applied proceeding from the commodity codes with the lowest level of taxation.
The Order defines the sequence of actions when determining the customs cost of the undelivered commodities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 14, 2003. Reg. No. 4220.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 82 of February 6, 2003 on the Organisation of Activities of the Bodies of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation to Implement the Legislation on the Citizenship of the Russian Federation.

Endorses the Instruction for consideration of applications in the bodies of internal affairs of the Russian Federation for the change of citizenship.
Accepting, drawing up and initial examination of applications on the change of citizenship on the territory of the Russian Federation is carried out by the divisions of the Passport and Visa Service of the bodies of internal affairs of the Russian Federation at the place of residence certified with registration, as well as registration of the residence permit for a foreign citizen or stateless person. The Order lists the circumstances to be verified when checking the presence of the citizenship.
Consideration of applications for the change of citizenship and adoption of decisions for them is to be completed from the day of submission of the application and all necessary documents listed in the Order within one year for the cases with the common procedure and within six months for the cases of simplified procedure. The time of consideration of applications in the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and its territorial bodies, Passport and Visa Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs, directorates of internal affairs, departments of internal affairs of the subjects of the Russian Federation may not be greater than two months in each of the mentioned bodies.
Before the divisions of the Passport and Visa Service get the insert in the birth certificate confirming the presence of the citizenship of the Russian Federation with a child, persons under 14 years of age permitted for obtaining the citizenship of the Russian Federation get the foreign passport of the citizen of the Russian Federation at the desire of their legal representatives.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4216.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-03/52 of February 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Issue of Certificates of Registration of the Person Carrying Out Operations with Oil Products

The new procedure of issue of certificates of registration of the person carrying out operations with oil products has been adopted in replacement of the earlier one endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-03/478 of September 4, 2002. The procedure has been worked out in compliance with provisions of Chapter 22 "Excise Duty Taxes" of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. It specifies the procedure of issue of certificates for production, wholesale and retail-trade sales of oil products. The Order provides the forms of the application for the issue of certificates and the forms of the certificates.
The Order specifies that certificates of registration of the person carrying out operations with oil products issued before the entry into force of the new Order preserve their force until expiry.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4213.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 2n of January 13, 2003 on the Revocation of the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 110n of November 14, 2002 on the Invalidation of the Normative Legal Acts of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation

The Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 110n invalidated the Instruction on the rules of issue and registration of securities on the territory of the Russian Federation worked out in execution of the invalid at present Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 78 of December 28, 1991 on the endorsement of the Regulation on the issue and circulation of securities and on stock exchanges of the RSFSR. The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, however, refused registration of the Order No. 110n. Hence, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation abandoned the given Order.

Order of the Ministry of State Property Management of the Russian Federation No. 4521-r of December 30, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Typical Requirement Specification for Obligatory Audit of Organisations with the Portion of the State Property in the Registered (Shared) Capital Being at Least 25% and of the Federal State Unitary Enterprises

The typical requirement specification defines the composition of the tasks and subtasks fulfilled by the auditor during obligatory audit checks.
The results of the carried out audit check are presented by the auditor to the management of the audited organisations in the form of the audit statement drawn up according to the federal rule (standard) of audit activities No. 6 "Audit Statement on the Financial (Accounting) Reports", as well as the audit report (on paper and electronic media) containing information on the solution of each task. One copy of the audit statement and the audit report (on paper and electronic media) as a result of the audit check is sent by the auditor to the Ministry of the Russian Federation for State Property Management.
The text of the Order is published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta on February 19, 2003, No. 32.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 110 of February 18, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 278 of April 9, 2001

Prolongs for the year 2003 the rules of reimbursement from the federal budget of the part of expenses of organisations of sea, river and air transport to pay interest under credits obtained in Russian credit organisations to purchase sea, river and air vessels built at Russian enterprises. Estimated amount of reimbursement under credit contracts concluded in 2001-2003 is defined as 50% of the amount of the paid interest for the use of the redeemed part of the credit.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-6/ps of February 7, 2003 on the Amendments to the Regulation on Additional Requirements to the Procedure of Preparation, Convening and Holding of the General Meeting of Stockholders Endorsed by the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia No. 17/ps of May 31, 2002

Specifies the voting procedure at the general meeting of stockholders in cases of transfer of stocks handed over after the date of drawing up of the list of persons entitled to participate in the general meeting. The voting ticket must contain explanations stating that the voter may choose only one voting option except for the cases of voting according to the directions of the persons having acquired the stocks after the date of drawing up of the list of persons entitled to participate in the general meeting or according to the directions of the holders of depositary securities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 14, 2003. Reg. No. 4221.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-28/23 of January 23, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Providing Information to the Collecting Party by the Tax Bodies

The procedure has been worked out on the basis of Item 3 of Article 46 of the Federal Law No. 119-FZ of July 21, 1997 on execution proceedings stating that the bailiff may request with the tax bodies information on the presence or absence with the debtor organisations of accounts and deposits in banks and other credit organisations. The procedure specifies the details of providing such information.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 14, 2003. Reg. No. 4218.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-10/28 of January 24, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-10/411 of August 5, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Recommendations on the Procedure of Keeping in the Tax Bodies of the Personal Account Cards of Taxpayers, Payers of Fees and Tax Agents

The Order is issued in view of the changes of the procedure of registration of operations pertaining to the decision on the reimbursement of the value added tax calculated at the zero rate, as well as to improve the efficiency of the measures of work with unidentified payments and operative execution by the federal treasury bodies of Form 21 statements of the tax body (offsetting).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 116 of February 19, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1358 of December 8, 1999

Sets forth that polyvinyl chloride not mixed with other substances and non-plasticised (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 3904 10 000 0 and 3904 21 000 0) is exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreement duty free. Earlier, the duty rate amounted to 3% of the customs cost.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 16-00-13/01 of February 18, 2003 on the Composition of the Submitted Annual Accounting Reports

Organisations submit annual accounting reports to all users defined in the legislation, including the tax bodies at the place of registration of the organisation, in the following composition: forms adopted by organisations according to established procedure, explanatory note, as well as the audit statement confirming the validity of the accounting reports of the organisation if it is subject to obligatory audit checks in compliance with the federal legislation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 117 of February 19, 2003 on the Payment in 2003 to Individual Categories of Citizens of the Russian Federation of the Preliminary Compensation (Compensation) for the Deposits in the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation and Some of Insurance Companies

Defines the procedure of paying out in 2003 to individual categories of citizens of the Russian Federation of the compensation for the deposits in the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation as of June 20, 1991 and for the deposits in state insurance organisations as of January 1, 1992 being guaranteed savings according to the Law on the restoration and protection of the savings of the citizens of the Russian Federation.
The preliminary compensation will be paid out in the amount of Rbl 1,000 to citizens having the year of birth to 1945 inclusive, group I invalids, group II invalids having the year of birth to 1950 inclusive, parents, as well as trustees of invalid children and invalids from childhood, former underaged prisoners of concentration camps, ghettos and other places of detention created by fascists and their allies during World War II, parents whose sons were undergoing draft military service and were killed (deceased) during the service in peace time.
The compensation to the citizens of the Russian Federation born in 1943-1945 shall be paid out from October 1, 2003.
The preliminary compensation will also be paid out in the amount of up to Rbl 1,000 for tied deposits for children, for deposits for orphan children and children left without parental support.
The preliminary compensation includes Rbl 1,000 (proceeding from the nominal value of the banknotes in 1991) for each deposit exceeding this amount or the whole deposit if its amount is less than Rbl 1,000. The particular amount of the compensation depends on the length of the deposit and is determined using supplied coefficients.
The Decision also defines the procedure of paying out of the additional compensation and compensation of ritual services.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 115 of February 19, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 403 of June 11, 2002

The rules of reimbursement from the federal budget of the part of expenses to pay the interest under investment credits obtained by agricultural producers, enterprises and organisations of the agroindustrial complex, as well as farmers' enterprises, for up to 3 years in the Russian credit organisations are prolonged for the year 2003.

Federal Law No. 27-FZ of February 22, 2003 on the Amendment to Article 52 of the Federal Law on the Military Duty and Military Service

An obligatory condition for the transfer of the graduates of military chairs of institutions of higher professional education in the reserve while assigning a commissioned officer rank to them is successful termination by them of the reserve officer training course and graduation from the educational institution.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation No. 3 of January 17, 2003 on the Invalidation on the Territory of the Russian Federation of the Decision of the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR for Labour and Earnings No. 365 of December 25, 1974 on the Working Conditions of Soviet Citizens Abroad

The mentioned Decision of the State Committee of Labour of the USSR is invalidated on the territory of the Russian Federation. At present, the particulars of granting guarantees and compensations to employees sent to work in representations of the Russian Federation abroad are specified in the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 911 of December 20, 2002.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 250 of February 25, 2003 on the Amendments to and Invalidation of Some of the Acts of the President of the RSFSR and the President of the Russian Federation

Pursuant to the entry into force of the Land Code of the Russian Federation and the Law on the circulation of lands of agricultural destination, adjusts the acts of the President of the Russian Federation on unlimited and free use of land plots. In particular, invalidates the Decrees of the President of the Russian Federation No. 213 of March 2, 1992 on the procedure of fixing of the norm of free transfer of land plots to citizens' property, No. 337 of March 7, 1996 on the implementation of the constitutional rights of citizens for land and other acts.
The Decree is entered into force from the day of its signing.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation and the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 18/34/03-14/pz of February 7, 2003 on the Amendments to the Instruction on the Procedure of Registration of the Mortgage for the Space Emerging by Virtue of the Law or Contract, As Well As the Procedure of Registration of the Change of the Mortgagee in View of the Transfer of the Claims Rights under Mortgage Credits Endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, State Committee of the Russian Federation for Construction and the Housing and Communal Complex, Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 289/235/290 of October 16, 2000

The amendments bring the Instruction in compliance with the provisions introduced by the Law No. 18-FZ of February 11, 2002 on the amendments to the Federal Law on the hypothec (real estate mortgage) and No. 179-FZ of December 24, 2002 on the amendments to some of the acts of the legislation of the Russian Federation aimed at development of the system of mortgage housing crediting (borrowing).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 26, 2003. Reg. No. 4231.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 3 of January 30, 2003 on the Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being of Transportation of Children on the Railway Transport during Rehabilitation Campaigns

To ensure the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of transportation of children regardless of their seasonal nature and scale, efficient rest and rehabilitation of children during rehabilitation campaigns, prevention of infections during transportation of children to rehabilitation institutions, creates the mechanism of obligatory medical escorting of organised groups of children.
The selling of tickets for organised groups of children will be permitted only in the presence of official confirmation of availability of the medical escort by trip organisers.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2003. Reg. No. 4229.

Order of the Ministry of Communication of the Russian Federation No. 7 of January 23, 2003 on the Contest for the Right of Use of Radio Frequencies for Distribution of TV Programs Using MMDS, LMDS and MVDS Systems

Federal state institution Centre of Scientific Research and Expert Evaluation in the Sphere of Communication (FGU CNIES) is assigned to represent the Ministry of Communication of the Russian Federation to carry out the contest. One of the main conditions of recognition of the participant of the contest as the winner is the payment in full amount of the annual fee suggested by the winner. The Order provides the forms of applications for participation in the contest and the protocol of the results of accepting of applications.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4228.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of February 27, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provision of Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Execution Code of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Appeals of Citizens P.L.Vereshchyak, V.M.Gladkov, I.V.Golyshev and K.P.Danilov

According to the challenged norm, the term of imprisonment under the sentence is calculated from the day of arrival of the convict to the prison.
According to the applicants, the provision of Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Execution Code of the Russian Federation actually extends the term of imprisonment under the sentence because of the preliminary detention, which is in violation of their rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised as not contradicting the Constitution of the Russian Federation the provisions of Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation since the given provisions in their legal and constitutional essence do not exclude the authority of the court to include the time of preliminary detention in the term of imprisonment.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after the annunciation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 121 of February 25, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

Specifies the rates of import customs duties for individual types of oilcakes and other solid residues obtained at extraction of soy oil (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 2304 00 000) in the amount of 5% to 20% of the customs cost (soybean flakes, duty free). Earlier, there was a uniform rate of 5% of the customs cost.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication for the term of 9 months.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1342 of December 15, 2002 on the Control over the Import and Export of the Licensed Commodities

Sets forth the uniform procedure of registration and keeping of the records of licenses in the customs bodies of the Russian Federation and the customs control of imported and exported commodities subject to licensing. The procedure includes control over the filling out of the blank form of the license and operative control over the import and export of the licensed commodities.
Specifies the duty of the holder of the license to present the original of the license for registration to the customs office before the actual moving of the commodities. During the customs registration of the licensed commodities, the check is made of the correspondence of information of the cargo customs declarations to information of the copy of the license. If significant inconsistency is revealed in the information declared in the cargo customs declaration as compared to the information mentioned in the license, the commodity is not released before the cargo customs declaration is changed or the license is changed or redrawn.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 26, 2003. Reg. No. 4233.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 62 of January 27, 2003 on the Customs Registration of the Liquefied Hydrocarbon Gases

In the first six months of 2003, the customs registration of liquefied hydrocarbon gases (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 2711 12 110 0 - 2711 19 000 0 and from 2901 10) exported under the export customs regime is carried out when oil and oil-and-gas processing organisations present to the customs bodies resource certificates indicating their No. and date in Column 44 of the cargo customs declaration "Additional Information/Presented Documents" under No. 9.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 26, 2003. Reg. No. 4232.

Federal Law No. 28-FZ of February 27, 2003 on the Amendments to Articles 6 and 8 of the Law of the Russian Federation on Currency Regulation and Currency Control

The amendments pertain to such currency operations carried out by natural persons (residents and non-residents) as the sending of foreign currencies, as well as the transfer, export and sending of the earlier transferred imported or sent other currency values. As before, natural persons may export foreign currencies in cash as lumpsum amount not greater than USD 10,000 equivalent without presenting confirming documents to the customs bodies. In excess of this amount, natural persons may export the earlier imported foreign currencies in cash within the limits of the amount mentioned in the customs declaration confirming its import.
The Law specifies that when lumpsum amounts of foreign currencies are exported by natural persons in cash in the amount not greater than USD 3,000 equivalent, the exported foreign currency is not declared. Earlier, subordinate legislation specified the mentioned limit at USD 1,500 for the residents, with the amount for non-residents not permitted to exceed the earlier imported or transferred foreign currency.
The Federal Law is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 134 of February 28, 2003 on the Prolongation of the Rates of Import Customs Duties for Some Commodities

Prolongs for 9 months the rates of import customs duties for some commodities (trout and some of the products of animal origin) envisaged in Appendix 2 to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 366 of May 30, 2002.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 127 of February 27, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the State Fund of Precious Metals and Precious Stones of the Russian Federation

The State Fund of the Russian Federation comprises part of the gold and currency reserves of the Russian Federation and includes the multitude of precious metals and stones and items of them, as well as the waste and scrap of them. The Decision defines the procedure of replenishment of the State Fund, release of the values, expert evaluation, technological and other operations with values, their registration, storage and reporting.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 126 of February 27, 2003 on the Procedure of Alienation of the Stocks Owned by the Russian Federation When the Claims Right to Buy Them Out by the Joint-Stock Company Emerges with the Russian Federation

The Decision on the use of the claims right to buy out the stocks owned by the Russian Federation by the joint-stock company in cases envisaged in Article 75 of the Federal Law on joint-stock companies is taken by the Government of the Russian Federation. Conclusion of the purchase-and-sale contract and transfer to the joint-stock company of the stocks owned by the Russian Federation is carried out by the Russian Federal Property Fund. Obtained monetary resources must be transferred in full amount to the federal budget within 25 days from the day of payment.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 122 of February 25, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 192 of March 7, 2001

The amendments are introduced in the procedure of reimbursement from the federal budget of the part of expenses in payment of the interest under credits obtained in the Russian credit organisations by agricultural producers, organisations of the agroindustrial complex, farmers' enterprises and consumer cooperative organisations. The subsidies are granted to the borrowing parties on the monthly basis within the limits of resources of the federal budget proceeding from two thirds of their expenses in the payment of the interest, however, not greater than two thirds of the refinancing rate of the Central Bank of Russia as of the date of granting of the credit under the condition of the timely transfer by the borrowing party of accrued interest under the concluded credit contacts. The subsidies are granted to pay out the interest accrued and paid out by them to the banks during the period from January 1 to December 15 of the current year for the use of the credits obtained in the banks in the current year and aft er December 15 of the previous year. The Decision provides the new wording for the calculation of the granted subsidy.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 119 of February 25, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 278 of April 29, 2002

Prolongs for the year 2003 and subsequent years the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 278 of April 29, 2002 on the amount, procedure of collection and registration of the payment for the transfer of the forestry lands into non-forestry ones and for the withholding of the lands of the forestry fund in 2002.

Federal Law No. 29-FZ of February 27, 2003 on the Particulars of Control and Disposal of the Property of the Railway Transport

The Law is a federal one developed for the purposes of legal support of the structural reform of the federal railway transport in the framework of the program endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 384 of May 18, 2001.
The Law specifies organisational and legal particulars of privatisation on the federal railway transport creating the single economic subject - OAO Russian Railways with 100% of the stocks belonging to the state. The railways being state enterprises at present are deprived of the status of the legal entity.
The registered capital of the single economic subject is formed by entering into it the property of the federal railway transport assessed at the balance cost. The list of organisations with the property being entered in the registered capital of the single economic subject is defined by the Government of the Russian Federation.
As to the property of the infrastructure, lands of the railway transport, arterial lines, there is a restricted circulation regime to be introduced for it. As an additional guarantee of stability of work of the railway transport, the sale and other ways of alienation of stocks, as well as the pledging of stocks of the OAO Russian Railways being permitted only on the basis of the federal law.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 123 of February 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Military Medical Expert Evaluation

The military medical expert evaluation is carried out in peacetime and wartime in the listed in the Regulation troops, military formations and bodies, as well as in the created for the wartime special formations to determine the fitness category of the Russian citizens for military service, service in the mentioned bodies according to the health condition, as well as for the purposes of determination of the causal relationship of injuries and diseases of the citizens with the mentioned service.
The military medical and medical pilot commissions, in particular, handle medical certification of the citizens at initial registration for the military and draft purposes. As a result of the certification, the specialist physicians issue the statement of fitness for the military service in one of the five categories.
The Decision lists the requirements to the health condition of citizens:
- due for initial military registration;
- due for the draft to the military service (military training);
- joining contract military service;
- entering military schools, military educational institutions;
- being in the reserve of the Armed Force of the Russian Federation;
- servicemen on active duty.
The mentioned requirements are given in the list of diseases. The table of height and body weight is provided under normal conditions and in cases of nutrition disorders.
The Regulation is entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 4 of January 24, 2003 on the Traffic Control on the Federal Highways in the Spring of 2003

From March 25 through May 15, 2003, introduces on the public-use federal highways a temporary restriction of travel of transport vehicles with the axle load greater than the ones specified in the Order. When the specified axle loads are exceeded, the travelling on the public-use federal highways is not permitted. An exception is made for the transport vehicles carrying passengers, foodstuffs, medicines, oils and lubricants, seeds, mail, cargo necessary for prevention and elimination of the consequences of natural disasters or other emergencies under special pass permits.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 27, 2003. Reg. No. 4234.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of March 4, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provisions of Item 2 of Part 1 and Part 3 of Article 232 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the RSFSR Pursuant to the Appeals of Citizens L.I.Batishchev, Y.A.Yevgrafov, O.V.Frolov and A.V.Shmelyov

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised as not contradicting the Constitution of the Russian Federation Item 2 of Part 1 of Article 232 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the RSFSR, inasmuch as it permits to return the criminal case to the prosecutor to eliminate significant violations of the criminal procedural law, if it does not pertain to incomplete investigation, and Part 3 of Article 232 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the RSFSR whereby the court solves the issue of the measure of restraint for the accused when the criminal case is sent for additional investigation.

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 1, 2003

Approves the concept of regulation of migration processes in the Russian Federation presenting a system of views of the essence and main directions of activities of the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation in the sphere of control of migration processes. Defines the goals, tasks and principles of regulation of migration processes. Implies creation of the federal system of registration of the Russian legal entities, branches and representations of foreign legal entities engaged in organisation of international tourism, accepting of foreign citizens for study and medical treatment, attracting and use of foreign labour force, as well as employment of Russian citizens abroad. Also implies creation of the federal system of registration of arriving foreign citizens including those for work and study.
The concept recognises it necessary to enhance the responsibility of the heads of organisations regardless of the organisational and legal form for the illegal use of foreign labour force.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 147 of November 25, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Issue and Checking of Certificates of Insurance or Another Financial Backing of the Civil Responsibility for the Damage from Oil Pollution

The certificates are issued by the captains of the sea trade or fishing ports, captains of river ports or the Russian Marine Fleet depending on the category of the vessel. The Order lists information to be present in the certificate, as well as provides specimens of the certificates.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4244.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 120 of February 6, 2003 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Customs Warehouse Customs Regime

Specifies that the time of placing under customs warehouse customs regime of commodities classified under Headings 8509 (household electromechanical machines), 8521 (video equipment), 8528 (reception equipment for TV communication) of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation may not be greater than one year. Therefore, the mentioned headings are excluded from the list of commodities prohibited from placing under the customs warehouse customs regime and included in the list of commodities permitted for storage at closed-type warehouses when placed under the mentioned regime.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4243.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 140 of March 4, 2003 on the Procedure and Amounts of Compensation of Expenses of Some of Participants of the Cases of Administrative Violations and Their Labour Remuneration

Specifies the procedure of reimbursement of expenses of the victim, evidence, specialist, expert, interpreter and the witness when summoned to the court, body, official processing the case of administrative violation, as well as the labour remuneration procedure for specialists, experts and interpreters attracted for procedural actions in cases of administrative violations.
The mentioned expenses include travel, lodging and the daily allowance.
The payments to the mentioned persons are made upon fulfilment of their duties on the basis of the ruling of the court or official processing the case of administrative violations who attracted these persons for procedural actions.
Specialists, experts and interpreters get their remuneration according to the norms specified by the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 139 of March 4, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1198 of October 28, 1999

Specifies that individual types of fertilisers (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 3102 10 and 3102 30) shall be exported outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements duty free. Earlier, the rates of the export customs duties amounted to: 5% of the customs cost, but not less than EUR 4 for urea (FTCN code 3102 10) and 5% for ammonium nitrate (FTCN code 3102 30).
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 252-r of February 28, 2003

Endorses the plan of actions of the Government of the Russian Federation for the year 2003 to implement the main directions of the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation. The main priorities of the Government of the Russian Federation are declared to be: reform of the system of state management, tax and budget reform, institutional and infrastructure reforms, stimulation of diversification of the economy, improved openness of the economy, forming of the efficient system of obligatory social insurance and social services.
The tax and budget reform implies to:
- exclude reserves, expenses and non-material assets from the objects of taxation for the property tax from organisations;
- switch over to the market cost of the property as the taxable base;
- reduce the list of tax exemptions;
- make more alike the tax record systems and the accounting work;
- exclude advance payments from the taxable base and change the procedure of confirmation of the zero rate for the export supplies followed by subsequent reimbursement of the value added tax;
- reduce the average rate of the uniform social tax;
- increase the amounts of property deductions, including those for stimulation of the development of the mortgage crediting;
- abandon tax control over the expenses of natural persons.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 137 of March 1, 2003 on the Temporary Measures to Protect the Beet and Sugar Complex

Introduces for 180 days the temporary special duty for the imported commodity (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 90 990 0) in the amount of 45% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.2 per kg of dry matter. The duty is collected for the commodity originating in Belarus except for the case of its release for free circulation in Belarus without collection of the temporary special duty or without the transfer of the paid amounts of this duty to the federal budget.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the date of its official publication.

