Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 31.03.2003

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).