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 268-r of February 27, 2003

Endorses the plan of legislative activities of the Government of the Russian Federation for the year 2003. In April 2003, it is planned to introduce in the State Duma draft laws on the entering into force of the new chapters of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation - "The Land Tax", "The Property Tax from Organisations", "The Property Tax from Natural Persons", "The Succession or Donation Tax", and in June - the draft law on the payment for the negative interference in the environment.
Besides, in 2003, it is planned to introduce in the Russian Parliament a number of draft codes, in particular, the new wordings of the Forestry Code, the Water Code, the new Housing Code.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 144 of March 5, 2003 on the Procedure of Voluntary Payment to the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation by Individual Categories of Insurers of Insurance Contributions for Obligatory Social Insurance in Cases of Temporary Disability and Maternity

Sets forth the procedure of voluntary payment of insurance contributions to the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation by organisations and independent entrepreneurs having switched over to the simplified system of taxation or paying the uniform imputed income tax or uniform agricultural tax, as well as attorneys, private notaries, detectives, guards and other persons paying on a voluntary basis the obligatory social insurance for the purposes of temporary disability and maternity.
The mentioned employers present to the regional divisions of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation applications whereupon starting the payment of insurance contributions.
Insurance contributions are accrued on the monthly basis for payments and other remuneration paid out to employees under labour contracts proceeding from the procedure of determination of the taxable base for the uniform social tax specified in Chapter 24 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. The contributions are accrued proceeding from the insurance tariff in the amount of 3% of the mentioned payments and other remuneration. For attorneys, independent entrepreneurs, natural persons not recognised as independent entrepreneurs, members of tribal, family communities of the small peoples of the North, the contributions are accrued on the quarterly basis proceeding from the insurance tariff in the amount of 3.5% of the incomes.
Insurance contributions are recorded and reported on the quarterly basis (no later than the 15th of the month following the reported one).
The Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation and the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation are ordered to provide explanations on the use of the rules.

Ruling of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. GKPI 03-49 of February 12, 2003

Invalidates Item 2 of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 632 of August 28, 1992 on the endorsement of the procedure of determination of the payment and its maximum amounts for the pollution of the natural environment, waste disposal, other types of hazardous interference (fixes the provision stating that the basic normatives of ecological payments are specified by the Ministry of Natural Resources) and Item 9 of the endorsed procedure inasmuch as it pertains to direct debit procedure for users of the natural resources.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 146 of March 6, 2003 on the Annual Monetary Compensation of Expenses Pertaining to Operation of Transport Vehicles and Transportation Expenses Paid Out to Individual Categories of Invalids Getting Pension in Compliance with the Law of the Russian Federation on the Pension Support to 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

The annual monetary compensation of expenses pertaining to operation of transport vehicles is paid out to the invalids having received the transport vehicle free of charge or on beneficial terms, as well as to the invalids who are entitled for the transport vehicle free of charge or on beneficial terms but did not receive it, as well as if they wish to get it instead of the transport vehicle. The compensation is not paid out to the invalids covered by the provisions of the Federal Law on the veterans pertaining to the payment of the mentioned compensation. If an invalid is entitled for one and the same monetary compensation for several reasons, the compensation is paid out to him for one of the reasons at his choice.
To get the compensation, the invalids submit application and other listed documents to the bodies in charge of the pension support.
The annual monetary compensation is paid out from the month following the month of submission of the application on the quarterly basis in equal portions according to the procedure specified for paying out the pensions. The compensation that was not received by the invalids in due time is paid out to the invalids (or their relatives after the death of the invalid) for the past periods, however, not more than for 3 years before applying for it. If the compensation has not been received through the fault of the body in charge of the pension support, it is paid out for the whole of the past period.
The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 145 of March 6, 2003 on the Financing in 2003 of the Expenses Pertaining to the Material and Technical Base of the Social Service Institutions, Tied Social Aid to Low-Income Pensioners and Invalids and Elimination of Consequences of Emergency Situations and Natural Disasters

Allocation of resources for the mentioned measures and control over their use is vested in the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation. The financing is carried out to requests of the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
Social service institutions getting the resources shall keep the records of received resources and their use for designated purposes on a separate account according to the procedure specified for budget-supported organisations and submit reporting documents on the quarterly basis to the appropriate authorised bodies of executive power and the territorial body of the Fund.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 26 of February 25, 2003 on the Rules of Drawing Up, Submission and Consideration of the Request for the Official Registration of the Integrated Circuit Layout

Specifies the requirements to the request for the official registration of the integrated circuit layout. Defines the proceedings in cases of requests for the official registration of the layout with the federal body of executive power in charge of intellectual property, as well as the procedure of consideration of the request. Provides the specimens of the application for the official registration and supplements to the application.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4250.

Federal Law No. 32-FZ of March 11, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Licensing of Individual Types of Activities

Envisages introduction of the new licensed type of activities, namely, activities of non-state pension funds in pension support and pension insurance. The licenses of non-state pension funds issued before January 1, 2003 are invalidated from July 1, 2009.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 31-FZ of March 11, 2003 on the Ratification of the Consular Treaty between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China

Ratifies the Consular Treaty singed in Moscow on April 25, 2002.

Federal Law No. 30-FZ of March 11, 2003 on the Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

Amends Articles 171 and 172 of the Criminal Code envisaging responsibility for entrepreneurial and banking activities violating the license terms (illegal entrepreneurial activities and illegal banking activities). Specifies that responsibility for the mentioned types of activities is assumed not only for the violation of the license terms but also for the violation of all license requirements and terms. The amount of liability does not change.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 149 of March 11, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Reimbursement from the Federal Budget of the Part of Expenses to Pay Interest under Credits Obtained in 2003 in the Russian Credit Organisations by Organisations of the Coal Industry Engaged in Extraction of Thermal Coals, to Transfer Payments to the Budgets of All Levels and State Non-Budgetary Funds under the Restructuring Schedules

The subsidy is granted to the organisation in the amount of two thirds of the rate of refinancing of the Central Bank of Russia as of the date of obtaining the credit under the condition that the payment for the use of this credit is not less than the granted subsidy. If the payment for the use of the credit attracted by the organisation is less than two thirds of the rate of refinancing as of the date of getting the credit, the subsidy is granted in the amount of the amount of payment for the use of this credit. To get the subsidy, the organisation submits to the Ministry of Power Supplies application for the subsidy together with other listed documents.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 148 of March 11, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Calculation and Payment of Insurance Contributions for Obligatory Pension Insurance in the Form of the Fixed Payment in the Amount Exceeding the Minimum Amount of the Fixed Payment

Defines the procedure and time limits of calculation and payment of insurance contributions for obligatory pension insurance in the form of the fixed payment in the amount exceeding the minimum amount of the fixed payment by independent entrepreneurs, attorneys, private detectives, private notaries, as well as the heads and members of peasant (farmers') enterprises. The amount of the fixed payment per month is calculated by dividing by 12 the cost of insurance year endorsed on the annual basis by the Government of the Russian Federation. The fixed payment for the current year is transferred no later than December 31 of this year.
The transfer of the fixed payment is effected by insurers to the accounts of the territorial bodies of the Pension Fund in the form of separate payment orders to finance each part of the labour pension. In this case, two thirds of the amount of the fixed payment are allocated to finance the insured part of the labour pension and one third - to finance the accumulated part of the labour pension.
The Pension Fund of the Russian Federation is ordered to provide explanations on the procedure of calculation and transfer of the fixed payment.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 147 of March 11, 2003 on Additional Measures of State Support of the Russian International Highway Transport

For 9 months, introduces the rates of import customs duties for individual types of fifth-wheel tractors and motor transport vehicles for carrying cargo with the full weight greater than 20 t (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 8701 20 101 2 and 8704 23 910 4) in the amount of 5% of the customs cost.
For the mentioned transport vehicles (as well as Subheadings 8716 39 300 1, 8716 39 300 2, 8716 39 590 1 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation) placed under the temporary import customs regime, a full exemption from the customs duties and taxes is granted, other than the fees for the customs registration, for the whole period of operation, provided that they are used for international cargo transportation.
The Decision is entered into force from the day of its official publication except for the provisions on the introduction of the new duty rates entering into force one month after the day of official publication of the Decision.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 152 of March 13, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Coefficient of Additional Increase from April 1, 2003 of the Insured Part of the Labour Pension and the Indexing Coefficient of the Estimated Pension Capital

Endorses from April 1, 2003 the coefficient of additional increase of the insured part of the pension in the amount of 1.126, coefficient of indexing of the estimated pension capital of insured persons determined as of January 1, 2002 in the amount of 1.307.
The Decision is entered into force from April 1, 2003.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 57-r of February 7, 2003 on the Enhancing of Control over the Commodities Moved under TIR Convention of 1975

Lists the transfer points permitting for the import of commodities moved under TIR Convention of 1975 across the Russian-Finish, Russian-Estonian, Russian-Latvian, Russian-Lithuanian, Russian-Polish, Russian-Ukrainian and the Russian-Kazakhstanian portions of the state border of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4256.

Order of the Federal Agency of Governmental Communication and Information No. 12 of January 29, 2003 on the Payment of the Percent Supplement to the Salary for the Military Position (Position Salary (Tariff Rate)) of Servicemen (Civilian Personnel) of the Federal Bodies of Governmental Communication and Information Having Access to the State Secret

Servicemen and civilian personnel of the federal bodies of governmental communication and information having access to the state secret on the permanent basis shall get monthly percent supplement to the salary for the military position, position salary (tariff rate) for the work with information comprising the state secret depending on the secrecy of information they have access to. The maximum amount of the supplement comprises 25% of the salary. The supplement to servicemen is paid out without regard to increases (coefficients) not forming new salaries for the military positions.
Besides, the mentioned persons shall get in addition the percent supplement to the salary for the length of service in the structural divisions for the protection of the state secret.
The Order applies to legal relations emerging from April 16, 2002.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4254.

Federal Law No. 33-FZ of March 11, 2003 on the Creation of the Novoilyinsky Regional Court of the City of Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Province

Creates the Novoilyinsky Regional Court of the city of Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Province. The authority of the mentioned court covers the territory of the Novoilyinsky Region of the city of Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Province.
Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication, except for the authority norm entering into force three months after the moment of entry into force of the Federal Law.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 156 of March 14, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Raw Oil and Raw 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

Increases the rates of export customs duties for benzene, toluene, xylene, lubricants, spent oil products, propane, butanes, ethylene and other liquefied gases, xylenes, distillates, gas oils, liquid fuels and some other commodities of oil exported outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements from USD 23.3 to USD 36.3 per 1,000 kg. The rate of the export duty for raw oil and raw oil products from bituminous materials (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 2709 00) is increased from USD 25.9 to USD 40.3 per 1,000 kg.
The Decision is entered into force from April 1, 2003.

Order of the Ministry for Antimonopoly Policy of the Russian Federation No. 39 of February 12, 2003 on the Procedure of Consideration of Appeals for Explanations of the Antimonopoly Legislation

Appeals of applicants on the explanation of the antimonopoly legislation in a particular case are examined if the application contains the person having sent the appeal (for a legal entity - organisational and legal form, name, place of location, contract telephone No.; for a natural person - full name, taxpayer identification No. if available, passport data, address, contact telephone No.).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4261.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-11/ps of February 12, 2003 on the Amendments to Individual Normative Acts of the Federal Commission for Securities Market

The list of the license requirements and terms to the professional activities at securities market now includes the provision requiring the presence on the license holder payroll engaged in brokerage and/or other dealers' activities and rendering financial advisor services of at least 2 specialists, including the head of the structural division, exceptional functions of which being services of a financial advisor at securities market and/or assessment activities, in compliance with qualification requirements specified by the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation.
The Decision extends the list of the documents to be submitted to the licensing body to get the license. The mentioned package of documents includes: the list of measures aimed at prevention of the conflict of interests in professional activities at securities market and the list of measures aimed at prevention of illegal use of service information in professional activities at securities market. These documents must be coordinated with the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation when taking decisions on the issue of the license, as well as when being amended. The mentioned documents must be worked out and presented by professional participants of the securities market to the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation before July 1, 2003.
The Decision also specifies a number of requirements to professional participants of securities market rendering services of a financial advisor. In particular, defines the requirements aimed at prevention of the conflict of interests in services of a financial advisor at securities market and services in the placing of securities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4260.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 59 of January 27, 2003 on the Procedure of Registration of Transport Vehicles

Provides the new wording for the Rules of registration of motor vehicles and trailers for them in the Traffic Inspection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Specifies the procedure of registration of transport vehicles purchased as property and handed over to other persons on the basis of the leasing contract or subleasing contract for temporary ownership and/or use. Such transport vehicles are registered under the written agreement of the parties as owned by the lessor or lessee.
From July 1, 2003, envisages the duty of the owners or holders of transport vehicles to present for registration the insurance policy of obligatory insurance of the civil responsibility.
Preserves the rule stating that transport vehicles are registered as owned by natural persons at the place of residence indicated in passports or registration certificates at the place of residence. Also preserves the earlier challenged similar norm specifying the duty of the owners of transport vehicles to remove them from records in cases of the change of the place of registration, utilisation (writing off) of transport vehicles, before signing a contract terminating the right of ownership for the transport vehicles or termination of the right of ownership for transport vehicles in other cases.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 7, 2003. Reg. No. 4251.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 155 of March 14, 2003 on the Endorsement of the List of Positions of the Members of Flight Crews of Air Vessels of Civil Aviation Permitting to Get the Monthly Supplement to the Pension under the Federal Law on Additional Social Support for the Members of Flight Crews of Air Vessels of Civil Aviation and the Rules of Calculation of the Length of Service Permitting to Get the Monthly Supplement to the Pension

The list of positions permitting to get the monthly supplement to the pension now includes individual categories of pilots, navigators, engineers, mechanics, radiomen and other members of the flight crew.
The length of service is calculated proceeding from flight hours. In particular, every 20 flight hours are counted in as one month of the length of service. The document confirming the flights as a member of the flight crews of air vessels of civil aviation and flight hours is the flight book. If the flight book is not available, or information contained in it is not sufficient, the mentioned information may be confirmed by excerpts from orders, certificates and other documents issued by employers according to established procedure.
The Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation is ordered to provide explanations in coordination with the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation on the use of the list and the Rules.
The Decision is entered into force from February 1, 2003.
The text of the document has not been published officially as of the moment of placing on the site.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 14n of February 7, 2003 on the Implementation of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 817 of November 11, 2002

Endorses the requirements to the guarding regime of the rooms (territories) used for the making and registration of protected printed items, as well as the technical requirements and terms of making of the protected printed items. Specifies that persons engaged in the making of individual types of protected printed items must use as guidance the mentioned requirements, as well as to present to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation reports of the produced blank forms of securities and quarterly reports of the produced in the reported period protected printed items according to the provided form.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4271.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1246-U of February 10, 2003 on the Actions in Cases of Revealed Facts (Signs) of the Forming of the Sources of Own Resources (Capital) (Part Thereof) Using Improper Assets

Makes more specific the procedure of presentation of claims to credit organisations to correct the capital and defines the sequence of actions of the divisions of the Bank of Russia in cases of revealed facts or sings of the forming of the sources of own resources (capital) (part thereof) when investors use improper assets.
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 March 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4270.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 215-P of February 10, 2003 on the Method of Determination of Own Resources (Capital) of Credit Organisations

Envisages exclusion from the capital estimate of the part of the sources of own resources formed by investors with improper assets. The improper assets are implied to be the property provided to the investor directly or indirectly by the credit organisation itself, as well as the property provided by other persons if the credit organisation assumed the risks of losses pertaining to the provided property.
If in the course of assessment carried out by the Bank of Russia or its territorial institutions the facts of forming of the sources of the main and/or additional capital (part thereof) when investors use improper assets are revealed, the credit organisation gets the demand to exclude these sources from the capital estimate as of the subsequent reporting date after the credit organisation gets this demand.
The Regulation introduces the requirement to use for the purposes of estimation of obligatory normatives of activities of credit organisations the amount of own resources (capital) determined as a result of the assessment carried out by the Bank of Russia, as well as to reflect the mentioned amount of own resources in the reports of credit organisations and bank groups including the published ones.
As compared to the previous Method, the Regulation changes the periods of inclusion in the estimate of own resources (capital) of the amount of surplus of the cost of property available on the balance of the credit organisation at the expense of the reassessment. The mentioned amount may be included in the capital no sooner than once in three years on the basis of the most recent annual accounting report confirmed by an audit organisation (earlier, the surplus cost of the property at the expense of the reassessment was included in the capital estimate no sooner than once a year). The amount of the main capital (earlier, the amount of the total capital) is reduced by the amount of the investments of the credit organisation in the stocks (share of participation) of credit organisations, branches and dependent economic companies. Credit organisations are ordered to asses the quality of own resources (capital) within one month from the day of entry of the Regulation into force and exclude, beginning with the firs t reporting date after expiry of the mentioned term, from the estimate of own resources (capital) the sources (part thereof) formed by investors using improper assets.
The Regulation 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 March 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4269.

Decision of the Managing Board of the Pension Fund of Russia No. 15p of February 3, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Appealing of the Insured Persons to Specify the Address of the Place of Residence in Their Individual Personal Accounts in the System of Individual (Personified) Records

Defines the actions of the insured persons and the bodies of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation to specify the address to be used to send the documents pertaining to the individual personal account in the system of individual (personified) records for the purposes of obligatory pension insurance, in particular, for sending no later than July 1 each year to the insured persons of information on the condition of the special part of their individual personal accounts, results of investing of resources of accumulated pensions and the necessary documents to choose the investment portfolio (management company) or the authorised non-state pension fund. To get the mentioned information, the insured persons apply to specify the address before April 1 of each year. If this time limit is not observed, this information is sent to the insured person to the address available in his individual personal account in the appropriate year. The Decision provides the form of the application. Blank forms of the application of the insured person to specify the address are made by the divisions of the Pension Fund of Russia.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 14, 2003. Reg. No. 4267.

Order of the Ministry of Property Relations of the Russian Federation No. 583-r of February 10, 2003 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Ministry of Property Relations of Russia No. 331-r of August 2, 2000

Pursuant to the invalidation of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 81 of January 29, 2000 on the audit checks of the federal state unitary enterprises, invalidates the Order of the Ministry of Property Relations of Russia No. 331-r of August 2, 2000 on the endorsement of the procedure of arrangement of the contest to select authorised audit organisations
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 14, 2003. Reg. No. 4266.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-2/ps of February 5, 2003 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the System of Qualification Requirements to the Heads, Controllers and Specialists of Organisations Engaged in Professional Activities at Securities Market, to the Heads and Specialists of Organisations Managing Investment Funds, Shared Investment Funds and Non-State Pension Funds, As Well As to the Heads and Specialists of Organisations Carrying Out the Activities of a Specialised Depositary of Investment Funds, Shared Investment Funds and Non-State Pension Funds Endorsed by the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia No. 27/ps of July 5, 2002 with Amendments Introduced by the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia No. 42/ps of October 30, 2002

Qualification requirements specified in the mentioned Regulation of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation apply to the specialists of organisations engaged in brokerage and/or dealers' activities at securities market and rendering to the issuers services in preparation of the prospectus of securities (financial advisors). New requirements are also specified for the mentioned categories.
The Decision lists the requirements to the applicants seeking qualification certificates of the specialist for corporate finances of the Federal Commission for Securities Market.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4265.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-5/ps of February 5, 2003 on the Amendments to the Procedure of Licensing of the Types of Professional Activities at Securities Market of the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 10 of August 15, 2000 (with Amendments of March 21, July 18, 2001)

Excludes the provision permitting double-job holding in organization of trade and depositary activities at securities market.
Extends significantly the list of licence requirements and terms obligatory for the applicant and the license holder, as well as the list of the documents submitted by the applicant to the licensing body. Defines the terms necessary to revoke the license at the initiative of the license holder if he submits an application.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4264.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 214-P of January 29, 2003 on the Procedure of Clearing the Payments of Resident Legal Entities with Non-Residents in Foreign-Trade Deals Envisaging the Purchase and Subsequent Sale of Commodities Abroad without Importing to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation

Operations under the contracts are carried out by the residents without permissions through their accounts opened in authorised banks while observing the multitude of the following conditions:
- operations are carried out according to the cashless procedure using the accounts of the resident in one bank;
- the period between the date of writing off of the monetary resources from the account of the resident and the date of entry of the monetary resources on the account of the resident must not be greater than 180 calendar days from the date of their writing off;
- the amount of the monetary resources received on the account of the resident, including advance or preliminary payment, must no be smaller than the amount of the monetary resources transferred earlier to non-residents under the contract.
The earlier issued permissions envisaging operations observing the mentioned conditions are invalidated from the day of entry into force of the Regulation. The Regulation lists the conditions permitting the bank to refuse to write off monetary resources from the account of the resident.
The Regulation 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 March 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4258.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1241-U of January 21, 2003 on the List of Information and Documents Necessary for the State Registration of the Credit Organisation in Cases of Its Liquidation and Procedure of Their Submission to the Bank of Russia

Specifies the list of information and documents necessary for the state registration of the credit organisation in cases of its liquidation, as well as the procedure of their submission to the Bank of Russia.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4257.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the Federal Commission for Securities Market Nos. 10n, 03-6/pz of January 29, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Assessment of the Cost of Net Assets of Joint-Stock Companies

The cost of net assets of a joint-stock company is implied to be the value determined by deducing from the amount of assets of the joint-stock company accepted for estimation of the amount of its liabilities accepted for estimation. The Order lists the composition of the assets and liabilities accepted for estimation, provides an estimate of assessment of the cost of net assets of a joint-stock company.
The procedure does not apply to joint-stock companies engaged in insurance and bank activities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 12, 2003. Reg. No. 4252.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of March 19, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provisions of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation Regulating Legal Consequences of the Criminal History of a Person, Recurrent Crimes, As Well As Items 1-8 of the Decision of the State Duma of May 26, 2000 on the Amnesty in View of the 55th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 Pursuant to the Request of the Ostankino Intermunicipal (Regional) Court of the City of Moscow and Appeals of a Number of Citizens

According to the applicants, the challenged norms of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation permit for a recurrence of the criminal responsibility for one and the same crime, which is expressed in the enhanced punishment because of the presence of an unnerved or suspended sentence with a person and in double responsibility of the very fact of available criminal history - as a qualifying sing of corpus delicti and an aggravating circumstance, which is in violation of the principle of equality of all in the face of the law.
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised as not contradicting the Constitution of the Russian Federation the provisions of Articles 16, 18, 68, Item "m" of Part 2 of Article 105, Item "c" of Part 3 of Article 111 and Item "c" of Part 3 of Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation inasmuch as they pertain to the regulation of the qualification of crimes and assigning punishments in the presence of an unnerved or suspended sentence with a person having committed this crime, including the cases of recurrent crimes, since the mentioned provisions do not permit for a repeated conviction and punishment for the crime already sentenced, as well as a double responsibility for the available criminal history simultaneously when qualifying the crime and assigning the punishment.
In this case, the federal legislator may fix another regulation of the criminal history, numerous or recurrent crimes and their criminal and legal consequences.
Proceedings pertaining to the constitutionality of Part 2 of Article 86 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Items 1-8 of the mentioned Decision of the State Duma are terminated.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 159 of March 17, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 240 of February 21, 1998

Members of the Presidium and employees of the office of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences shall get monthly supplement for the labour complexity, intensity and high achievements in the amount of 50% to 100% of the salary for the position (earlier, up to 50%). The Decision specifies that labour remuneration funds for the Russian Academy of Sciences in excess of resources allocated for the salaries for the position envisage resources (as annual figure) to pay out the monthly supplement for the labour complexity, intensity and high achievements in the amount of 8.5 salaries for the position (earlier, 2.5).
The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 158 of March 17, 2003 on the Additional Financing in 2003 of Expenses Pertaining to the Tied Medical Aid Rendered to Non-Working Pensioners

The tied medical aid is rendered to non-working (low-income) pensioners that do not have a source of incomes from works under labour contracts, civil contracts, authors' contracts and not engaged in entrepreneurial activities and get labour old-age pensions under the Law on labour pensions in the Russian Federation
The Pension Fund of the Russian Federation allocates resources to its territorial funds proceeding from up to Rbl 525 per pensioner, provided the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation pay contributions for obligatory medical insurance of non-working pensioners

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1247-U of February 10, 2003 on the Invalidation of Individual Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia

Pursuant to the adoption of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 215-P of February 10, 2003 on the method of calculation of own resources (capital) of credit organisations invalidates the homonymous Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 159-P of November 26, 2001 with amendments.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 161 of March 18, 2003 on the Amendment to the List of User-Countries of the Preference Chart of the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1057 of September 13, 1994

The mentioned list now includes Republic of South Africa.
The Decision is entered into force from April 1, 2003.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-03-04/88 of February 27, 2003 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. 54 of November 2, 1999 on the Application of the Law of the Russian Federation on the Property Tax from Natural Persons

Pursuant to the introduction of the transport tax and abrogation of the tax on the water and air transport vehicles, the Instruction of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. 54 of November 2, 1999 on the application of the Law of the Russian Federation on the property tax from natural persons was cramped to exclude provisions defining the procedure of collection of the mentioned tax.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4286.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-22/87 of February 27, 2003 on the Amendments to Appendices 1 and 2 to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-22/648 of November 12, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Uniform Imputed Income Tax for Individual Types of Activities and Its Filling Procedure

Pursuant to the introduction of amendments to Chapter 26.3 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation by the Federal Law No. 191-FZ of December 31, 2002, amends the tax declaration for the uniform imputed income tax for individual types of activities and its filling Instruction. In particular, provides the new wording for the: cover sheet of the declaration, Sheet C (information on the natural person) and Sheet G (calculation of the total amount of the uniform imputed income tax to be paid in the tax period).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4285.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 175 of February 19, 2003 on the Rates to Calculate the Backing of the Customs Payments for Excisable Commodities

In view of the changing of the list of excisable commodities subject to excise duty taxes when imported to the territory of the Russian Federation and the level of rates of the customs payments, increases the rates for the estimation of the amounts of the backing of the customs payments.
In particular, the backing rate for ethyl alcohol is increased from EUR 11.5 to EUR 11.8 per litre, for edible alcohol from EUR 5.8 to EUR 11.8 per litre, for cognac, brandy, whiskey, rum, vodka and liqueurs from EUR 7.6 to EUR 8 per litre, for champagne - from EUR 6.1 to EUR 13 per litre. The backing rate for beer and cars did not change.
The Order also increases the backing rate for the automobile gasoline - from EUR 0.2 to EUR 0.3 per kg.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4279.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 24 of February 25, 2003 on the Rules of Drawing Up, Submission and Consideration of the Request for Registration and Right of Use of the Name of the Place of Origin of the Commodity and Request for the Right of Use of the Already Registered Name of the Place of Origin of the Commodity

Endorses the new wording of the rules of drawing up, submission and consideration of the request stipulated by the adoption of the Federal Law No. 166-FZ of December 11, 2002 amending the Law on trade marks, service marks and the names of the places of origin of commodities. Provides the new wording for the form of request for the registration and right of use in the Russian Federation of the name of the place of origin of the commodity and other forms.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4276.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 166 of February 17, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 848 of December 16, 1998

The changes introduced to the Instruction on the filling procedure for the cargo customs declaration are of technical nature stipulated by the entry into force from April 1, 2003 of the Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 900 of August 23, 2002 on the classifiers and lists of the normative and reference information used for the customs purposes.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4275.

Order of the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring No. 15 of February 7, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Coordination of the Rules of Internal Control of Organisations Carrying Out Operations with Monetary Resources or Other Property Where the Enforcement Bodies Are Not Available

Coordination in the Committee for Financial Monitoring of the Russian Federation applies to the rules of internal control of leasing companies, pawnshops, organisations maintaining sweepstakes and bookmaker offices, as well as arranging lotteries and other games, as well as organisations engaged in the buying-up and selling of precious metals and precious stones, items and scrap of them.
The mentioned rules are submitted to the Committee for Financial Monitoring of the Russian Federation within 5 days from the date of their endorsement together with the application of coordination (drawn up in free form) singed by the head and certified with the seal of the organisation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4274.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 125 of February 7, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Procedure of Adoption of Preliminary Decisions on the Country of Origin of Commodities

Defines the procedure of adoption of preliminary decisions for particular commodities made within certain period of time by one and the same producer in one and the same organisation using one and the same production process.
The preliminary decision on the country of origin of the commodity may be taken by the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation, its regional departments and individual customs offices to the written application of the interested party before presenting the commodity to the customs body. Provides the form of the presented request.
Preliminary decision preserves its force within one year from the day of adoption. The charge for it is Rbl 500.
The Order is entered into force 30 days after the day of its official publication.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4273.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 23 of February 25, 2003 on the Rules of Prolongation of the Effective Period of the Certificate for the Right of Use of the Name of the Place of Origin of the Commodity and Amending the Registration and the Certificate

Endorses the new wording of the rules of prolongation of the effective period stipulated by the adoption of the Federal Law No. 166-FZ of December 11, 2002 amending the Law on trade marks, service marks and the names of the places of origin of the commodity.
Specifies that the effective period of the certificate may be prolonged to the application of the holder of the certificate for ten years each time, provided he presents the statement of the competent body confirming that the holder of the certificate produces within the boundaries of the appropriate geographical object commodity possessing the properties mentioned in the State Register of the Names of the Places of Origin of the Commodities of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4262.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 05-05-09/04 of March 17, 2003 on the Licensing of Activities in the Making of the Printed Items Protected Against Forgery Including the Blank Forms of Securities, As Well As the Selling of the Mentioned Products

Provides the form of information on the presence on the applicant payroll of specialists in production of protected printed items, as well as the form of information on the presence with the applicant of technological equipment for the carried out licensed type of activities.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. 04-4-09/1267-B901 of January 20, 2003 on the Determination of the Rate of the Inherited Property Tax

Explains that the Law No. 2020-1 of December 12, 1991 on the tax for the inherited or donated property does not differentiate the tax rates depending on the osculatory formula in cases of testamentary succession.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 165 of March 20, 2003 on the Amendments to the Procedure of Working Out and Implementation of the Target Federal Programs and Interstate Target Programs Involving the Russian Federation

A target program may include several subprograms aimed at solving specific tasks in the framework of the program. A program is divided into subprograms proceeding from the scale and complexity of the solved problems, as well as the need for a rational organisation of its implementation.
For target programs with more than one state orderer, the coordinator state orderer is assigned.
The Decision defines parameters obligatory for the section of the target program "Assessment of Efficiency of the Socio-Economic and Ecological Consequences of the Implementation of the Program".
Specifies the procedure of reduction of financing of the program measures at the expense of the resources of the federal budget, correction of the program targets and time limits of its implementation. Officials of the state orderers bear responsibility for the failure to present state statistical reports within specified time limits.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 164 of March 20, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Burying of the Persons Killed Because of the Suppression of the Terrorist Act Committed by Them

Defines the procedure of burying of the persons with the criminal proceedings pertaining to the terrorist activities terminated because of their death occurred as a result of the suppression of the terrorist act committed by them.
The burying of the mentioned persons is arranged at the place of death by the specialised services in charge of the obsequies created by the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation or bodies of local government. The Decision lists the services rendered by the special service in charge of obsequies when burying such persons.
Relatives of the buried get notification specifying the registrars office to apply to to get the death certificate. The relatives may also get copies of the document of the death issued by the medical organisation and the act of the autopsy (if available), as well as the personal belongings of the person other than those due for exaction.

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 357-r of March 20, 2003

Endorses the new list of the vital and most important medicines entered in the State Register of Medicines. The previous list endorsed by the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of April 4, 2002 is invalidated.

Federal Law No. 34-FZ of March 22, 2003 on the Prohibition of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Automobile Gasoline in the Russian Federation

To prevent adverse impact on the human health and environment, prohibits from July 1, 2003 production and circulation of ethyl automobile gasoline in the Russian Federation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 308 of March 11, 2003 on the Measures to Improve State Management in the Sphere of Security of the Russian Federation

Abandons from July 1, 2003 the Federal Border Guard Service of the Russian Federation and the Federal Agency of Governmental Communication and Information of the President of the Russian Federation.
Functions of the Federal Border Guard Service of the Russian Federation are handed over to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. The Border Guard Service is created in the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation in charge of the organisation of the management of the border guard troops and the bodies of the Federal Security Service in charge of protection and safeguarding of the state border of the Russian Federation.
The Service of Special Communication and Information is created under the auspices of the Federal Guard Service of the Russian Federation being the federal state body organising and providing in its sphere of reference for the operation, security, development and improvement of the systems of special information for the state bodies.
Functions of the Federal Agency of Governmental Communication and Information are handed over to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation and the Service of Special Communication and Information.
The Decree is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 306 of March 11, 2003 "Issues of Improvement of State Management in the Russian Federation"

Abandons from July 1, 2003 the Federal Service of the Tax Police of the Russian Federation with the functions in revealing, prevention and stopping of the tax crimes and violations being handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Before termination of all measures in abolishment of the mentioned bodies, the heads and officials of the Federal Service of the Tax Police of the Russian Federation and its territorial bodies continue to execute their functions.
The State Committee for Countermeasures Against Illegal Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation is reorganised into the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Control over the Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances. The Federal Service for Economic and Tax Crimes is formed in the framework of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
The Decree is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 37/17n of February 14, 2003 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Financing of the Measures to Assist Employment of the Population and Special Support to the Unemployed Citizens at the Expense of the Resources of the Federal Budget

Organisation of the temporary employment of the underaged citizens 14 to 18 years of age (earlier, 14 to 16 years of age) is qualified as the measures in assisting the employment of the population to be financed at the expense of the resources of the federal budget.
Material aid to unemployed citizens having lost the right for the unemployment allowance because of expired time of its payment, as well as the persons dependent on the unemployed citizen during his unemployment, now excludes the uniform social tax.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 24, 2003. Reg. No. 4306.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-09/80 of February 21, 2003 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-12/375 of October 31, 2000

Abandons the special procedure of registration in the tax body of organisations and interdependent entrepreneurs as the payers of the value added tax issued on the basis of the initial wording of Article 144 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation changed by the Federal Law No. 166-FZ of December 29, 2000 on the amendments to Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 21, 2003. Reg. No. 4305.

Decision of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 6 of January 27, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Handing Over of the Personal (Registration) Files of the Victims of Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases to the Place of Their Permanent Residence

Sets forth the rules of handing over and accepting by the regional divisions of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation of the personal (registration) files of the victims of industrial accidents and occupational diseases, as well as defines the terms of insurance support to the victims during the transfer of the files and presenting information on insurance expenses for the handed over files.
Lists the categories of victims not permitted for file transfer.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 20, 2003. Reg. No. 4292.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-29/60/16n of February 12, 2003 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-29/86/10n of February 20, 2002

Pursuant to the issue of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 602 of August 15, 2002 on the amendment to Item 2 of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 100 of February 12, 2001 stating that decisions on the recognising as desperate for collection and writing off of the debts are taken by the tax bodies (i.e.; without coordination with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation as was envisaged earlier), invalidates the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-29/86/10n of February 20, 2002 on the endorsement of the procedure of coordination by the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation of the decision on the recognising as desperate for collection and writing off of arrears and debts in penalties and federal taxes and fees.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4290.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation, State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-10/98/197/22n of March 3, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Entering Information in the Fields of Payment Documents to Transfer Taxes, Fees and Other Obligatory Payments to the Budget System of the Russian Federation

Endorses the new rules of entering in the payment documents of information identifying the payer and recipient of the resources, as well as the destination of the payment to the budget system of the Russian Federation.
From the day of entry into force of the given Order, invalidates the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation, State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-10/373/961/80n of October 1, 2001 on the endorsement of the rules of entry of information in the fields "Payer", "Recipient" and "Destination of Payment" of the payment documents to transfer payments to the accounts of incomes and resources of the budgets of all levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation, as well as to collect arrears, penalties and fines.
The Order is entered into force from June 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4289.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 72 of January 31, 2003 on the Organisation of the Work of the Bodies of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation to Draw Up and Issue Invitations for the Entry to the Russian Federation of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons, Registration and Storage of the Blank Forms of Invitations

Sets forth the procedure of work of the bodies of internal affairs of the Russian Federation in the drawing up and issue of invitations for the entry to the Russian Federation of foreign citizens and stateless persons, registration and storage of the blank forms of invitations.
Endorses the blank form of the invitation for the entry in the Russian Federation. The blank form of invitations of series PVS-1 available in the bodies of internal affairs of the Russian Federation shall be used until full consumption and receiving of the new blank forms of invitations.
Invitations are drawn up on the basis of written applications drawn up in the Russian language according to the attached forms. The invitations are drawn up no later than within 30 days from the day of appeal (submission of all documents drawn up appropriately).
Defines the procedure of registration of the legal entity, accepting and consideration of applications of the inviting persons.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4278.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 43-T of March 24, 2003 on the Transfers of Foreign Currencies Carried Out by Non-Residents

The Law of the Russian Federation on currency regulation and currency control in the wording of the Federal Law No. 28-FZ of February 27, 2003 does not contain a prohibition to carry out transfers of foreign currencies abroad by non-resident legal entities, including the one purchased at the internal currency market.
Currency legislation of the Russian Federation also does not contain a prohibition to carry out transfers from the Russian Federation by non-resident natural persons of foreign currencies purchased at the internal currency market from their currency accounts in authorised banks and without the opening of the account.
Therefore, after the Federal Law No. 28-FZ is entered into force, there still is an opportunity to carry out the above transfers by non-residents without restrictions.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-8/ps of February 7, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Procedure of Checking of Actions of Persons Containing the Sings of Price Manipulation at Securities Market

Defines the procedure of checking by the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the facts permitting to suggest the presence in the actions of persons of the sings of manipulation of prices for publicly placed or publicly circulated types of emission securities, as well as obligatory, in the course of the checks, actions of issuers, professional participants of securities market and other persons.
The grounds for initiating a check may be the reports, other submitted information, received information, complaints, applications and appeals of natural persons and legal entities and other sources.
The Decision lists information to be submitted on the obligatory basis to the Federal Commission for Securities Market by organisers of trade in continuous regime.
The duration of the checks may not be greater than six months. In complicated cases, the time of the check may be prolonged for two moths in addition.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 24, 2003. Reg. No. 4313.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 29 of March 3, 2003 on the Rules of Taking the Decision on the Early Revocation of the Certificate for the Right of Use of the Name of the Place of Origin of the Commodity at Liquidation of the Legal Entity Holding the Certificate

Sets forth the procedure of taking the decision on the early revocation of the certificate for the right of use of the name of the place of origin of the commodity at the liquidation of the legal entity holding the certificate for the right of use of the name of the place of origin of the commodity. The decision is taken on the basis of the application drawn up according to the attached form that may be submitted by the interested party.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 24, 2003. Reg. No. 4312.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation No. 171/56 of February 19, 2003 on the Interaction of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in Issues of Training and Retraining of the Pilots and Engineering Staff, Deployment, Operation and Servicing of the Air Vessels of the Customs Bodies

The crews of the air vessels of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are permitted in cases of temporary absence of the flight crews of the customs bodies (leaves, illness, etc.) to fly air vessels of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation in the interests of the customs bodies within the territory of the Russian Federation to requests of the chiefs of the regional customs departments (customs offices) endorsed by the chiefs of staffs of divisions, to fly air vessels of the military district (fleet).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 24, 2003. Reg. No. 4311.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 28 of March 3, 2003 on the Rules of Taking the Decision on the Early Termination of the Legal Protection of the Trade Mark and Service Mark in Cases of Liquidation of the Legal Entity Holding the Exclusive Right for the Trade Mark or Termination of Entrepreneurial Activities of the Natural Persons Holding the Exclusive Right for the Trade Mark

Sets forth the procedure of taking the decision on the early termination of the legal protection of the trade mark in cases of liquidation of the legal entity holding the exclusive right for the trade mark or termination of entrepreneurial activities of the natural persons possessing the right. The decision is taken on the basis of the application drawn up according to the attached form that may be submitted by the interested person.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 21, 2003. Reg. No. 4302.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 27 of March 3, 2003 on the Rules of Prolongation of the Registration of the Trade Mark and Service Mark and Amending It

Effective period of registration of the trade mark may be prolonged to the application of the holder of the exclusive right for the trade mark each time for ten years. The application drawn up according to the attached form must be submitted in the last year of the period of registration. The application must have attached the document of the payment of the duty.
The Order also specifies the procedure of amending the registration of the trade mark and isolation of a separate registration.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 21, 2003. Reg. No. 4301.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1253-U of February 25, 2003 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 96-I of December 28, 2000 on the Special, Type S Accounts of Non-Residents

Type S account now includes two new sections: "Securities Blocked for Subsequent Transfer to the Main Section of the Custody Account" and "State Securities Blocked for Subsequent Transfer of the Receipts from Their Sale (Redemption) to the Special, Type S Account of the Non-Resident".
The Direction specifies that from type S account, securities of non-residents may be transferred to type S account used to register securities of another non-resident opened in the same or another authorised bank, except for the short term state bonds and the bonds of the federal loans, as well as according to the special procedure specified for the transfer of corporate bonds and stocks, as well as the bonds of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
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 March 21, 2003. Reg. No. 4297.

Order of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation No. 460 of November 28, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Federal Aviation Rules of State Registration of State Air Vessels

Sets forth the common procedure of state registration of state air vessels and their registration in the State Register of State Air Vessels of the Russian Federation.
State registration applies to all state home-made and foreign-made air vessels intended for flights. The state registration does not apply to meteorological sounding balloons. Unmanned flying vehicles and tethered balloons must be registered according to their numbers. The rules are obligatory for all federal bodies of executive power and organisations possessing divisions of state aviation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 20, 2003. Reg. No. 4293.

Order of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation No. 105 of February 28, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Requirements for Prevention of Emergency Situations at Potentially Hazardous Objects and Life Support Objects

The requirements envisage a complex of measures to reduce the risk of emergency situations of technical nature at potentially hazardous objects using, producing, processing, storing and transporting flammable and explosive, hazardous chemical and biological substances and objects providing life support to the population (objects of water supply and sewage, waste water purification, heat and electric power supplies, hydrotechnical structures)
Potentially hazardous objects are divided according to the hazard level depending on the scale of occurring emergency situations into five classes.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 20, 2003. Reg. No. 4291.

Information Letter of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 71 of March 17, 2003 "Review of the Practice of Resolving by Arbitration Courts of Cases Pertaining to Application of Individual Provisions of Part 1 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation"

The review reflects the issues pertaining to revealed facts of interdependence of persons when considering the reasons of decisions on the additionally accrued taxes and penalties, tax checks, submission of tax declarations, calculation of limitation periods, applied sanctions and other.
The Letter explains that the demand of the tax body to collect the debts in taxes, penalties and fines of the organisation being a dependent (branch) company (enterprise) may apply to a commercial organisation only.
If the deals are revealed when the prices are more than 20% different from the level used by the taxpayer for similar commodities (works, services) within a short period of time, additionally accrued tax for the deals may not be based on the average selling price.
The Letter explains that the taxpayer must present tax declarations within time limits specified by the law regardless of the results of estimation of the amounts of taxes due for payment for these or those tax periods.
The failure to inform the tax body in proper time of the changes in the constituent documents implies collection of a fine from the respective organisation in the single amount.
The Letter also states that the grounds to apply sanctions specified in Item 2 of Article 132 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation to a bank may only be the failure to report to the tax body information on the opening (closing) of an account by the taxpayer. Sanctions specified in the mentioned Article do not apply for the failure to report the mentioned information in proper time.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. VG-6-03/337@ of March 24, 2003 on the Procedure of Calculation of the Value Added Tax by Persons Enjoying Tax Exemptions When Switching Over to the Simplified System of Taxation

VAT payers enjoying tax exemptions under Article 145 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation do not restore VAT amounts in the period when they used the right for exemptions before expiry of the 12 months from the beginning of the exemption period when they switch over to the simplified system of taxation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 167 of March 24, 2003 on the Procedure of Granting Guarantees of Material, Medical and Housing Support to Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons During Their Stay in the Russian Federation

Defines the procedure of granting of guarantees of material, medical and housing support to foreign citizens and stateless persons during their stay in the Russian Federation by the inviting party. The guarantees of support are letters of guarantee of the inviting party assuming obligations of material, medical and housing support.
Specifies that the natural person acting as the inviting party attaches to the letters of guarantee information on his incomes (monetary resources) permitting to ensure execution of the mentioned obligations.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-22/86 of February 27, 2003 on the Amendments to Appendices 1 and 2 to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-22/647 of November 12, 2002 on the Endorsement of the From of the Tax Declaration for the Uniform Tax Paid under Simplified Systems of Taxation and Its Filling Procedure

Provides the new wording for the cover sheet, Sheets C, D and E of the tax declaration for the uniform tax paid under simplified system of taxation. Appropriate changes are introduced in the filling procedure for the mentioned declaration.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 21, 2003. Reg. No. 4299.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-06/79 of February 21, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Operation of the Permanent Tax Stations with the Taxpayer

Sets forth uniform requirements to the operation of the permanent tax station with the taxpayer possessing the certificate of registration of the person carrying out operations with oil products.
The tax station is implied to be the complex of tax control measures carried out by the tax body having issued the certificate to check the correctness of calculation and payment of taxes and fees.
At the written demand of the tax body, the taxpayer must provide to the employees of the tax station restricted access room outfitted with software and technical means permitting to collect and arrange information for taxation purposes according to the attached forms.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 21, 2003. Reg. No. 4296.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. 03-1-08/638/17-Zh751 of February 21, 2003 on the VAT Taxation of the Maintenance Resources of the Services of Property Developers

For taxation purposes, activities of the property developer in the maintenance of the services (including those of technical enforcement) should be regarded as rendered services, regardless of the applied by the taxpayer procedure of recording of the carried out operations in accounting work and the source of financing, that are subject to the value added tax on common grounds.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. VG-9-03/40 of February 19, 2003 on VAT Calculation When Buying Out Land Plots

Explains that operations in the handing over (sale) of land plots are being the object of taxation for the value added tax. In this case, the payer of the tax is the party acting as the seller in the land purchase and sale contract.

Federal Law No. 39-FZ of March 26, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Natural Monopolies

The list of spheres of activities qualified as pertaining to natural monopolies now includes services in transfer of electric and thermal power, as well as in operative management in electric power industry.
The Law specifies the duty to grant access to the commodity market of natural monopolies and production (sale) terms of commodities (works, services) of natural monopolies on non-discriminatory basis according to the requirements of the antimonopoly legislation.

Federal Law No. 38-FZ of March 26, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the State Regulation of Tariff Rates for Electric and Thermal Power in the Russian Federation

Envisages expansion of application of free (market) prices in electric power industry and restriction of the sphere of state regulation of prices (tariff rates) to only those spheres of activities where competition is not available.
The Government of the Russian Federation is empowered with exclusive authority to adopt normative legal acts specifying the pricing fundamentals for the electric and thermal power and procedure of state regulation and application of tariff rates for electric and thermal power. The Law also defines the authority of the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the sphere of state regulation of tariff rates.
If otherwise is not specifies in the agreement between the parties, the payment for the electric power is made by consumers before the 15th of the current month.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication and preserves its force until the day of entry into force of the Federal Law on electric power industry in full amount.

Federal Law No. 37-FZ of March 26, 2003 on the Amendments to Part 2 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation

The amendments are aimed at regulation of the relations between the power supply organisation and the consumer of electric power (user) in cases when the user is connected to the networks other than those possessed by the power supply organisation.
In particular, relations in power supplies of legal entity users are subject to the main principle of executing obligations specified in Article 309 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. Earlier, the wording of Item 2 and Item 3 of Article 546 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation restricted the right of the power supply organisation to stop or restrict power supplies without coordinating it with the legal entity user if there was a significant violation of the power supply contract on the part of the latter.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 36-FZ of March 26, 2003 on the Particulars of Work of Electric Power Industry in the Transient Period and on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation and Invalidation of Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant the Adoption of the Federal Law on Electric Power Industry

Provides for the legal regulation of the stepwise entering into force of the Law of the Russian Federation on electric power industry.
Also defines the procedure of state control over the decisions on the reorganisation, procedure of distribution of the stocks of the Russian open-type joint-stock company of power supplies and electrification The Uniform Power Supply System of Russia and other subjects of natural monopolies.
Defines the authority of the Government of the Russian Federation during the transient period of the reformation of the electric power industry.
From January 1, 2005, combining the activities in the transfer of electric power and operative management in electric power supplies with activities in production and sale-and-purchase of electric power is prohibited to legal entities and independent entrepreneurs, and from the date of the end of the transient period of the reformation of electric power industry, to groups of persons and affiliated persons within the boundaries of the same pricing zone of the wholesale market.
From the date of the end of the transient period, any organisations (except for those guaranteeing suppliers of electric power and organisations prohibited from participation in relations pertaining to circulation of electric power) engaged in activities as power supply organisations shall sell electric power to consumers at free prices after getting the license for the mentioned type of activities.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication, except for the provision on the inclusion of the sale of electric power to citizens in the list of the licensed types of activities entered into force from January 1, 2004.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 311 of March 11, 2003 on the State Committee of the Russian Federation for the Defence Order of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

Forms the State Committee of the Russian Federation for the Defence Order of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation providing for the uniform state policy in the sphere of development, production, unification and standardisation of general purpose armaments and military equipment.
The Decree is entered into force from the day of its signing.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 202 of March 3, 2003 on the Delivery under the Customs Control of Commodities Moved by Belarus Carriers

Lists the places of delivery where the customs bodies must direct all commodities imported under TIR procedure by Belarus carriers to recipients in Moscow and the Moscow Province.
The mentioned provision does not apply to commodities of individual categories specified in the normative legal acts of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation as destined for other places of delivery and customs registration.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 26, 2003. Reg. No. 4327.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 25 of February 25, 2003 on the Rules of Drawing Up, Submission and Consideration of the Request for the Official Registration of the Computer Program and the Request for the Official Registration of the Database

The request for the registration must contain application for the official registration, deposited materials identifying the computer program or the database, including the abstract, as well as the document confirming the payment of the registration fee or the grounds to exempt from it or reduce it.
The Order specifies the proceedings for the request, as well as the procedure of introduction of additions, amendments and corrections to the documents of the registration request.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 20, 2003. Reg. No. 4294.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1254-U of February 25, 2003 on the Invalidation of Individual Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia

Pursuant to the entering into force of the Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1253-U of February 25, 2003 invalidates Directions of the Central Bank of Russia No. 520-U of March 23, 1999 and No. 987-U of June 27, 2001 pertaining to transfers by banks of the monetary resources of non-residents from type S (investment) accounts to type S (conversion) accounts.
Also invalidates Directions No. 1139-U of April 16, 2002 and No. 1155-U of June 3, 2002 pertaining to transfers of securities registered on the special, type S accounts of non-residents.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 42-T of March 24, 2003 on the Tax from the Owners of Transport Vehicles

Explains the procedure of application of the rates of calculation of the tax from the owners of transport vehicles for the year 2002 adjusted pursuant to the adoption of the Rulings of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 104-O and 107-O of April 10, 2002.
When calculating the tax from the owners of transport vehicles from April 10, 2002, one should apply the rates calculated as a product of the tax rates specified in Item 1 of Article 6 of the Law of the Russian Federation on the highway funds in the Russian Federation and factor 0.001.
In case of overpaid amounts of the mentioned tax for the year 2002, territorial institutions and organisations of the Bank of Russia should apply before May 1, 2003 to the tax bodies to offset (return) the overpaid tax and present the adjusted tax declarations for the year 2002.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 41-T of March 21, 2003 on the Application of Item 2 of the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1103-U of January 28, 2002 on the Invalidation of the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 810-U of June 29, 2000 on the Recording in Taxation of the Amount of the Reserve for Possible Losses in Loans Formed by Credit Organisations to the Requirements of the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 62a of June 30, 1997 on the Procedure of Building and Use of the Reserve for Possible Losses in Loans and on the Fixing of Particulars of Building of the Reserves Pursuant to the Adopted Changes to the Tax Legislation

Credit organisations should be guided by Article 292 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation in the wording as of the moment of determination of the taxable base when determining the taxable base inasmuch as it qualifies as expenses deductions to the reserve for possible losses in loans, in loan and similar debts.

Federal Law No. 35-FZ of March 26, 2003 on Electric Power Industry

Specifies legal fundamentals of economic relations in the sphere of electric power industry, defines the authority of the bodies of state power in the regulation of these relations, main rights and duties of the subjects of electric power industry in the carried out activities in the sphere of electric power industry (including production in combined electric and thermal power regime) and consumers of electric and thermal power.
Chapter 3 defines the notion and the legal status of the joint national (all-Russia) electric power supply network. Concluding contracts to render services in the transfer of electric power using the objects forming part of the joint national electric power network, defining the use regime for the mentioned objects and issues of putting of the mentioned objects out of operation is vested on the centralised basis in the organisation in charge of the management of the joint national electric power network (federal network company).
Chapter 4 defines the notion, legal status and procedure of work of the system of operative and dispatching control in electric power industry, composition of the subjects of the operative and dispatching control and their hierarchy, main principles of operative and dispatching control, particulars of operative and dispatching control in emergency power supply regimes and in isolated territorial power supply systems.
Chapter 5 defines in detail the system and essence of the measures of state interference in the relations in the industry, distributes authority in the sphere of state regulation and control of electric power industry between the Government of the Russian Federation and the authorised federal body of executive power.
Chapters 6 and 7 regulate the circulation of electric power at the wholesale and retail trade markets. The period of entry into force of the rules of the wholesale market may not be less than 90 days from the day of their endorsement by the Government of the Russian Federation.
Particulars of economic activities in the electric power industry are defined in Chapter 8.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication with exceptions.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 173 of March 26, 2003 on the Procedure of Determination and Publishing of the List of States (Territories) Failing to Participate in the International Cooperation in the Sphere of Combating the Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way and Financing of Terrorism

The list of the mentioned states (territories) is determined and published by the Committee of the Russian Federation for Financial Monitoring in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 32 of March 5, 2003 on the Rules of Drawing Up, Submission and Consideration of the Request for the Registration of the Trade Mark and Service Mark

Defines the procedure of submission by the interested legal entities and independent entrepreneurs of the request for the registration of the trade mark and service mark. The request includes application drawn up according to the provided form, document of payment of the duty, as well as some other documents (depending on the particulars of registration of the mark).
Also specifies the proceedings of the request for the registration and its consideration. In particular, defines the procedure of carrying out of the expert evaluation of the requested object, appealing against the decision of the expert evaluation and publication of information on the registration.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 25, 2003. Reg. No. 4322.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-6-02/355@ of March 27, 2003 on the Declaration for the Profit Tax from Organisations

The tax bodies are ordered not to demand from the taxpayers submission in 2003 in the declarations for the profit tax from organisations for the 1 quarter and 9 months of Appendices 3 "Individual Types of Expenses Pertaining to Production and Sale" and Appendices 4 "Calculation of the Amount of Losses or Part of the Losses Reducing the Taxable Base" to Sheet 02.
Declarations for the first six months and the year 2003 are submitted in full amount.

Letter of the State Statistics Committee of the Russian Federation No. MS-10-23/869 of March 6, 2003 on the Registration of the Fixed Assets

When recalculating the fixed assets of the budget-supported institutions into the prices as of January 1, 2003, fixed assets recalculated improperly using the index method into the prices as of January 1, 1998 must be registered in the prices as of January 1, 1997 by dividing their cost by the applied coefficients. After this, they must be recalculated into the prices as of January 1, 2003 using the indexes for the fixed assets recorded in the prices as of January 1997.

Decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. GKPI 2003-11 of February 4, 2003

Invalidates from the day of entry into force of the Decision Items 1, 2, 5 and 16 of the Regulation on the licensing of pharmacy activities endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 489 of July 1, 2002 inasmuch as they restrict opportunities to carry out pharmacy activities by the persons engaged in entrepreneurial activities without the forming of the legal entity (independent entrepreneurs).

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 370 of March 26, 2003 on the Amendments to and Invalidation of Some of the Acts of the President of the Russian Federation

Pursuant to the adoption of the Federal Law No. 178-FZ of December 21, 2001 on the privatisation of the state and municipal property, amends the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1535 of July 22, 1994 endorsing the main provisions of the state program of privatisation of state and municipal enterprises in the Russian Federation after July 1, 1994.
Invalidates a number of the acts of the President of the Russian Federation, in particular, Decree No. 301 of March 25, 1992 on the selling of land plots to citizens and legal entities during privatisation of state and municipal enterprises and No. 1229 of October 14, 1992 on the development of the system of privatisation cheques in the Russian Federation.
The Decree is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. SA-6-22/322@ of March 21, 2003 on the Application of Item 2 of Article 346.32 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Explains the procedure of calculation and payment of the amounts of the uniform imputed income tax by organisations incorporating separate divisions without the separate balance and clearing account engaged at the place of location of such divisions in entrepreneurial activities subject to the uniform imputed income tax.
The grounds for inclusion in the tax declaration of information on insurance contributions for obligatory pension insurance calculated and paid for the separate division is the estimate drawn up in free from, as well as the copies of payment documents, certified by the tax body at the place of registration (place of location) of the taxpayer.

Information Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 22 of March 11, 2003

Explains some issues of application of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 142-P of July 5, 2001 defining the procedure of carrying out by resident legal entities of currency operations pertaining to direct investments in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as some other issues of application of the currency legislation.
In particular, if the person sent on a business trip used own resources in foreign currencies to pay for the travelling expenses during the trip outside the Russian Federation, and the mentioned expenses are reimbursed by the bank client after his return, Form 0406007 certificate may be drawn up in the name of this natural person for the amount of resources in foreign currencies handed out to him under the condition that the client submits to the authorised bank the report envisaged in the legislation.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of April 1, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provision of Item 2 of Article 7 of the Federal Law on the Audit Activities Pursuant to the Appeal of Citizen I.V.Vystavkina

According to the applicant, the challenged provision while not permitting to carry out obligatory audit by independent auditors restricts unreasonably the freedom of entrepreneurial activities carried out on the basis of equality of all in the face of the law and court.
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised the provision of Item 2 of Article 7 of the Federal Law on the audit activities stating that obligatory audit is carried out by audit organisations as not contradicting the Constitution of the Russian Federation since its provisions do not prevent a natural person auditor from carrying out obligatory audit as an employee of the audit organisation or being its founder or co-founder.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-28/96 of March 3, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Access Procedure to Confidential Information of the Tax Bodies

Defines the access procedure for state bodies, bodies of local government, organisations, authorised persons and other users to confidential information of the tax bodies.
The request for the confidential information is drawn up and sent in writing on the endorsed blank forms by messenger service, postal dispatches, couriers or in the electronic form over telecommunication channels with requisites permitting to identify the fact of user request to the tax body.
Tax bodies are not permitted to present databases, databanks, archives, lists of taxpayers and employees of the tax bodies containing confidential information except for the cases envisaged in the federal legislation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 26, 2003. Reg. No. 4335.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 217-P of March 7, 2003 on the Participation of the Russian Authorised Banks in the Registered Capitals of the Banks of the Republic of Belarus

Specifies the procedure of participation of the authorised banks possessing general license for bank operations issued by the Bank of Russia in the registered capitals of the banks of the Republic of Belarus created in compliance with the legislation of this republic and on its territory.
Transfers of monetary resources for the purposes of participation in the registered capitals of the banks of the Republic of Belarus, as well as the purchase (alienation) of stocks of the issuers of the banks of the Republic of Belarus, shares in the registered capitals of these banks is effected by the authorised banks using the notification procedure.
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 March 26, 2003. Reg. No. 4332.

Decision of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 16 of February 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Allocation in 2003 of the Resources To Pay the Full or Partial Cost of Accommodations for Sanatoria and Resort Treatment of Employees for Insurers at the Expense of the Discounts or Mark-Ups to the Insurance Tariff for Obligatory Social Insurance against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases

Specifies the procedure of allocation in 2003 of the resources of the obligatory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases to pay for the cost of accommodations at the expense of the discounts or mark-ups to the insurance tariff for obligatory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases. Insurers shall allocate resources to pay for the cost of accommodations for employees in sanatoria and resort institutions located on the territory of the Russian Federation proceeding from Rbl 470 per person per day.
The setting off as accrued insurance contributions applies to expenses made by insurers in 2003 to pay for accommodations with initial time of arrival up to December 31, 2003 inclusive. Recording of the allocated resources by insurers is arranged using Form 4-FSS estimate sheet.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 26, 2003. Reg. No. 4330.

Decision of the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation No. 2 of January 8, 2003 on the Summary Rules "Labour Safety in Construction. Industry Typical Labour Safety Instructions"

Endorses the summary rules SP 12-135-2003 containing the package of industry typical instructions on labour safety for the most common professions and types of works in construction. The summary rules are intended for preparation of labour safety instructions for construction workers regardless of the agency affiliation and organisational and legal forms of ownership of legal entities engaged in construction activities.
Labour safety instructions must be worked out by the heads of the appropriate structural divisions of the organisation with participation of the labour safety service and endorsed by the order of the employer in coordination with the trade-union body or other representative body authorised by the employees. Revision of the instructions must be arranged at least once in five years.
SP 12-135-2003 is entered into force from July 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 25, 2003. Reg. No. 4321.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1256-U of March 3, 2003 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 2-P of October 3, 2002 on Cashless Payments in the Russian Federation

From June 1, 2003, introduces the new forms of the payment order and encashment order containing new fields. The fields "Payer", "Recipient" "Purpose of Payment" "Payer INN" (taxpayer identification No.), "Recipient INN" (taxpayer identification No.), as well as the Fields 101-110 in the payment documents for the transfer and collection of the tax and other obligatory payments are filled out taking into account the requirements of the joint Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation, State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-10/98/197/22n of March 3, 2003 also entered into force from June 1, 2003.
The earlier accepted payment documents and payment orders must not be redrawn and must be executed in compliance with the requisites envisaged in the applied formats. The date of writing off of the monetary resources from the payer account in the payment order, encashment order is entered in the middle of the free space of the upper field. When drawing up the payment order for a partial payment of the mentioned payment documents, the Fields 101-110 are not filled out.
The Direction must be published in the Herald of the Bank of Russia and is entered into force from June 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 21, 2003. Reg. No. 4300.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1263-U of March 28, 2003 on the Invalidation of the Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia

Pursuant to the adoption of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 198-P of October 7, 2002, invalidates the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 7-P of December 8, 1997 on the procedure of calculation and collection of the payment for the clearing services of the Bank of Russia with amendments.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 177 of March 31, 2003 on the Organisation and Implementation of the State Monitoring of the Environment (State Ecological Monitoring)

Endorses the procedure of organisation and implementation of the complex system of monitoring of the condition of the environment, evaluation and forecasting of the changes of the condition of the environment under the influence of natural and man-induced factors.
The monitoring is vested in the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, Russian Hydrometeorological Service, Russian Land Cadastre, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, State Committee for Fishing and other bodies of executive power.

Decision of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation No. 5 of March 4, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Expert Evaluation of Industrial Safety of Hazardous Industrial Objects Using Underground Structures

Defines the terms of arranging of the expert evaluation of the industrial safety, drawing up and endorsement of the statements of the expert evaluation of industrial safety of industrial objects using the following lifting devices: cargo cranes of all types, elevators and communication systems, ropeways, moving staircases, lifts (towers), funiculars, construction lifts, invalid lifting platforms.
The Regulation is obligatory for execution by all legal entities regardless of the organisational and legal form engaged in expert evaluation of industrial safety of the mentioned objects.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 28, 2003. Reg. No. 4345.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 44-T of March 26, 2003 on the Overall Liquidity Normative (N5)

Explains the procedure of application of sanctions to credit organisations in cases of failure to observe the overall liquidity normative (N5). Suggests, in particular, to use information on the level of observation of the overall liquidity normative (N5) in the framework of the contensive analysis of the situation in credit organisations. If the results of the analysis do not show shortcomings in the condition and/or management of the liquidity of the credit organisation, the territorial institution of the Bank of Russia does not apply to the credit organisation sanctions envisaged in the federal laws for the failure to observe the mentioned normative by the credit organisation.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. AS-6-06/326 of March 20, 2003 on the Interaction with the Federal Bodies of the Tax Police During Dissolution of the Federal Service of the Tax Police of Russia

During the period fixed for the dissolution of the Federal Service of the Tax Police of the Russian Federation, the tax bodies will continue to interact with the bodies of the Federal Service of the Tax Police of the Russian Federation according to the earlier defined procedure. The tax bodies are ordered to inform immediately the bodies of the prosecutor's office of the facts of refusal of the heads of the bodies of the tax police to accept and examine the materials of the violation of the legislation on taxes and fees containing the signs of a crime sent by the tax bodies.

Ruling of the Cassation Board of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. KAS 03-24 of February 6, 2003

Recognises as contradicting the federal legislation and invalid from the day of adoption of the Decision Paragraph 4 of Subitem "b" of Item 4 of the Regulation on the licensing of purveying, processing and sale of the scrap of non-ferrous metals endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 552 of July 23, 2002 specifying as the license requirement and condition the availability of the scrap baler at every object.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 182 of April 1, 2003 on the Partial Suspension in 2003 of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 309 of April 21, 2001

In 2003, suspends the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 309 of April 21, 2001 on the endorsement of the Regulation on the purchase, distribution, handing out of accommodations for sanatoria and resort treatment and rehabilitation of employees and members of their facilities inasmuch as it pertains to the purchase, distribution and handing out of accommodations for sanatoria and resort treatment and rehabilitation of employee family members and employee rehabilitation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 181 of April 1, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 505 of July 5, 2001

The rules of rendering paid educational services in the sphere of pre-school and secondary education now apply to the sphere of professional education.
Executors of the paid educational services include scientific organisations, as well as institutions, originations and citizens rendering mentioned services in the sphere of primary professional, secondary professional, higher professional and post-graduate professional education.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 179 of April 1, 2003 on the Rules of Granting from the Fund of Co-Financing of Social Expenses of Subsidies for Partial Reimbursement of Expenses of Consolidated Budgets of the Subjects of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Granting of Subsidies to the Population to Cover the Housing and Communal Services

Defines the procedure of granting subsidies from the Fund of Co-Financing of Social Expenses to consolidated budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation for partial reimbursement of expenses pertaining to the granting of subsidies to the population to cover the housing and communal services and estimation of the amount of the mentioned subsidies. The subsidies are granted on the quarterly basis.
For the subjects of the Russian Federation participating in the experiment in application of the system of personified social accounts, the level of subsidies is increased by 7% in excess of the specified level.
The Decision sets forth the time limits for submission of the reports of the fixed standards of payment for the housing and communal services and the amount of accrued subsidies.
The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation is ordered to provide explanations on the use of the Rules.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 107-r of March 12, 2003 on the Places of Temporary Import (Export) of Commodities to (from) the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation Using ATA Carnets

Provides the new wording for the list of the places of customs registration of commodities using ATA carnets.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 2, 2003. Reg. No. 4357.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 191 of April 3, 2003 on the Length of Working Time (Norm of Pedagogical Hours Per Rate of Earnings) of Pedagogical Workers of Educational Institutions

Fixes the length of the working time (norm of pedagogical hours per rate of earnings) for the pedagogical workers of educational institutions depending on the length and/or speciality taking into account the particulars of their work.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 190 of April 2, 2003 on the Authorised Federal Body of Executive Power in Charge of the Regulation, Control and Enforcement in the Sphere of Forming and Investment of Resources of Accumulated Pensions

The authorised federal body of executive power in charge of the regulation, control and enforcement in the sphere of forming and investment of resources of accumulated pensions shall be the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, as well as the Federal Commission for Securities Market, within their sphere of reference.
The Decision specifies, in particular, that the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation shall arrange contests to choose the specialised depositary and management companies to conclude contracts with the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 189 of April 2, 2003 on the Measures to Protect Russian Producers of Zinc-Coated Rolled Products

Introduces for 2.5 years the import antidumping duty in the amount of 24.3% of the customs cost for flat rolled items of steel, alloyed or alloy-free steel with zinc or aluminium-and-zinc coating (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 7210 49 100 0, 7210 49 900 0, 7210 61 100 0, 7210 61 900 0, 7225 92 100 0, 7225 92 900 0) originating in the Ukraine.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 188 of April 2, 2003 on the List of Infectious Diseases Hazardous for the Population and Serving As Grounds to Refuse or Revoke the Temporary Residence Permission to Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons or Residence Permit or Work Permission in the Russian Federation

The mentioned list includes AIDS, lepra, tuberculosis, as well as sexually transmitted infections.
The Ministry of Public Health is ordered to provide explanations on the application of the mentioned list.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 187 of April 2, 2003 on the Amount of Remuneration to Organisations Financed at the Expense of the Federal Budget, Expenses of Employees Because of the Moving to Work in Another Locality

The reimbursement is arranged according to the preliminary agreement with the employer in the amount of actual expenses confirmed with travel documents, however, not higher than the cost of travel specified for the listed in the Decision categories of conveniences in individual types of transport. If the confirming travel documents are not available, the compensation is paid out in the amount of the cost of travel with the minimum category of conveniences.
The reimbursement amount includes settling expenses at the new place of residence in the amount of the monthly salary for the position (tariff rate) at the new place of work per employee and in the amount of one forth of the salary for the position (tariff rate) for each resettled family member. Besides, the employee shall get the daily allowance in the amount of Rbl 100 per day of travel to the new place of work.
The mentioned resources must be returned by the employee if he failed to start working within specified time limits without a justifiable reason, as well as if he retired from work prematurely at his own will without a justifiable reason or was dismissed for the wrong doing being the reason for discontinuation of the labour contract.
The employee having failed to report for work or refused to start working with a justifiable reason must return the paid out settling resources less the travel expenses of himself and members of his family, as well as the luggage expenses.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 169 of February 17, 2003 on the Endorsement of the New Blank Forms of the Cargo Customs Declaration

From June 1, 2003 introduces the new blank forms "Cargo Customs Declaration (TD1)" and the "Additional Sheet (TD2)" each of which consisting of four bound sheets of self-copying paper with special protection elements.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 27, 2003. Reg. No. 4343.

Federal Law No. 44-FZ of April 5, 2003 on the Procedure of Registration of Incomes and Estimation of the Average Per Capita Income of the Family and Incomes of a Single Citizen to Recognise Them As Low-Income Persons and Render State Social Aid to Them

Defines the procedure of registration of incomes and calculation of the average per capita income for the purposes of rendering state social aid to low-income families or low-income single citizens.
The estimate is made proceeding from the amount of incomes of the family members or the single citizen for the three most recent calendar months preceding the month of submission of the application for the state social aid. The total incomes take account of the types of incomes both in monetary form and in kind from all sources and on any grounds. The incomes include also the monetary equivalents equal to the cost of the benefits granted to the mentioned persons, as well as incomes from sale or leasing of immovable and other types of property, incomes from personal part-time farm. The list of the types of incomes taken into account in the calculation of the average per capita incomes to render the state social aid is specified by the Government of the Russian Federation.
The Law defines the particulars of the procedure of registration of individual types of incomes of the family, including those from seasonal, temporary works, from personal part-time farm, from property leasing and some other types of incomes.
The Federal Law is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 43-FZ of April 5, 2003 on the Amendments to the Code of the Internal Water Transport of the Russian Federation

Sets forth that the state registration in the State Register of Ships of the Russian Federation does not apply to sports sailing ships regardless of the presence and power rating of the main engines and capacity of such vessels. The sphere of reference of the bodies of technical supervision and classification of the vessels of the Russian Federation now does not include technical supervision of the sports sailing ships.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 42-FZ of April 5, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Power Conservation

In the framework of the program of reformation of the electric power industry of the Russian Federation envisaged the transfer to the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation of the authority in the sphere of granting benefits to consumers and producers of power resources providing better figures as compared to the state standards.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 41-FZ of April 5, 2003 on the Amendments to Article 30 of the Federal Law on the Higher and Post-Graduate Professional Education

The amount of the supplement to the salary for the position (rates) of scientific and pedagogical workers of institutions of higher education is increased three times and is fixed to amount to: Rbl 900 for the scientific grade of the candidate of sciences and Rbl 1,500 for the scientific grade of the doctor of sciences.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication and applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 40-FZ of April 5, 2003 on the Ratification of the Agreement Between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Delimitation of the Bottom of the Northern Part of the Caspian Sea for the Purposes of Implementation of Sovereign Rights for the Use of Natural Resources and Protocol to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Delimitation of the Bottom of the Northern Part of the Caspian Sea for the Purposes of Implementation of the Sovereign Rights for the Use of Natural Resources of July 6, 1998

Ratifies the Agreement signed in Moscow on July 6, 1998 and the Protocol to it signed in Moscow on May 13, 2002.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation No. 03-4/ps of February 5, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Method of Calculation of Own Resources of Professional Participants of the Securities Market

Lists the types of resources with amounts comprising own resources of professional participants of the securities market, as well as resources not included in the estimate.
Own resources are increased (reduced) by the amount of the positive (negative) difference between the estimated and the balance cost of the objects of immovable property and unfinished construction where there is a statement of an independent assessor of their estimated cost as of the date not earlier than 1 year before the date of submission to the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation of information on the amount of own resources of the professional participant.
The method is not used to estimate own resources of credit organisations.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 2, 2002. Reg. No. 4359.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 68 of March 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Consideration of Applications and Taking Decisions on the State Registration

Endorses the procedure of consideration of applications and taking decisions by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation and its territorial bodies on the state registration of trade and industry chambers, public associations, including political parties, trade-unions and national and cultural autonomies, as well as religious organisations.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 1, 2003. Reg. No. 4350.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 203 of March 3, 2003 on the Declaring of Commodities

Endorses the new procedure of declaring of commodities placed under the customs regime of release for free circulation or export using the simplified form. The declaring at the desire of the declaring party is arranged by submitting a written application and other listed documents under the condition that the total customs cost of the commodities is not greater than USD 1,000 equivalent, and the commodities are moved by one and the same person on the same transport vehicle under the same contract or without any relation to a contract.
The Order sets forth that for customs registration of commodities with the customs cost not exceeding USD 500 equivalent customs duties are not collected.
The Order does not apply to the procedure of declaring of excisable commodities subject to licensing or labelling, currency values exempted from commodity duties, as well as commodities subject to measures of non-tariff regulation.
The Order is entered into force 10 days after its official publication.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 31, 2003. Reg. No. 4347.

Operative Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 48-T of March 31, 2003 on the Scheme of Transfer of the Balance of the Credit Organisation with a Revoked License for Bank Operations to an Actual Chart of Accounts

Pursuant to the adoption of the new rules of accounting work in credit organisations, provides the table of correspondence of accounts as of January 1, 1998 and 2002 to the accounts of the new chart of accounts having entered into force from January 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 197 of April 4, 2003 on the Particulars of Double Job Holding for Pedagogical, Medical, Pharmacy Workers and Workers of Culture

The particulars of double job holding for the mentioned employees are defined by the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation in coordination with the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation taking into account the opinion of the Russian Trilateral Commission for Regulation of Social and Labour Relations.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 193 of April 4, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Determination of the Quota for Temporary Residence Permissions in the Russian Federation Issued to Foreign Citizens

The quota for the issue of temporary residence permissions to foreign citizens and stateless persons is fixed by the Government of the Russian Federation for the calendar year in absolute figures for the Russian Federation on the whole and separately for each of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
The decision on the fixing of the quota for the subsequent year is taken by the Government of the Russian Federation no later than November 30. The decision on the fixed quota may not be revised and is obligatory for execution by the territorial bodies of the federal body of executive power in charge of internal affairs issuing temporary residence permissions.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-12/ps of February 26, 2003 on the Requirements to Magnetic Media and Text Format of the Documents Submitted to the Federal Commission for Securities Market in Compliance with the Normative Legal Acts on Investment Funds

The magnetic media must be a 3.5" diskette formatted for IBM-compatible computers. All files must be in Rich Text Format (RTF).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4382.

Order of the Ministry of Property Relations of the Russian Federation No. 79 of March 13, 2003 on the List of Officials of the Ministry of Property Relations of the Russian Federation and Its Territorial Bodies Authorised to Draw Up Protocols of Administrative Violations

The mentioned list includes the Minister of Property Relations, chiefs of structural divisions of the central office of the Ministry, heads of interregional and territorial bodies and their divisions, as well as their deputies.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4374.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1258-U of March 18, 2003 on the Amendment to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 168-P of December 18, 2001 on the Procedure of Carrying Out Operations by Authorised Banks (Branches of Authorised Banks) with Banknotes of the Member-Countries of the Economic and Monetary Union and Euro Banknotes and Coins

Defines the codes of the currencies of the member-countries of the Economic and Monetary Union having lost the status of the legal circulating medium pursuant to the introduction of the uniform European currency - euro - used in the documents drawn up by credit organisations when collecting such currencies for subsequent sending to foreign banks, as well as when accepting them for expert evaluation.
The Direction 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 April 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4371.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 288 of March 19, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 402 of April 27, 2001

Changes the rates for calculation of the amount of the backing of the duties of the importer. In particular, the rate for the wines, except for the sparkling ones, champagne, wine materials and must, is fixed in the amount of EUR 2.5 per litre (earlier, 1.7).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4370.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 291 of March 19, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 1070 of November 27, 2000

Lists additional points of transfer permitting to move alcoholic and tobacco items by international highway or sea transport.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4369.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-10/ps of February 12, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 15 of July 18, 2001 on the Normatives of Sufficiency of Own Resources of Professional Participants of Securities Market

Fixes the normative of sufficiency of own resources of professional participants of the securities market engaged in dealers' or/and brokerage activities and rendering financial consulting services at securities market in the amount of Rbl 35 million.
When the brokerage and/or dealers' activities are combined with depositary or assessment activities and the rendering of financial consulting services, the sufficiency normative is fixed to amount to Rbl 40 million.
When the brokerage and/or dealers' activities are combined with depositary activities and activities of the special depositary of investment funds, shared investment funds and non-state pension funds and the rendering of financial consulting services at securities market, the sufficiency normative is fixed to amount to Rbl 45 million.
According to the Statement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 07/2597-YuD of March 19, 2003, the Decision does not need state registration.

Federal Law No. 45-FZ of April 8, 2003 on the Amendment to Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

Article 146 "Violation of the Copyright and Associated Rights" of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is provided in the new wording. The difference pertains to the criminal responsibility for the appropriation of the copyright (plagiary) and illegal dissemination of the objects of the copyright or associated rights, as well as the purchase, storage, transportation of counterfeit copies of pieces of art or soundtracks for the purposes of sale.
The reference to a large damage as a sign of the objective aspect causing problems in law enforcement practice is replaced with the reference to the large scale as applied to the deed.
The qualifying sings of a crime are extended to include the reference to the crime committed by a person abusing his official position or a specially severe crime.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 409 of April 8, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1263 of November 1, 2001 on the Authorised Body in Charge of the Countermeasures Against Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way

The changes are stipulated by the entry into force of the Federal Law No. 131-FZ of October 30, 2002 stating that the sphere of reference of the Committee for Financial Monitoring of the Russian Federation includes now countermeasures against financing of terrorism.
The Decree is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 199 of April 7, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on Decisions on the Unwanted Residence (Stay) of a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person in the Russian Federation and the List of the Federal Bodies of Executive Power Authorised to Decide on the Unwanted Residence (Stay) of a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person in the Russian Federation

The decision on the unwanted stay is taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation, Committee for Financial Monitoring of the Russian Federation, Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation no later than within 1 month from the day of submission of confirming materials by the territorial divisions of these bodies.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 158 of March 13, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Procedure of Accepting, Registration and Resolving in the Bodies of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation of Reports of Crimes and Other Information on Violations

Sets forth the uniform procedure of accepting, registration and resolving in the bodies of internal affairs of the Russian Federation of reports of crimes and other received information of violations and events jeopardising personal or public security, as well as defines the procedure of internal control over its observation.
Arriving reports regardless of the place and time of the committed violations, as well as completeness of reported information and the form of presentation, must be accepted in any body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Anonymous applications containing the signs of committed or anticipated crime shall be transferred without registration to the appropriate divisions of the body of internal affairs for possible use according to established procedure in operative investigation work.
Responsibility for the observation of the law while accepting, registering and resolving of reports of crimes and other information is vested in the chief of the body of internal affairs or the person replacing him.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4381.

Decision of the State Standards Committee of the Russian Federation No. 20 of March 3, 2003 on the Endorsement of the System of Gas Certification

Defines the main principles of the system, its structure, functions of participants and the rules of certification.
The central body of the system of gas certification is the Raw Materials Section of the Department of Standardisation of the State Standards Committee of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4367.

Decision of the State Standards Committee of the Russian Federation No. 21 of March 3, 2003 on the Endorsement of the System of Certification of Chemical Products

Defines the main principles of the system, its structure, functions of participants and rules of certification.
The central body of the system of certification of chemical products is the Raw Materials Section of the Department of Standardisation of the State Standards Committee of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4366.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1255-U of February 27, 2003 on the Simultaneous Survey in the Sphere of Mortgage Crediting

Credit organisations shall submit no later than April 30, 2003 to the territorial institutions of the Bank of Russia information on the mortgage housing credits granted by credit organisations according to the provided form.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
According to the Statement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 08/2904-YuD of March 26, 2003, the Direction does not need state registration.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-1/ps of January 30, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Requirements to the Format of Electronic Documents Submitted to the Federal Commission for Securities Market

Sets forth uniform requirements to the format of electronic documents submitted to the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation.
An electronic document must comply with the latest version of the template of the electronic document available free of charge at the site of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation (www.fcsm.ru) as of the date of its sending.
According to the Statement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 07/2392-YuD of March 13, 2003, the Decision does not need state registration.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1265-U of March 31, 2003 on the Invalidation of Item 46 of Appendix 1 to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 500-U of February 12, 1999 on the Enhancing of the Currency Control on the Part of the Authorised Banks over the Legality of Currency Operations Carried Out by Their Clients and on the Procedure of Application of Sanctions to the Authorised Banks for the Violation of the Currency Legislation

The list of states and territories granting beneficial tax regime and/or not disclosing and not providing information on the carried out financial operations (off-shore zones) now does not include Latvian Republic.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of April 10, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of Item 1 of Article 84 of the Federal Law on Joint-Stock Companies Pursuant to the Appeal of the Open-Type Joint-Stock Company Priargunskoye

According to the challenged Item 1 of Article 84 of the Federal Law on joint-stock companies of December 26, 1995 (in the wording of May 24, 1999) the transaction with interest committed in violation of the requirements envisaged in the mentioned Law may be invalidated by a lawsuit of the company or stock-holder. The challenged norm is recognised by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation as not contradicting the Constitution of the Russian Federation since it provides for the protection of the rights of minority stock-holders excluding an opportunity of abusing their rights.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 410 of April 8, 2003 on the Amendments to and Invalidation of Some of the Acts of the President of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Entering into Force of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

A number of the acts of the President of the Russian Federation improving collection of obligatory payments are being brought in compliance with the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation entered into force from July 1, 2003.
The Decree specifies that resident importers having concluded deals envisaging the transfer of foreign currency from the Russian Federation to purchase commodities must import the commodities for the equivalent amount or provide for the return of these resources in the amount of at least the earlier transferred one within 90 calendar days from the date of payment for the commodities (earlier, 180).
The Decree is entered into force from July 1, 2002.

Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation No. 381 of March 11, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Veterinary and Sanitary Rules for the Import to the Russian Federation of Fodders for Cats and Dogs

Permits to import to the territory of the Russian Federation animal fodders obtained at enterprises possessing permission of the central state veterinary service of the exporting country for export supplies of products and controlled by it on the permanent basis. The fodders must be obtained from fresh raw materials originating in administrative territories free from contagious animal and bird diseases.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 8, 2003. Reg. No. 4389.

Order of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of the Russian Federation No. 03-558/r of March 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Qualification Minimum for the Specialised Examination for the Specialists in Corporate Finances

Endorses the minimum list of subjects, legislative and normative documents to be mustered on the obligatory basis for qualified execution of the functions of the specialist in corporate finances.
The Order is entered into force from April 1, 2003.

Decision of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation No. 9 of March 18, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Safety Rules for Gas Distribution and Gas Consumption Systems

Sets forth special industrial safety requirements to the design, construction, installation, reconstruction and operation of gas distribution and gas consumption systems of natural gases used as fuel, as well as to the equipment (technical devices) used in these systems.
Defines the requirements to the officials and maintenance personnel. The mentioned persons must undergo periodic certification. The workers must undergo training and examination in safety methods and techniques in the amount of instructions pertaining to their labour duties.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4376.

Official Explanation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 28-OR of April 8, 2003 on the Application of Individual Norms of the Regulations of the Bank of Russia No. 37 of March 30, 1996 on the Obligatory Reserves of Credit Organisations Deposited in the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and No. 51 of November 4, 1996 on the Obligatory Reserves of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation Deposited in the Central Bank of the Russian Federation

Explains the issues pertaining to the inclusion by credit organisations in the obligations forming part of the estimate of the amount of obligatory reserves of obligations in non-monetary form.
When credit organisations build the estimate, obligations of the credit organisation forming part of the estimate do not include obligations in non-monetary form (in precious metals and natural precious stones in their physical form, in the form of a loan, securities and other).

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. FS-6-09/345@ of March 26, 2003 on the Issue of Presenting Information from the Joint State Register of Legal Entities

If an interested person applies for a copy of a document (document) from the Register, the body in charge of the registration shall present the mentioned information contained in the registration file of the legal entity while collecting the fee in the amount of two or four minimum amounts of labour remuneration (Rbl 200 or Rbl 400) for each requested document. The payment order must contain the number of the requested documents multiplied by the amount of payment for the services in section "Purpose of Payment" (Rbl 200/400).
Information on the list of the documents contained in the registration file of a particular legal entity is presented free of charge.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 214 of April 11, 2003 on the Amendment to the List Endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 283 of April 29, 2002

In the list of materials for making medical immunobiological preparations for diagnostics, prevention and/or treatment of infectious diseases import of which to the territory of the Russian Federation is exempted from the value added tax, the word "tetrametibenzidine" is replaced with the word "tetramethylbenzidine".

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 210 of April 11, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

Reduces 3 times the rates of import customs duties for some types of paper and paperboard to amount to 5% of the customs cost.
Reduces 2 times the rates of import customs duties for some ceramics items - carriers for making catalysts used in transport vehicles to neutralise hazardous waste of exhaust gases, as well as equipment for washing and drying of capacities for medical industry and for cargo motor vehicles. The rates for the mentioned commodities are fixed to amount to 5% of the customs cost.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication for 9 months.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 208 of April 10, 2003 on the Endorsement of the List of Diseases Preventing from Work in the Representation of the Russian Federation Abroad

Lists the diseases serving as grounds for the early termination of work in the representation of the Russian Federation abroad.
The Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation is ordered to provide explanations on the application of the mentioned list.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-21/177 of April 9, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Methodology Recommendations on the Application of Chapter 28 "Transport Tax" of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Provides the definition of "transport vehicles" and their particular types. Explains that motor transport vehicles, tractors, self-propelled road construction and other machines with the engine working capacity up to 50 cm3 are not subject to the state registration on the territory of the Russian Federation and, therefore, are not qualified as objects of taxation for the transport tax.
The payers of the tax are the persons having registered the transport vehicles. Natural person possessing and controlling the transport vehicle by proxy is recognised as the taxpayer if the vehicle has been handed over to him before the official publication of the Federal Law No. 110-FZ of July 24, 2002 endorsing Chapter 28 "Transport Tax" (i.e. before July 29, 2002).
To shift off the duty of the payer of the transport tax, the owner of the vehicle must present to the tax inspection notification of the handing over of the vehicle and the rights for them to another person.
The Order provides examples of tax calculation, as well as the form of the tax notification for the transport tax.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 213 of April 11, 2003 on the Particulars of Calculation of the Average Earnings

Defines the particulars of the procedure of calculation the average earnings for all cases of determination of their amounts envisaged in the Labour Code of the Russian Federation.
To estimate the average earnings, one should take into account all kinds of payments envisaged in the labour remuneration system applied in the appropriate organisation regardless of the sources of these payments.
Calculation of the average earnings of the employee regardless of his working regime is carried out proceeding form the actually accrued earnings and actual working time for the 12 months preceding the moment of payment.
Average earnings for the purposes of payment for the leaves and compensation for the unused leaves are calculated for the most recent 3 calendar months (1st to 1st).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 212 of April 11, 2003 on the Labelling of Alcoholic Products with New Type Special Federal Stamps

Introduces from June 1, 2003 the new type special federal stamps for labelling of alcoholic products made on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Specifies the requirements to stamp specimens, as well as defines their cost including production expenses, delivery to the tax bodies, storage and insurance.
The Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation is ordered to stop accepting and placing of orders to make old type special federal stamps from April 15, 2003 and stop selling them from September 1, 2003.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 312 of March 25, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 38 of January 25, 1999

The changes to the Instruction on the customs registration and control of commodities moved across the customs border of the Russian Federation by natural persons and not intended for production or other commercial activities are stipulated by the adoption of the Federal Law No. 28-FZ of February 27, 2003. According to the amendments, the exported foreign currency in cash in the amount up to USD 3,000 equivalent is not declared.
Natural persons may bring out lumpsum amounts of foreign currencies in cash up to USD 10,000 equivalent without presenting confirming documents to the customs bodies. In excess of these amounts, natural persons may export the earlier imported foreign currencies in cash within the limits of the amounts indicated in the customs declaration confirming their import.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 14, 2003. Reg. No. 4416.

Decision of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 33 of March 27, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Reports of the Use of the Amounts of Insurance Contributions for Obligatory Social Insurance against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases for Partial Financing in 2003 of Preventive Measures to Reduce Industrial Injuries and Occupational Diseases of Employees

The endorsed form of the report is submitted by insurers to the executive body of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation at the place of their registration simultaneously with the estimate sheet (Form 4-FSS RF).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 11, 2003. Reg. No. 4415.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-24/149 of March 28, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Certificate of the Absence of Unregulated Debts in Taxes and Other Obligatory Payments and Violations of the Tax Legislation

Endorses the form of the certificate issued by the tax body to the resident at the place of his registration as a taxpayer containing information on the absence of unregulated debts in taxes and other obligatory payments and violations of the tax legislation. The mentioned certificate is necessary for obtaining the permission to delay the payment by the resident for more than 90 days for the export of commodities (works, services, results of intellectual activities).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 11, 2003. Reg. No. 4411.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-05/134 of March 26, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-05/49 of February 1, 2002

The amendments are introduced in the form of the estimate of advance payments of the uniform social tax and its filling procedure.
The estimate of Line 0300 "Taxable Base for Calculation of the Tax for the Reported Period" now does not include columns containing the rates and amounts of accrued advance payments to the federal budget, Social Insurance Fund, Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance and the territorial funds of obligatory medical insurance.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 11, 2003. Reg. No. 4409.

Decision of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation No. 12 of March 26, 2003 on the Amendments to the Instruction on the Procedure of Filling Out of the Forms of Documents on the Results of Determination by the Bureaus (Chief Bureaus) of Medical and Social Expert Evaluation of the Loss of Professional Abilities in Percent Endorsed by the Decision of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 75 of October 15, 2001

Changes the filling procedure for lines "Time of Certification of the Loss of Professional Abilities" and "Date of Subsequent Certification" of the excerpt from the act of certification in the bureau of medical and social expert evaluation and the certificate of the results of determination of professional abilities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4404.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation No. 138 of April 4, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Issue of the Statement of Compliance of Organisation of Production of Medicines with the Requirements of the Federal Law on Medicines

Defines the procedure of issue by the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation of statements to enterprises producing medicines of the compliance of the organisation of production of their medicines with the requirements of the Federal Law on medicines to get the license for production of medicines.
The procedure is obligatory for all enterprises producing medicines and substances of vegetal, animal or synthetic origin possessing pharmaceutical properties and intended for production of medicines on the territory of the Russian Federation regardless of their agency affiliation and forms of ownership.
The Order provides the prototype of the application for the statement of the mentioned compliance with the requirements of the Law.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4401.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. FS-6-10/352 of March 27, 2003 on the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia, State Customs Committee of Russia and the Ministry of Finance of Russia No. BG-3-10/98/197/22n of March 3, 2003

Pursuant to the changing of the rules of entering of information in the fields of the payment documents to transfer taxes, fees and other obligatory payments, provides new examples of filling out of payment orders to transfer taxes and fees to the budget system of the Russian Federation.
The banks should note especially the duty to fill out the Fields 62 "Received in the Bank" (date of receiving of the payments document in the bank) and 71 "Written off from Payer Account" (date of writing off of the monetary resources from the payer account) necessary for the tax body for correct registration in the taxpayer personal account of the date of execution of the duty to pay the tax or fee.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 23n of March 5, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Filling out and Issue of Certificates of Export of Untreated Natural Diamonds

Defines the general principles of filling out and issue of certificates of export from the Russian Federation of untreated natural diamonds, as well as the list of information and documents necessary for obtaining them.
The certificate is issued for each consignment of untreated natural diamonds sent under one contract by one sender to one recipient regardless of the number of dispatches in the consignment and drawn up as a single cargo customs declaration.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 14, 203. Reg. No. 4419.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 51 of April 3, 2003 on the Rules of Issue of the Copy of the Patent of the Russian Federation for the Invention, Industrial Prototype, Useful Model, Certificate for the Useful Model, Trade Mark, Service Mark, Right of Use of the Name of the Place of Origin of the Commodity, USSR Patent and Certificate of Official Registration of the Computer Program, Database or Integrated Circuit Layout

Sets forth the procedure of issue by the federal body of executive power in charge of the intellectual property of the copy of the patent of the Russian Federation for the mentioned objects of intellectual property. The application, the form being provided in the Order, must have attached the document confirming the transfer of payment according to the tariff for the issue of the copy.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 11, 2003. Reg. No. 4413.

Decision of the State Standards Committee of the Russian Federation No. 32 of March 31, 2003 on the Endorsement of the System of Certification of Kitchen Utensils

The system has been created to organise and carry out works to confirm compliance and ensure the necessary level of objectivity and true quality and safety of kitchen utensils. The central body of the system is the Raw Materials Section of the Standardisation Department of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4405.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 221-P of March 26, 2003 on the Procedure of Accepting and Execution by Credit Organisations, Divisions of the Clearing Network of the Bank of Russia of Payment Documents Presented by Recipient Natural Persons

The recipient or his representative present to the bank the original of the payment document (its copy) and application order in duplicate according to the provided form. The application order grants to the bank the right of drawing up of encashment order on behalf of the recipient to write off the monetary resources from the debtor account and their transfer to the account indicated by the recipient.
Using the application order, the bank, no later than the working day following the date of its accepting, shall draw up encashment order on the blank form 0401071 in compliance with particulars specified in the Regulation.
The Regulation does not apply to the procedure of collecting of the monetary resources from the currency accounts of the debtor, as well as the cases of accepting of payment documents by credit organisations with revoked licenses for bank activities.
The Regulation is entered into force 10 days after the day of publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4402.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 26n of March 20, 2003 on the Procedure of Entry into Force of the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 127n of December 11, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Directions on the Procedure of Application of the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation

Since the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation recognised the mentioned Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation as not needing state registration, orders to publish this document in Finansovaya Gazeta and enter it into force from January 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 222 of April 16, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 369 of May 31, 2002

Changes the rules of determination of the normative price of the state or municipal property due for privatisation. If the federal property includes less than 2% of the stocks of the joint-stock company with the balance cost of the fixed assets as of the most recent reporting date being not greater than Rbl 500 million, the normative price of these stocks is fixed to equal the nominal cost of 1 stock multiplied by the number of stocks due for privatisation. A similar rule is envisaged for the determination of the normative price of the stocks of joint-stock companies owned by the subjects of the Russian Federation or available in the municipal property.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 217 of April 14, 2003 on the Creation, Reorganisation and Liquidation of the Federal State Unitary Enterprises Based on the Right of Economic Management

Decision on the creation, reorganisation and liquidation of the federal state unitary enterprises based on the right of economic management is taken by the Government of the Russian Federation. Reorganisation of the mentioned enterprises in the form of incorporation of the branches in their creating enterprises is carried out on the basis of the Decision of the Ministry of Property Relations of the Russian Federation taken upon coordination with the federal body of executive power in charge of the coordination and regulation of activities in the respective industry (sphere of management).

Decision of the Management Board of the Pension Fund of Russia No. 33p of March 19, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Registration in the Territorial Bodies of the Pension Fund of Russia of Insurers Making Payments to Natural Persons

Defines the rules of obligatory registration in the territorial bodies of the Pension Fund of Russia of organisations, independent entrepreneurs and natural persons acting as insurers in obligatory pension insurance making payments to natural persons. Provides the forms of applications for registration and their filling procedure, as well as lists other documents to be submitted to the body in charge of the registration. The registration must be carried out within 30 days from the day of the state registration of the organisation or the day of conclusion of the contracts by employer natural persons.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 16, 2003. Reg. No. 4425.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1264-U of March 28, 2003 on the Procedure of Accepting of Foreign Currencies in Cash from the Customs Bodies of the Russian Federation by the 1st Operative Department of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)

Accepting by OPERU-1 from the customs bodies of the Russian Federation of foreign currencies in cash and entering it on foreign currency accounts in the Federal Treasury Directorate of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation is carried out in compliance with the contract concluded between the Central Bank of Russia, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation. The Direction defines the main terms of accepting of the foreign currencies in cash and the procedure of accepting of the bags with foreign currencies in cash.
The Direction 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 April 16, 2003. Reg. No. 4424.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 199 of March 26, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Blank Form of the Application for the Work Permission to a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Persons and the Blank Form of the Work Permission to a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person

Before the new blank forms of the work permissions to foreign citizens or stateless persons are made, the permissions shall be issued on the blank form of the confirmation of the right for work endorsed by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 2146 of December 16, 1993 on the attraction and use of foreign work-force in the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 15, 2003. Reg. No. 4422.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-29/159 of April 2, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Sending of the Tax Payment Order, Taking of the Decision on the Collection of the Tax, Fee, As Well As Penalty at the Expense of the Monetary Resources of the Taxpayer (Payer of the Fee) Organisation or Tax Agent Organisation on Accounts in Banks and the Decision on Suspension of Operations on Taxpayer (Payer of the Fees) or Tax Agent Accounts in the Bank

Defines the rules of sending of orders and decisions pertaining to forced collection of tax debts by the tax bodies. The tax bodies are ordered to send the tax payment order no later than 15 days after the beginning of the time of payment (the three months term specified in the Tax Code of the Russian Federation is the limiting one).
The time of execution of the tax payment order sent to the taxpayer (payer of the fees) or tax agent must not be greater than 10 calendar days from the day of receiving. Execution in excess of this time is permitted only by the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation.
The decision on suspension of operations on the taxpayer (payer of the fees) or tax agent accounts in the bank pertains to all opened accounts of the mentioned persons subject to collection of the tax (fee), as well as penalty.
The new procedure does not apply to the documents adopted by the tax body before its entry into force.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-23/150 of March 28, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Methodology Recommendations for the Tax Bodies on the Application of Individual Provisions of Chapter 25 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Particulars of Taxation of the Profits (Incomes) of Foreign Organisations

Specifies the particulars of application of individual provisions of Chapter 25 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation pertaining to taxation of profits of foreign organisations.
Explains that the notion of the "permanent representation" for taxation purposes is not the one of organisational and legal significance, but the one qualifying the activities of a foreign organisation pertaining to the duty of a foreign organisation to pay the tax on the profit in the Russian Federation. The signs of the permanent representation are: presence of a separate division or any other place of activities of the foreign organisation in the Russian Federation, carrying out of entrepreneurial activities on the territory of the Russian Federation by the foreign organisation, carrying out of such activities on the regular basis.
The Order explains the issues of qualifying the profit of the foreign organisation in the Russian Federation as the one of a particular permanent representation in cases when the company has several divisions rendering services in different regions.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. MM-6-09/439@ of April 15, 2003 on the Issue of the Certificate of Registration to the Legal Entities Registered after July 1, 2002

If the place of the state registration and the place of registration of the legal entity by the tax bodies coincide, the certificate of the state registration of the legal entity and the certificate of the registration in the tax body are issued simultaneously.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 225 of April 16, 2003 on Labour Books

From January 1, 2004, introduces new type labour books. Endorses the forms of the labour book and insert in it, as well as the rules of keeping and storing them, making blank labour books and providing employers with them.
The new form does not contain information on the assigned pension, with information on awards and incentives being united. Natural person employer may not enter records in employee labour books, as well as draw up labour books for employees hired for the first time.
The rules specify the procedure of entering changes in the labour book stipulated by the change of the name, date of birth and other.
The new requirement is the one of the employee signature confirming all records entered during his work in the given organisation, at his dismissal (termination of the labour contract). The blank form registration book and the labour book and insert flow book must be numbered, stitched, certified with the signature of the head of the organisation, as well as supplied with wax or lead seal.
The earlier type labour books available with employees preserve their force and are not exchanged for the new ones.
In contrast to the earlier available procedure, the amount of the payment collected by the employer from the employee for the labour book and insert in it is not defined in the fixed amount. It is determined by the amount of payment for their purchase.
The Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation is ordered to provide explanations on the application of the rules.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 219 of April 15, 2003 on the Invalidation of Some of the Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on Privatisation

Pursuant to the adoption of the Federal Law on the privatisation of the state and municipal property, invalidates a number of the acts of the Government of the Russian Federation specifying the particulars of privatisation of printing houses, printing enterprises and book wholesale enterprises of the Russian Committee for Printing, enterprises of initial processing of agricultural products, maintenance and material supplies of the agroindustrial complex.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 218 of April 15, 2003 on the Claims Raising Procedure for Obligations to the Russian Federation in Cases of Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Procedures

Defines the procedure of submission of applications by the authorised body to recognise the debtor bankruptcy, submission of claims to collect obligatory payments and claims of the Russian Federation under monetary obligations, coordination of activities of the representatives of the federal bodies of executive power and state non-budgetary funds.
In case of a failure on the debtor part of the demands to transfer obligatory payments, the tax or customs bodies, no later than within 3 months from the date of sending of the decision to the bailiff on the collection of the tax (fee) at the expense of the debtor property, shall send to the Federal Service of Russia for Financial Rehabilitation or its territorial body the notification of the availability of the debt in obligatory payments.
If the amount of the debtor assets out of circulation is not greater than Rbl 5 billion, or if the debtor is a strategic organisation, the decision to submit application to recognise the debtor bankruptcy is taken by the Government of the Russian Federation. In other cases, by the Federal Service of Russia for Financial Rehabilitation or its territorial body.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-29/169 of April 7, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-10/175 of June 1, 2001

The decision taking procedure for recognising as desperate for collection and writing off of the debt of the organisation liquidated according to the bankruptcy procedure, including the bankruptcy procedure for the absent debtor, now does not include the provision stating that a tax check must be arranged in a liquidated organisation with the debt not greater than 500 minimum amounts of labour remuneration.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-22/164 of April 3, 2003 on Amendments 1 to the Methodology Recommendations on the Application of Chapter 26.3 "Taxation System in the Form of the Uniform Imputed Income Tax for Individual Types of Activities" of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-22/07 of December 10, 2002

Refines the provisions of the methodology recommendations explaining the procedure of fixing the number of employees and transport vehicles in operation to be taken into account when calculating the uniform imputed income tax. Reflects the provisions of the Federal Law No. 190-FZ of December 31, 2002 on the obligatory social insurance allowances for citizens working in organisations and with independent entrepreneurs applying special tax regimes and for some other categories of citizens.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of April 21, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of Provisions of Items 1 and 2 of Article 167 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Appeals of Citizens O.M.Marinicheva, A.V.Nemirovskaya, Z.A.Sklyanova, R.M.Sklyanova and V.M.Shiryayeva

The applicants, while being legal buyers of flats, challenged provisions of Items 1 and 2 of Article 167 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation on the consequences of illegality of the deal that were used by courts to take restitution decisions.
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation has decided to recognise the mentioned provisions as not contradicting the Constitution of the Russian Federation inasmuch as they pertain to the duty of each side to return to the other everything obtained under the deal, since the given provisions may not apply to a bona fide purchaser if this is not specified by the law directly. Thus, the rights of the person considering himself to be the owner of the property may no be protected by satisfying the lawsuit against a bona fide purchaser using the legal mechanism envisaged in the given Article. Such protection is possible only if the property has been removed from the owner possession against his will, i.e. as a result of a theft, loss etc.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 250 of April 14, 2003 on the Organisation of the Work of the Bodies of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in the Drawing up and Issue to Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons of the Temporary Residence Permissions and Residence Permits

Endorses the specimens of the temporary residence permission mark put in the personal identification document of a foreigner or stateless person and the blank form of the temporary residence permission issued to a stateless person.
Specifies the procedure of accepting and consideration of applications for the issue of the temporary residence permission and residence permit, their drawing up and issue by the passport and visa departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, directorates of internal affairs, departments of internal affairs of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 16, 2003. Reg. No. 4426.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 60-T of April 18, 2003 on the Preparation of the Statement of Compliance of the Rooms of the Credit Organisation for Operations with Values with the Requirements of the Bank of Russia

The statement of the territorial institution of the Bank of Russia is prepared without on-site check of the specialist on the basis of analysis of the contract with organisation providing security services, its license, act of accepting of the security, fire and warning signals for operation, contracts (insurance policies) for voluntary property insurance and responsibility insurance, as well as some other documents.
The mentioned documents or their properly certified copies are presented by the credit organisation (branch) to the territorial institution of the Bank of Russia.

Order of the Federal Service of Russia for Financial Rehabilitation No. 4-r of April 7, 2003 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Federal Service of Russia for Financial Rehabilitation No. 226-r of December 20, 2000

Invalidates the Order of the Federal Service of Russia for Financial Rehabilitation specifying the procedure of arranging of the monitoring of the financial standing of organisations and recording of their paying capacity.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4436.

Decision of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation No. 15 of April 1, 2003 on the Identity of Worker Occupations Permitting for an Early Assignment of the Old-Age Labour Pension under Subitems 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 of Item 1 of Article 27 of the Federal Law on Labour Pensions in the Russian Federation

Identifies occupations of workers engaged in the underground, in hot shops, in textile industry, in wood felling and rafting, as well as the workers of individual categories engaged in organisation of traffic and ensuring traffic safety on the railway transport and the underground that, when revising appropriate issues of the Uniform Tariff and Qualification Guide of Works and Occupations, were unified into the other lists of occupations permitting for the state pension on beneficial terms and in beneficial amounts.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 14, 2003. Reg. No. 4431.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-22/135 of March 26, 2003 on the Amendments to Appendix 1 "Book of Incomes and Expenses of Organisations and Independent Entrepreneurs Using the Simplified System of Taxation" and Appendix 2 "Procedure of Recording of Economic Operations in the Book of Incomes and Expenses of Organisations and Independent Entrepreneurs Using the Simplified System of Taxation" to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-22/606 of October 28, 2002

Amends the Book of Incomes and Expenses of Organisations and Independent Entrepreneurs Using the Simplified System of Taxation. Section I "Incomes and Expenses" now has the following refining columns instead of the columns "Incomes" and "Expenses":
- "Incomes - Total";
- "Including Incomes Taken into Account When Calculating the Uniform Tax";
- "Expenses - Total";
- "Including Expenses Taken into Account When Calculating the Uniform Tax".
Appropriate changes are introduced in Section III "Calculation of the Taxable Base for the Uniform Tax" of the book of incomes and expenses, as well as the procedure of recording of economic operations in this book.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4430.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1260-U of March 24, 2003 on the Procedure of Bringing in Compliance of the Amount of the Registered Capital and the Amount of Own Resources (Capital) of Credit Organisations

Defines the procedure of bringing of the amount of own resources (capital) of credit organisations in compliance with the amount of the registered capital defined in its constituent documents.
The territorial institution of the Bank of Russia shall send within 5 days the order to the credit organisation whereupon the credit organisation must take measures to increase the amount of own resources (capital) to the amount of the registered capital, and if such increase is impossible, to reduce the amount of the registered capital to the amount of own resources (capital) and introduce appropriate changes to the constituent documents.
The Direction provides the procedure of recording in accounting work of operations pertaining to the reduction of the registered capital of the credit organisation.
The Direction 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 April 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4429.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1271-U of April 17, 2003 on the Invalidation of Individual Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia

Pursuant to the adoption of the new procedure of accounting work for the deposit operations in credit organisations carried out by the Bank of Russia, invalidates the earlier procedure of recording in accounting work of deposit operations of the Bank of Russia in the banks using the "cash" method and the "accrual" method endorsed by the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 67-P of January 13, 1999.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1268-U of April 4, 2003 on the Invalidation of Individual Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia

Pursuant to the endorsement of the new list of information and documents necessary for the state registration of the credit organisation because of its liquidation, invalidates the earlier list endorsed by the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 408-U of November 11, 1998.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Federal Law No. 50-FZ of April 22, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Continental Shelf of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Marine Scientific Research

Refines the notion of "marine scientific research" coordinated with the set of notions of the federal laws on exclusive economic zone and on internal sea waters, territorial sea and adjacent zone. The setting of the rules of carrying out of research is qualified as the sphere of reference of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Article 23 of the Law dedicated to the principles of carrying out of marine scientific research is extended to include two principal provisions. According to the first one, deployment and use on the continental shelf of research installations and equipment intended for research purposes is implemented according to the same procedure as the research itself. The second addition defines the particulars of the regime of research works with the region located partially in the internal sea waters or the territorial sea.
Other amendments pertain to the content and procedure of consideration of the request for the research, its organisation, as well as the duties of the applicants inasmuch as they pertain to the transfer and use of the data obtained as a result of the research.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 49-FZ of April 22, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Internal Sea Waters, Territorial Sea and Adjacent Zone of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Marine Scientific Research

Sets forth that marine scientific research must be of peaceful nature exclusively and must not endanger the defence and security of the Russian Federation.
Research installations and equipment for marine research must have identification signs indicating the state of registration or competent international organisation they belong to, as well as have appropriate warning devices to ensure a safe navigation in the sea and air taking into account the norms and standards specified by competent international organisations.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 48-FZ of April 22, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Marine Resource Research and Marine Scientific Research

The structure of marine resource research is divided into research of inanimate resources and research of animate resources. Article 21 containing the reasons of refusal to permit to carry out research of animate resources is being brought in compliance with the UN Convention on marine law. The norms of the given Article permit to refuse to carry out research in the exclusive economic zone proceeding from the subject of this research.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 47-FZ of April 22, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Obligatory Social Insurance against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases

Regulates relations of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation with insurers and banks when the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation controls the payment of insurance contributions.
Specifies sanctions for the failure to observe or improper observation by the insurer of the duties to register as an insurer with an insurance company, timely payment of insurance contributions in full amount, submission of specified reports, as well as the timely payment in full amount of insurance premiums assigned by insurance company to the insured.
Thus, operations of a legal entity or natural person having concluded a labour contract with an employee without registration as an insurer implies a fine in the amount of 10% of the leviable base for insurance contributions defined for the whole period of operation without the mentioned registration with insurance company, however, not less than Rbl 20,000.
The violation of the specified time limits for submission of the reports is fined in the amount of Rbl 1,000, and Rbl 5,000 in case of recurrence of the same violation within one year.
The Law fixes the duty of the banks to demand from the organisations at the opening of the account a document confirming registration as insurers in the executive bodies of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation. The opening of the account without such document implies a fine from the bank (other credit organisation) in the amount of Rbl 10,000. The Law also specifies the duty of the banks to report within five days to the insurer the opening or closing of the bank account by the organisation. The failure to report such information implies a fine from the bank (other credit organisation) in the amount of Rbl 20,000.
The time limit for execution by the banks of the order of the insurer to transfer insurance contributions to the insurance company or encashment order of the insurance company to collect insurance contributions from the insurer legal entity is one operative day from the day following the day of receiving of such order. Violation of this time limit implies a penalty in the amount of 1/150 of the discount rate of the Central Bank of Russia, however, not more than 0.2% for each overdue day.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 46-FZ of April 22, 2003 on the Amendments to Article 12 of the Federal Law on the Acts of Civil Status

According to the amendments, the head of the body in charge of the registration of the acts of civil status must report information on the state registration of death, apart form the notification of the Pension Fund, bodies of social protection, tax inspection, also to the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1259-U of March 20, 2003 on the Procedure of Accounting Work in Credit Organisations for Deposit Operations Carried out by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation

Specifies the procedure of accounting work in credit organisations for deposit operations of the Bank of Russia using the "cash" method and the "accrual" method.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia. Procedure of accounting work for the deposit operations using the "accrual" method is entered into force on the basis of a separate normative act of the Bank of Russia.
According to the Letter of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 07/3592-YuD of April 11, 2003, the Direction does not need state registration.

Information Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 3 of March 20, 2003 "Summary of the Practice of Application of the Federal Law on the Countermeasures against Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way and Financing of Terrorism"

Explains individual issues of application of the mentioned Law stipulated by the entry into force of the Federal Law on the state registration of legal entities, as well as pertaining to requests to clients to get the documents necessary for internal control.

Order of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation No. 1287 of March 31, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Certificate of the Results of the Uniform State Examination

Provides the form of the certificate of the results of the uniform state examination and its description. Specifies that the certificate is a strict reporting document with a level of protection and No.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 23, 2003. Reg. No. 4442.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 220-P of March 25, 2003 on the Procedure of Conclusion and Execution of REPO Deals with State Securities of the Russian Federation

Defines the procedure of conclusion and execution of repurchase deals with state short-term couponless bonds, bonds of the federal loans and state federal bonds. The parties in repurchase deals may only be the dealers of the market of state securities of the Russian Federation operating both in their own name and on their own account and on the account and to orders of investors.
Also specifies the procedure of changing of the terms of the repurchase deal, forced execution of the deal with blocked backing, mutual offsetting of similar claims and other.
The Regulation 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 April 23, 2003. Reg. No. 4439.

Order of the Federal Service of the Russian Federation for Financial Rehabilitation No. 29 of April 4, 2003 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Federal Service of Russia for Financial Rehabilitation No. 279 of June 27, 2002

Invalidates the Order specifying the list of officials authorised to draw up the protocols of administrative violations.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 22, 2003. Reg. No. 4437.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. SA-6-22/332@ of March 21, 2003 on the Application of Item 2 of Article 346.32 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Organisations engaged at the place of location of separate divisions without a separate balance and clearing account in entrepreneurial activities subject to the uniform imputed income tax for individual types of activities submit the tax declaration for the uniform tax at the place of carrying out of such activities.
The grounds for inclusion in the tax declaration of information of accrued and paid for the separate division insurance contributions for obligatory pension insurance is the estimate drawn up by the taxpayer in free from, as well as the copies of payment documents certified by the tax body.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 232 of April 24, 2003 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 791 of November 1, 2002

Lifts the restriction of the effective period of the rules of redemption by legal entities of the debts in borrowings and/or wilfully spent material values of the state material reserve as of January 1, 2001.
The Ministry of Finance is ordered to define in coordination with the Russian Agency for State Reserves the procedure of recording and entering as incomes in the federal budget of the monetary resources paid by the legal entity in redemption of the debt.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 237 of April 24, 2003 on the Amendment to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

The rate of the customs duty for starch treacle (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 1702 30 990 1) is fixed to amount to 15% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.066 per kg. Earlier, the rate amounted to 5% of the customs cost.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication for 9 months.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 238 of April 24, 2003 on the Organisation of the Independent Technical Expert Evaluation of Transport Vehicles

Endorses the rules of organisation and carrying out of the interdependent technical expert evaluation of the transport vehicle when solving the issue of insurance compensation paid out under the contract of obligatory insurance of the civil responsibility of the owner of the transport vehicle.
The goal of the expert evaluation is the fixing of the availability and nature of the damage, its reasons, as well as the technology, volume and cost of repair of the transport vehicle. The fixing of the fault of the person in the violation of the traffic rules is beyond the goals of the expert evaluation.
The expert evaluation is carried out by an expert organisation or expert technician - natural person having undergone a professional certification and entered in the State Register of Expert Technicians. The payment for their services is effected at the expense of the insurer (victim) in compliance with concluded contract.
The Rules are entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 239 of April 24, 2003 on the Amendments to Item 1 of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 537 of July 18, 2002

Sets forth that the time of works carried out before January 1, 1992 out of those included in Lists 1 and 2 of the production facilities, shops, professions and positions permitting to get the state pension on beneficial terms and in beneficial amounts endorsed by the Decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1173 of August 22, 1956 (with amendments) is included in the length of service permitting for en early assignment of the old-age labour pension together with the works envisaged in the lists endorsed by the Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR No. 10 of January 26, 1991.
Women occupied in the textile industry in heavier and more intensive works shall have included in the length of service also works carried out before March 1, 1992 and included in the list of production facilities and professions permitting to get the old-age pension after 50 years of age with at least 20 years length of service in these professions endorsed by the Decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1021 of November 10, 1967.
The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2002.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 241 of April 24, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Confirmation by a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person of Availability of Resources Necessary for the Living on the Territory of the Russian Federation and Exit from the Russian Federation or on Guarantees to Present Such Resources When Applying for the Visa or in the Point of Transfer across the State Border of the Russian Federation

A confirmation of the availability of resources necessary for the living and exit or guarantee of their presentation is the letter of guarantee of the inviting party, invitation for the foreign citizen or stateless person to the Russian Federation, contract of the tourist trip and the document confirming their reception by the Russian tourist organisation, as well as the valid return tickets.
The confirmation is not necessary in cases of business trips, official visits to the Russian Federation, travel to the Russian Federation of a member of the family of the foreign citizen working in the Russian Federation, travel to the Russian Federation of a person recognised as refugee.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 219-P of March 25, 2003 on the Servicing and Circulation of the Issues of the Federal State Securities

Sets forth the procedure of deploying, circulation, servicing and redemption of the state short-term couponless bonds, bonds of the federal loans and the state federal bonds.
The transfer of the rights of ownership for the bonds from one holder to another occurs when they are entered on the custody account of their new holder at the moment of entry on the credit of the account.
The Regulation 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 April 23, 2003. Reg. No. 4438.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 244 of April 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the State Expert Evaluation of the Working Conditions in the Russian Federation

The state expert evaluation applies to the documentation and materials on the working conditions and labour safety according to the list endorsed by the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation. The time limits for carrying out the state expert evaluation of the working conditions are defined depending on the volume of expert works and documentation and materials presented for expert evaluation, but must not be greater than one month. In exclusive cases, the time limit of the state expert evaluation of the working conditions may be prolonged, but not more than for one month.
The Decision lists obligatory requirements to the expert statement. In case of disagreement with the expert statement, the orderer may appeal against it in court.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 390 of April 9, 2003 on the Places of Delivery and Customs Registration of Commodities of Individual Category

Lists the places of delivery and customs registration of commodities classified under Heading 3808 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation (insecticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, means of desinfection) imported to the territory of the Russian Federation for recipients in Moscow and the Moscow Province. The customs fees for the customs registration of the mentioned commodities are collected in single amount.
The Order does not apply to commodities imported for diplomatic representations of foreign states, imported by natural persons for other than commercial purposes, as well as for exhibitions, and those placed under the temporary import customs regime.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 25, 2003. Reg. No. 4454.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-29/160@ of April 2, 2003 on the Invalidation of Some of the Normative Acts of the State Tax Service of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation

Invalidates from October 13, 2002 the form of the tax payment demand and the form of the decision on suspension of operations on accounts in the bank endorsed by the Orders of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BF-3-10/228 of September 7, 1998 and No. AP-3-16/325 of October 13, 1999. At present, there are similar forms endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-29/465 of August 29, 2002 on the improvement of the work of the tax bodies in application of the measures of forced collection of the tax debts.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. MM-6-09/412@ of April 7, 2003 on the State Registration of the Specialised Consumer Cooperatives

Explains the issues of inclusion in the Uniform State Register of Legal Entities of information on agricultural, garage, housing construction, credit and other cooperatives. If the appropriate organisational and legal form is not available in the guide of organisational and legal forms of the software complex AIS "Registration", the name is entered in the guide manually according to the constituent documents of the legal entity.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. MM-6-09/1990 of December 25, 2002 on the Bringing of Constituent Documents of State and Municipal Unitary Enterprises in Compliance with Part 1 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation

The tax bodies, while carrying out the state registration of legal entities, are recommended to reveal using the federal database "Uniform State Register of Taxpayers" the state and municipal unitary enterprises and send the written notification to them to bring constituent documents in compliance with Part 1 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 245 of April 28, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

The heading of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation "Jars Used for Drink Preservation" is extended to include two new codes. The rate of the import customs duty for jars with up to 1 l capacity is fixed to amount to EUR 30 per 1,000 pieces, for other, is preserved in the amount of 15% of the customs cost. The mentioned rates are introduced for 9 months.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 242 of April 25, 2003 on the Amendment to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1046 of September 17, 1999 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Registration of the Projects and Technical Aid (Assistance) Programs, Issue of Certificates Confirming Resources, Commodities, Works and Services Appurtenance to Technical Aid (Assistance), As Well As of Control over Its Use for Designated Purposes

The equipment and other material and technical resources include ambulance vehicles intended for budget-supported state and municipal organisations, mobile diagnostics laboratories outfitted with special medical equipment, vehicles intended for carrying 10 persons and more imported for children's homes, nurseries for the elderly and disabled, as well as the vehicles outfitted with lifts for invalid carriages imported for invalid rehabilitation centres.
Supplies of the mentioned equipment and resources are qualified as technical aid enjoying exemptions for payments to the budget and non-budgetary funds.

Order of the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation and the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 16/226/219/BG-3-06/166/370 of April 4, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Interaction of the Tax and Law Enforcement Bodies in Combating Illegal Reimbursement of the Value Added Tax from the Federal Budget for Commodities Exported Outside the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation

When implementing control measures pertaining to taxpayers having applied to reimburse the value added tax, the tax bodies shall send requests to:
- border customs body to confirm the fact of export of the commodities under the export customs regime;
- to the customs body in charge of the customs registration to confirm the fact of the customs registration of the commodities;
- to the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation to locate the persons connected to activities of the checked taxpayer.
The tax bodies, if in the course of the tax checks they reveal the signs of fraudulent schemes of VAT reimbursement, shall send within three days appropriate materials to the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation to take appropriate measures.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 7-P of April 24, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provision of Item 8 of the Decision of the State Duma of May 26, 2000 on the Amnesty in View of the 55th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 Pursuant to the Appeal of Citizen L.M.Zaporozhets

The norm of the challenged item envisages termination of the processed by the bodies of investigation and courts cases of crimes committed before the entry into force of the Decision of the State Duma by persons suspected or accused of culpable negligence with the maximum punishment not exceeding five years of prison.
Earlier, the improperly arranged dental operation caused a damage to the health of the applicant followed by a lawsuit against the dentist.
According to the victim, the challenged norm orders the courts to terminate the processed criminal cases pursuant to the act of the amnesty without examining their essence, thus disabling her efficient protection in court as a victim in a criminal case.
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised that the challenged norm does not prevent the court from examining the processed criminal cases followed by the decision to apply the act of amnesty and does not prevent the victim's access to legislature and efficient protection in court, including compensation for the damage, and, therefore, does not contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 247 of April 28, 2003 on the Assignment, Recalculation, Paying out and Delivery of the Length-of-Service Pension to Federal State Servants, Monthly Supplements to the Pensions of Individual Categories of Citizens

Before October 1, 2003, the assignment of the length-of-service pension to the federal state servants and recalculation of its amount is vested in the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation, and after this date, in the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation. From January 1, 2003, the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation shall also pay out and provide for the delivery of the length-of-service pension to the mentioned persons and the monthly supplements to them.
The transient period will be used to hand over the pension files and other pension documentation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 249 of April 28, 2003 on the Procedure and Terms of Collection of the Regular Payments for the Use of the Mineral Resources from the Users of the Mineral Resources Engaged in Prospecting and Surveys on the Continental Shelf of the Russian Federation and in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Russian Federation, As Well As Outside the Russian Federation on the Territories Governed by the Russian Federation

The amount of the regular payment for the use of the mineral resources for each site is defined by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia on the basis of the rates endorsed by the Law of the Russian Federation on the mineral resources.
The regular payments for the use of the mineral resources on the mentioned sites are made by the users of the mineral resources engaged in prospecting and surveys on the quarterly basis no later than the last day of the month following the expired quarter in equal portions in the amount of one forth of the amount of payment for the year at the place of the state registration of the user of mineral resources and are entered in the federal budget.
The mentioned users of the mineral resources shall submit on the quarterly basis no later than the last day of the month following the expired quarter to the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia estimates of the regular payments for the use of the mineral resources according to the forms endorsed by the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 222-P of April 1, 2003 on the Procedure of Making of Cashless Payments by Natural Persons in the Russian Federation

Sets forth the procedure of effecting of cashless payments other than those pertaining to entrepreneurial activities by natural persons in the currency of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Russian Federation on bank accounts opened on the basis of the bank account contract or without the opening of the bank account by credit organisations (their branches) possessing the license of the Bank of Russia.
Defines the terms of cashless payments made by natural persons on their current accounts using cashless payment forms specified in the legislation (payment orders, letters of credit, encashment orders, cheques). Lists the documents presented by natural persons to open current accounts, as well as specifies the procedure of filling out payment documents by natural persons.
The transfer of the monetary resources by the legal entity from its bank account to several natural persons being the clients of the same bank (for example, amounts of earnings, social payments and other) may be effected as a single amount by the payment order of this legal entity using the register.
The Regulation also defines the procedure of carrying out operations of transfer of the monetary resources to orders of natural persons without the opening of the bank account. The mentioned operations are carried out by the banks on the basis of the document, the form being specified by the banks, or by respective beneficiaries getting the payments. The Regulation specifies the procedure of recording in accounting work of the banks of operations of transfer of the monetary resources to orders of natural persons without the opening of the bank accounts.
The Regulation is entered into force from July 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 29, 2003. Reg. No. 4468.

Decision of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation No. 13 of March 31, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Norms and Terms of Free Supplies of Milk or Other Similar Foodstuffs to Employees Engaged in Works with Hazardous Working Conditions

The norm of free supplies of milk amounts to 0.5 l per working shift regardless of its length. Free rations of milk or other similar foodstuffs are handed out to employees in buffets, canteens or rooms specially outfitted according to sanitary and hygienic requirements.
Replacement of the milk or other similar foodstuffs with other products or money is not permitted. Also prohibited is the handing out of the milk for one or several shifts ahead, or for the past shifts, as well as supplies at home.
The milk is not envisaged for the employees getting free medicinal and prevention nutrients because of the specially harmful working conditions.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 29, 2003. Reg. No. 4466.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-09/171 of April 8, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-09/319 of August 31, 2001

Introduces individual amendments to the procedure of registration of the biggest taxpayers. In particular, envisages the use in the given procedure of information of the Joint State Register of Legal Entities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 29, 2003. Reg. No. 4460.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 100 of April 22, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Charter of the State Institution "State Registration Chamber" of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation

The chamber is a legal entity in charge of the accreditation of representations and branches of foreign companies, keeping of their registers, registration of Russian investments abroad, as well as the keeping of the state register of normative legal acts of the federal bodies of executive power.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 29, 2003. Reg. No. 4457.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 314 of March 26, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Institution of the Customs Warehouses by the Customs Bodies of the Russian Federation and on Their Functioning

Defines the particulars of institution and functioning of the customs warehouses with the owners being the customs bodies of the Russian Federation, as well as the particulars of the customs registration of commodities declared for storage and stored in such warehouses.
The customs body owning the warehouse must observe sanitary rules, norms of storage, rules of commodity vicinage and storage regime, requirements of state standards, observe other specified requirements and terms in the sphere of services in commodity storage.
The Order also provides the form of the warehouse slip and it filling procedure.
The Order is entered into force 30 days after its official publication.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 28, 2003. Reg. No. 4455.

Decision of the Plenum of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 4 of April 8, 2003 on Some Issues Pertaining to the Entering into Force of the Federal Law on Insolvency (Bankruptcy)

Explains some issues of judicial practice pertaining to the application of the law on insolvency (bankruptcy) having entered into force from December 3, 2002 with exceptions.
Since the Law applies to all legal entities (except for the official enterprises, institutions, political parties and religious organisations), the cases of insolvency of these legal entities fall in the jurisdiction of the courts of arbitration. The Decision explains the procedure of endorsement by the courts of the candidate bankruptcy managers. Special attention is paid to the consequences of the changing of the legal status of lien creditors and the priority of satisfaction of creditor claims.
Also defines the particulars of revising of the earlier adopted rulings and conclusion of a peace accord during the bankruptcy procedure.

Order of the Ministry of Power Supplies of the Russian Federation No. 147 of April 8, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Publishing and Entering into Force of the Acts of the Ministry of Power Supplies of the Russian Federation Recognised by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation As Not Needing State Registration

The acts of the Ministry of Power Supplies of the Russian Federation recognised by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation as not needing state registration must be published in Mintop magazine to be acknowledged as their official publication. The mentioned acts are entered into force from the day of their signing if otherwise is not envisaged in the acts themselves.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4492.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-14/ps of April 1, 2003 on the Invalidation of the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia No. 7 of September 30, 1999 on the Procedure of Registration of Affiliated Entities and Submission of Information on Affiliated Entities of Joint-Stock Companies

Invalidates the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market specifying the procedure of registration of affiliated entities of joint-stock companies and submission of information on these entities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 30, 2003. Reg. No. 4482.

Letter of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 02-18/10-2463 of April 21, 2003

To render aid to insurers in the organisation of sanatorium and resort treatment of children in children's round-the-year rehabilitation camps to requests of these insurers containing the names of these camps, treatment profiles and time, the accommodations will be paid by the regional divisions of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation.
Obtained accommodations will be registered by the insurer in the estimate sheet drawn up according to Form 4-FSS RF.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. ShS-6-24/380@ of April 1, 2003 on the Application by the Tax Bodies of Administrative Sanctions for the Violation of the Foreign Currency Legislation

Explains that in the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation, only the heads of these bodies may examine the cases of administrative violations envisaged in Article 15.25 of the Code of Administrative Violations. The mentioned Article institutes administrative responsibility for the currency operations carried out without the special permission (license) or in violation of the requirements (terms, restrictions) specified in the special permission (license) and, similarly, using accounts of residents in credit organisations outside the Russian Federation known to be opened in violation of the established procedure.

Federal Law No. 52-FZ of May 6, 2003 on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Fundamentals of the Federal Housing Policy and Other Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Improvement of the System of Payment for the Housing and Communal Services

The Law is extended to include a number of new definitions corresponding to the changes introduced in the housing and communal sphere in compliance with the endorsed subprogram "Reformation and Modernisation of the Housing and Communal Complex of the Russian Federation" of the federal target program "Housing" for the years 2002-2010.
The Law introduces clear delimitation in issues of regulation of payment for the housing and communal services between the federal level, subjects of the Russian Federation and municipal formations, defines in detail the structure and amount of payment for the housing, including additional space, as well as the time and procedure of switching over to the new system of payment for the housing and the communal services.
The Law envisages improvement of the system of benefits in the payment for the housing and communal services. The majority of the categories of recipients of the benefits preserve their fixed benefits and their amount. Simultaneously, a uniform procedure is introduced to reimburse the expenses of the enterprises of the housing and communal complex to provide the mentioned benefits reimbursed from the federal budget through subventions granted to the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation according to the actually suffered expenses. The mentioned provision does not apply to the benefits provided under the Federal Law on the veterans. The source of the mentioned benefits are the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The bodies of legislative power of the subjects of the Russian Federation are entitled to fix the amount of the benefits in the payment for the housing and communal services for the labour veterans, thus amending the Federal Law on the veterans. The Law invalidates the acts p roviding benefits in the payment for the housing and communal services to individual categories of citizens. The benefits to the mentioned categories of citizens are replaced with the subsidy of equal value.
The Law also defines the rules of replacement of the housing space when the social norm is exceeded and the procedure of eviction of the tenant and members of his family from the occupied housing space in cases of failure to pay for the housing and communal services. Thus, the amount of the penalties in cases of delayed payment for the housing and communal services by the citizen may not be greater than 1/300 of the rate of refinancing of the Bank of Russia as of the moment of payment from the unpaid amounts for each overdue day beginning with the following day after the specified time of payment to the day of actual payment inclusive.
The Law omits the provision of payment for the housing and communal services in the amount of half of the minimum amount of labour remuneration to citizens with incomes below the cost of living in the subject of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication with exceptions.

Federal Law No. 51-FZ of May 6, 2003 on the Amendments to Articles 214.1 and 219 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

In taxation of the incomes of natural persons in operations of purchase and sale of securities, the documentally confirmed expenses of the purchase of these securities are the amounts used for calculation and payment of the tax when buying the given securities.
Besides, the right for the social exemption for the amounts paid out by the parent taxpayer for the education of his children also applies to trustee taxpayers paying for the education of their wards up to 18 years of age.
The Federal Law is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication. The Law applies to legal relations emerging form January 1, 2003.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-21/203 of April 21, 2003 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the State Tax Service of Russia No. 33 of June 8, 1995 on the Procedure of Calculation and Payment to the Budget of the Property Tax from Enterprises

Sets forth the procedure of payment of the property tax from enterprises calculated for the property forming part of the Uniform Gas Supply System in compliance with the Federal Law on gas supplies in the Russian Federation. Appropriate changes are introduced in the estimate form for the given tax.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4495.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-16/ps of April 1, 2003 on the Procedure of Assigning of the State Registration Numbers to Issues of Emission Securities

The state registration number is the digital (alphabetic, character) code identifying the particular issue of emission securities consisting of nine significant digits.
The procedure applies to issues (additional issues) of emission securities regardless of the type of issuer, including the issues of securities of credit and insurance organisations, issues of foreign issuers, including international financial organisations. The procedure does not apply to the issues (additional issues) of state and municipal securities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4494.

Order of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation No. 1155 of March 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Final State Certification of the Graduates of Higher Educational Institutions of the Russian Federation

Defines the procedure of carrying out of the final state certification of the graduates of higher educational institutions. For the final certification of the graduates of unaccredited higher educational institutions implementing the main educational programs of the higher professional education under licenses, the given procedure is an exemplary one.
The final certification testing applies to persons having mastered in full amount the main educational program in the sphere of speciality of the higher professional education developed by the higher educational institution to the requirements of the state educational standard.
The Regulation is entered into force from September 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4490.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-18/ps of April 1, 2003 on the Procedure of Uniting of Additional Issues of Emission Securities

The uniting is carried out by invalidation of the state registration numbers assigned to the additional issues of securities and assigning to them of the state registration number of the issue of emission securities they are being additional to.
The procedure applies to all additional issues of emission securities regardless of the type of issuer having assigned as of the date of entry into force of the Procedure the state registration number different from the one of the issue of emission securities they are being additional to.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4487.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 13-19/ps of April 1, 2003 on the Disclosing of Information on Affiliated Entities of Open-Type Joint-Stock Companies

Defines information on affiliated entities of open-type joint-stock companies to be disclosed and the disclosing procedure.
Information is disclosed by submission on the quarterly basis to the body in charge of the registration of the list of affiliated entities as of the date of the end of the reported quarter indicating all changes in the list in the reported quarter and by placing the list on the page (web site) in the Internet.
The list is submitted within 45 days from the date of the end of the reported quarter. The body in charge of the registration shall provide for the disclosing of the lists of affiliated entities of joint-stock companies submitted to it in the Internet.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4483.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 127/n of December 11, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Directions on the Procedure of Application of the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation

Provides the new wording of the Directions on the procedure of application of the budget classification of the Russian Federation (together with the codes of the budget classification).
The earlier Order of the Ministry of Finance 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 with amendments is invalidated.
According to the Statement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 07/2338-YuD of March 12, 2003, the Order does not need state registration.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 16-00-14/121 of April 8, 2003 on the Recording in Accounting Work of the Objects of Immovable Property

The objects of immovable property, before the moment of registration of the property right for them, must be recorded on Account 08 "Investments in Assets out of Circulation". As to the amortisation for the above objects of immovable property, one should be guided by Item 22 of the Regulation on the procedure of accruing of amortisation deductions for the fixed assets in the national economy endorsed by the State Planning Committee of the USSR, Ministry of Finance of the USSR, State Bank of the USSR, State Committee of the USSR for Prices, State Standards Committee of the USSR, State Construction Committee of the USSR No. VG-21-D/144/17-24/4-73 of December 29, 1990. According to this Regulation, amortisation for the actually operated objects of capital construction not appropriated with the acts of acceptance is accrued according to the commonly accepted procedure.

Letter of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 02-18/10-2220 of April 10, 2003 on the Spending of the Resources of Obligatory Social Insurance to Pay for the Accommodations to Children's Rehabilitation Camps in 2003

Conveys the forms of the reports of the use of resources of obligatory social insurance for the rehabilitation of children and the register of children having undergone rehabilitation to be submitted by rural camps to the regional divisions of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation after each shift. Information of the use of the resources of obligatory social insurance to finance children's rehabilitation for the period from June through September of the current year must be submitted by e-mail no later than the 10th of each month.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 16-00-14/129 of April 15, 2003 on the Recording in the Accounting Work of Delayed Tax Assets and Liabilities

Explains individual norms of the Regulation on accounting work "Registration of the Profit Tax Estimates" endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 114n of November 19, 2002. The Department of the Methodology of Accounting Work and Reporting has worked out the draft Order on the amendments to the Chart of Accounts of Financial and Economic Activities of Organisations and its application Instruction. The changes are aimed at adjustment of the recording of the profit tax estimates in accounting work.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 264 of May 7, 2003 on the Endorsement of Insurance Tariff Rates for Obligatory Insurance of Civil Responsibility of the Owners of Transport Vehicles, Their Structure and Procedure of Application by Insurers When Determining the Insurance Premium

Specifies the basic insurance tariff rates fixed in percent of the insured amount or in roubles. Also specifies insurance tariff coefficients depending on:
- territory of prevailing use of the transport vehicle;
- presence of absence of insurance payments in insured cases occurring through the fault of the insurer (owner of the transport vehicle) during the previously available contracts of obligatory insurance;
- driver age and history;
- number of persons allowed to drive the vehicle;
- engine power of the car, taxi (including the fixed-route ones);
- period of use of the transport vehicle;
- insured period.
Tariff rates are entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 263 of May 7, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Obligatory Insurance of Civil Responsibility of Owners of Transport Vehicles

Defines the typical terms of conclusion of the contract of obligatory insurance of civil responsibility of owners of transport vehicles. Obligatory insurance does not apply to civil responsibility of owners of transport vehicles with the maximum design speed less than 20 km/h, or not permitted to participate in traffic because of the technical characteristics, or owned by the Armed Force of the Russian Federation (except for the buses, cars and trailers for them), or registered in foreign states.
The object of obligatory insurance is property interests pertaining to the risk of civil responsibility of the owner of the transport vehicle in obligations emerging because of the incurred damage to the life, health or property of the victims when the transport vehicle is used on the territory of the Russian Federation. The Decision lists the facts implying civil responsibility, however, not included in insured cases. Such cases include, in particular, moral damage, or the duty to reimburse the lost profit, or environmental pollution, or damage to the life and health of employees executing their labour duties, if this damage is to be reimbursed in compliance with a law on respective type of insurance.
The insurer may demand from the insuring company a written estimate of insurance premium to be paid out. Such estimate must be presented within 3 working days from the day of receiving of the appropriate written application of the insurer.
Insurance premium is paid out in cash or according to cashless procedure. The Decision lists the documents presented to the insuring company to conclude the contract. The given list is an exhaustive one. The document confirming the fact of obligatory insurance is the policy of obligatory insurance of uniform form on the whole territory of the Russian Federation being a strict reporting document.
Together with the insurance policy, the insurer gets free of charge the list of the representatives of the insurign company in the subjects of the Russian Federation, special, state-approved plate and 2 blank forms of the notification of an accident.
The Decision regulates in detail the actions of the persons when an insured case occurs.
The Rules are entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 262 of May 7, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Reimbursement to the Proprietors of Land Plots, Land Users, Landowners and Landholders of the Damage Incurred through Withholding or Temporary Occupancy of the Land Plots, Restriction of the Rights of Proprietors of the Land Plots, Land Users, Landowners and Landholders or Impaired Quality of Lands through Activities of Other Parties

The loses incurred on the proprietor through the withholding of the land plot for state or municipal needs are included in the payment for the withheld land plot (buy-out price), procedure of determination of which being regulated in the civil legislation.
Reimbursement of the losses is effected from the resources of appropriate budgets or by beneficiaries withholding the land plots or restricting the rights for them, as well as by the parties whose activities caused the need to institute protection, sanitary zones and implies restriction of the rights of proprietors of the land plots, land users, land owners and holders or impaired quality of lands.
Amount of incurred losses is determined through an agreement between the parties and is calculated according to the methodology recommendations endorsed by the Federal Service of the Land Cadastre of Russia in coordination with the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Property Relations. Determination of the amount of losses takes account of the losses suffered by the land holders because of the early termination of their obligations to third parties, including the lost profit, rent paid out under the lease contract for the period after the withholding of the land plot, as well as the cost of the right of the land plot lease contract in cases of tenders.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 57 of April 22, 2003 on the Procedure of Reinstatement of the Patent of the Russian Federation for an Invention, Useful Model, Industrial Prototype

Defines the rules of reinstatement of the patent of the Russian Federation for an invention, useful model, industrial prototype terminated because of the failure to pay in due time the patent fee to maintain the patent. The request to reinstate the patent is submitted to the federal body of executive power in charge of intellectual property within three years from the date of expiry of the patent fee, however, before expiry of the life time of the patent fixed in the patent law.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 6, 2003. Reg. No. 4506.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 218-P of March 19, 2003 on the Procedure and Criteria of Assessment of the Financial Standing of the Legal Entities Having Founded (Participating in) Credit Organisations

The Regulation applies to all legal entities except for the credit organisations, budget-supported institutions and independent entrepreneurs without the forming of the legal entity.
The Regulation introduces the procedure and criteria of assessment of the financial standing of the legal entities having founded (participating in) credit organisations, as well as trustees of stocks (shares) of the credit organisation.
The assessment is carried out to determine the sufficiency with the buyer of own resources to pay for the shares (stocks) and find out its satisfactory financial standing to decide on the legality of the forming of the registered capital of the credit organisation, give preliminary consent to buy more than 20% of the shares (stocks) of the credit organisation, as well as to register the newly created credit organisation.
The procedure of purchase of shares (stocks) by minority participants is made significantly simpler. The purchase of shares (stocks) comprising less than 0.5% of the registered capital of the operating credit organisation is permitted without control procedures, except for the major deals (more than Rbl 600,000).
The Regulation defines the notion of the "satisfactory financial standing" of the buyer of shares (stocks) of the credit organisation. The financial standing of the buyer is recognised as satisfactory in cases of absence of signs of significant financial difficulties confirmed with financial (or other ) indicators affecting his ability to execute the adopted obligations.
The statement of the financial standing may be prepared by the buyer himself, credit organisation, audit organisation (independent auditor) attracted by the buyer for this purpose or another person (advisor). The credit organisation now does not have to check the legality of the payment for the registered capital by the buyers of shares (stocks) comprising less than 5% of the registered capital. Now, opportunities to fulfil this function is vested in the credit organisation. If the credit organisation does not want to carry out the check independently, it must present all necessary documents for the mentioned category of buyers to the territorial institution of the Bank of Russia.
Insufficiency of own resources and unsatisfactory financial standing of the buyer determined as a result of the assessment of the financial standing of the buyer are specified as the reasons to refuse the purchase of shares (stocks) of the credit organisation.
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 May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4498.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 55 of April 22, 2003 on the Procedure of Prolongation of the Life Time of the Patent of the Russian Federation for an Invention Pertaining to a Medicine, Pesticide or Agricultural Chemical Agent

Defines the rules of prolongation of the life time of the patent of the Russian Federation for an invention pertaining to a medicine, pesticide and agricultural chemical agent. The life time of the paten is prolonged by the federal body of executive power in charge of the intellectual property at the request of the holder of the patent for the time calculated from the date of submission of the application for the invention to the date of getting of the first such permission for use less five years. In this case, the time of prolongation of the patent for the invention may not be greater than five years.
The Order provides the form of the request for the prolongation of the patent to be submitted within the life time of the patent before expiry of six moths from the date of getting of the first permission to use the product or the date of issue of the patent depending on which of the two expires later.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4491.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1270-U of April 14, 2003 on the Published Reports of Credit Organisations and Bank/Consolidated Groups

Sets forth the new procedure of drawing up, publication and submission by credit organisations, parent credit organisations of bank/consolidated groups of information on their activities.
The annual report (annual consolidated report) must be published within 10 working days after the annual general meeting of stock-holders (participants). The annual report and the annual consolidated report are published simultaneously in the same periodical. If the reports are published in different periodicals, the publication must contain a reference to the name of the periodical where the other report is published and the date of issue of the publication.
The items of the balance report are provided as of the end of the reporting period, not as of the reporting or the previous date as before.
The Direction specifies the form to be used to publish information on the sufficiency of the capital, reserve to cover doubtful loans and other assets.
The Direction 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 May 5, 2003. Reg. No. 4488.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 265 of May 7, 2003 on the Amendments to the Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on Issues of Obligatory Insurance of Civil Responsibility of the Owners of Transport Vehicles

The amendments are introduced in a number of acts of the Government of the Russian Federation pertaining to regulation of legal relations in the transport sphere. Thus, traffic rules envisage the duty of the driver of the transport vehicle to carry and present at the demand of the police officer insurance policy of obligatory insurance of civil responsibility.
The transport vehicle must have the special state-approved sing of obligatory insurance of the civil responsibility of its owner.
The Decision is entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Order of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation No. 77 of April 9, 2003 on the Organisation of Works to License the Activities in the Rendering of Prosthetics and Orthopaedic Aid

Defines the functions and authority of the structural divisions of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation and its subordinate organisations, their interaction in the licensing activities, as well as specifies the decision taking procedure in the licensing issues.
The licensing of activities in the rendering of prosthetic and orthopaedic aid is vested in the Commission of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation for Licensing of Activities in the Sphere of Prosthetic and Orthopaedic Aid.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 68-T of May 5, 2003 on Conjunct Crediting

Lists the measures to be envisaged by credit organisations to restrict the risks emerging in the crediting of conjunct persons. The persons interconnected with the credit organisation are implied to be natural persons and legal entities possessing real opportunities to affect the nature of decisions on crediting and crediting terms taken by the credit organisation, as well as the persons whose decisions may be affected by the credit organisation.
The mentioned measures include provisions to be included in internal documents aimed at minimising the risks in the conjunct crediting deals, in particular, obligatory approval of such deals by the board of directors and prevention of crediting of the persons interconnected with the bank on beneficial (non-market) terms.

Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 53-FZ of May 6, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation

Provides the new wording for the grouping of incomes and expenses of the budgets of all levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation, as well as the sources of financing of the deficits of these budgets used to draw up and execute the budgets of all levels.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 273 of May 12, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Submission of the Application of the Disagreement with the Departure from the Russian Federation of an Underaged Citizen of the Russian Federation

The application is submitted personally by one of the parents, adopter, trustee of the underaged citizen of the Russian Federation to the body of internal affairs at the place of residence (stay), or the body of the border guard control, or to the diplomatic representation (consular reinstitution) of the Russian Federation (if the applicant lives permanently outside the Russian Federation). Simultaneously with the application, there must be presented a personal identification document and the notary-certified copies of documents confirming parental rights for the underaged citizen of the Russian Federation or the fact of adoption, trusteeship with respect to the mentioned citizen.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 270 of May 12, 2003 on the Procedure of Redemption of the Internal Debt of the Former USSR to Natural Persons Holding Special (Rouble) Resources in the Branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation

Continues redemption of the internal debt of the former USSR to natural persons holding special (rouble) resources in the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation from the federal budget.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 443 of April 22, 2003 on the Amendments to the Instruction on the Collection of the Customs Fees for the Customs Registration Endorsed by the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 1010 of November 9, 2000

Specifies that the customs fees are collected in double amount as for the cases of the customs registration of commodities outside the places defined for it and beyond the working time of the customs bodies of the Russian Federation and also in the presence of one of these conditions.
The customs fees are not collected for the customs registration of commodities moved across the customs border of the Russian Federation on sea- (river-)going, air vessels under the customs regime of moving of reserves.
The Order omits the provision on the collection of the customs fees in the amount of 0.15% of the customs cost in the currency of the Russian Federation for the customs registration of oils and lubricants necessary for operation of air and sea- (river-)going vessels engaged in international transportation in the customs bodies where there are airports, sea (river) ports.
The payment of the customs fees is not collected also in cases when the customs bodies did not perform any actions pertaining to the customs registration of commodities, including the cases of removal, revocation of the cargo customs declaration, as well as when the customs body decides to prohibit the release of the commodities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 8, 2003. Reg. No. 4519.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1274-U of April 24, 2003 on the Particulars of Application of the Formats of Payment Documents in Electronic Payments through the Payment Network of the Bank of Russia

Sets forth the rules of application by credit organisations (branches) and other clients of the Bank of Russia not being credit organisations (branches) of payment documents in electronic form in cashless payments through the payment network of the Bank of Russia.
The payment documents in electronic form are supplemented with new fields, the list and lengths provided in the Direction.
The Direction is entered into force from June 1, 2003 except for the provision on the application of encashment orders and payment orders in the electronic form in intraregional electronic payments through the payment network of the Bank of Russia. The given item is entered into force from January 1, 2004.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 7, 2003. Reg. No. 4514.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 37n of April 22, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 139n of December 30, 2002 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Execution of the Summary Budget List of the Federal Budget for the Year 2003 and Amendments to It

Provides the new wording for the forms of the certificates of the changing of the budget list and the limits of budget obligations for the year 2003, on the changing of the budget list of the sources of internal and external financing of the deficit of the federal budget for the year 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 7, 2003. Reg. No. 4513.

Order of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation No. 132 of March 17, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Organisation and Implementation of the State Fire Enforcement in the Russian Federation

Defines the procedure of organisation and implementation of the state fire enforcement by the officials of the management bodies and divisions of the State Fire Service of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation of observation of the fire safety requirements by the bodies of executive power, bodies of local government, other legal entities regardless of their agency affiliation and organisational and legal forms of ownership and their officials, independent entrepreneurs and citizens.
The state inspectors may visit with the citizens' consent their land plots, dwelling and non-dwelling space to implement the measures to control observation of fire safety requirements.
The state inspectors may issue to legal entities, independent entrepreneurs, officials and citizens orders obligatory for execution to eliminate the violations of the fire safety requirements, ensure fire safety of commodities (works, services), remove from production, terminate production and suspend the sale of commodities (works, services) not complying with the fire safety requirements.
In cases of failure to execute theses orders, the inspectors may suspend within their sphere of reference fully or partly the work of the enterprises, use of buildings, structures, rooms, individual types of works and other.
The Order defines the procedure of removal from production, termination of production and suspension of the sale of commodities (works, services) not complying with fire safety requirements.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 30, 2003. Reg. No. 4477.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-22/191 of April 17, 2003 on Amendments 1 to the Methodology Recommendations on the Application of Chapter 26.2 "Simplified System of Taxation" of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-22/706 of December 10, 2002

Methodology recommendations are being brought in compliance with the actual wording of Chapter 26.2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. The Order specifies that when determining opportunities to switch over to the simplified system of taxation, the organisation must calculate the residual cost of the fixed assets and non-material assets as of the first of the month of the expected submission of the application of the switchover.
The Order omits Item 17 prohibiting to include in expenses the purchase and sale costs of the commodities.
Methodology recommendations include the provision permitting to reduce the amount of the uniform tax and advance payment for it by the amount of the temporary disability allowances paid out to employees.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. SA-6-22/521 of May 6, 2003 on the Date of Entry into Force of the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-22/135 of March 26, 2003

Amendments of March 26, 2003 in the book of incomes and expenses of organisations and independent entrepreneurs using the simplified system of taxation and the procedure of recording of economic operations in it should be applied from January 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 277 of May 12, 2003 on the Amendments to the Procedure of Rendering Humanitarian Aid (Assistance) to the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1335 of December 4, 1999

According to the introduced amendments, humanitarian aid (assistance) may be rendered by foreign natural persons. The Decision regulates the procedure of management of special-purpose cars for rendering first aid granted as humanitarian aid to budget-supported organisations, mobile diagnostics laboratories outfitted with special medical equipment, as well as cars for carrying 10 persons and more imported for nursing homes.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 276 of May 12, 2003 on the Fixing of the Cost of Living in Per Capita Figures and for the Main Sociodemographic Groups of Population for the Whole of the Russian Federation for the I Quarter of 2003

The cost of living for the whole of the Russian Federation for the I quarter of 2003 is fixed to amount to Rbl 2,047 per capita, Rbl 2,228 for able-bodied population, Rbl 1,554 for pensioners, Rbl 2,039 for children.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1272-U of April 17, 2003 on the Adjustment Coefficients of the Bank of Russia Applied to Correct the Market Value of Securities Accepted as Security of the Credits of the Bank of Russia

Fixes adjustment coefficients applied to correct the market value of short-term state bonds in the amount of 0.95, bonds of the federal loans with a permanent and variable coupon income and time of redemption after December 31, 1999, with fixed coupon income, debt amortisation - 0.9, bonds of the Central Bank of Russia - 0.98.
The Direction does not apply to adjustment coefficients applied to the market cost of securities accepted as security of the credits of the Bank of Russia issued before the entry into force of the present Direction.
The Direction 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 May 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4533.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1273-U of April 17, 2003 on the Amendments to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1208-U of November 18, 2002 on the Accepting as Security of the Credits of the Bank of Russia of the Bonds of the Federal Loan with Debt Amortisation and the Bonds of the Federal Loan with a Variable Coupon Income Sold by the Bank of Russia from Its Portfolio with Redemption Obligation

The changes pertain to the fixing of adjustment coefficients applied to correct the market value of the bonds of the federal loan with debt amortisation and variable coupon income.
The Direction 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 May 13, 2003. Reg. No. 4530.

Decision of the Management Board of the Pension Fund of Russia No. 49p of April 10, 2003 on the Form of the Pension Book of the Insured Person in the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation and Its Filling Procedure

The pension book is issued to the insured person by the territorial body of the Pension Fund of Russia when handing over to a non-state pension fund of the monetary resources of the special part of the individual personal account of the insured person.
The pension book consists of the registration card and inserts. The registration card is a strict reporting form with a unique number entered on its second page. The inserts are the annual excerpts of the condition of the individual personal account of the insured person.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 8, 2003. Reg. No. 4522.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 56 of April 22, 2003 on the Rules of Submission of Claims and Applications and Their Consideration in the Patent Disputes Chamber

Specifies the list of claims and applications submitted to the Paten Disputes Chamber, terms of submission, procedure of registration, accepting and consideration.
The claims and applications are drawn up in free from and are presented type-written.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 8, 2003. Reg. No. 4520.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 282 of May 14, 2003 on the Amendments to Some of the Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on Improvement of Flight Safety in the Civil Aviation of the Russian Federation

The amendments pertain to the handing over of the rights to the state civil aviation inspectors to inspect the crews of air vessels of the civil aviation and to check engineering and technical support of such air vessels, including air vessels of foreign states engaged in flights to the Russian Federation and on the routes in the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 275 of May 12, 2003 on the Institution of the Customs Regime of Import to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation of Commodities Donated to the City of St.Petersburg to Celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Its Foundation

Foreign commodities donated to the city of St.Petersburg in view of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of its foundation are imported to the Russian Federation without collection of the customs payments and application of the measures of economic policy to these commodities.
The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from January 1 through December 31, 2003 and is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 266 of May 8, 2003 on the Contests to Select the Specialised Depositary and Management Companies to Conclude the Contract of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation to Render the Services of the Specialised Depositary and the Trust Contract for the Resources of Accumulated Pensions

The organiser of the contests is the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. The contests shall be arranged no earlier than 4 months before the expiry of the earlier concluded contract for the services of the specialised depositary and no later than July 1 of each year when selecting the management companies.
The Decision institutes the criteria to the parties permitted to participate in the contest.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1277-U of May 12, 2003 on the Invalidation of Individual Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia

Invalidates the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 24-P of April 10, 1998 on the procedure of examination in the Bank of Russia of requests of the territorial institutions of the Bank of Russia and the heads of interim administrations of the recall from credit organisations of licenses for bank operations with amendments.
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 Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-793/r of April 23, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Qualification Minimum for the Specialised Examination of the Heads, Controllers and Specialists of Organisations Engaged in Brokerage and/or Dealers' Activities

Endorses the minimum thematic list of questions, legislative and normative documents to be mastered on obligatory basis by the heads, controllers and specialists of organisations engaged in brokerage and/or dealers' activities.

Order of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-794/r of April 23, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Qualification Minimum for the Specialised Examination for the Heads and Specialists of Specialised Depositaries of Investment Funds, Shared Investment Funds and Non-State Pension Funds

Endorses the minimum thematic list of questions, legislative and normative documents to be mastered on obligatory basis by the heads and specialists of specialised depositaries of investment funds, shared investment funds and non-state pension funds.