Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 30.06.2003

Federal Law No. 63-FZ of May 28, 2003 on the Parts of Mineral Reserves with the Right of Use Being Granted on Product-Sharing Terms (Natalkinskoye Gold Ore Deposit)

Natalkinskoye Gold Ore Deposit located on the territory of the Magadan Province is included in list of the parts of mineral reserves which, beginning with the day of entry into force of the present Federal Law, may become the object of negotiations and agreements on surveys, prospecting and extraction of mineral resources on product-sharing terms.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Budget Message of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of May 30, 2003 on the Budget Policy in 2004

Summarises the main results of the budget policy in 2002 and the beginning of 2003. Among the main problems requiring solution are shortcomings of the tax system, complexity of taxation, incomes base of the federal budget being formed at the expense of the extraction and export of raw materials, quality of introduced in the State Duma and adopted tax laws.
Lists the main tasks of the budget policy for the year 2004 and medium-term perspective. One of the directions of the tax policy is the further reduction of the tax burden, first and foremost in the processing industries and in the service sphere, thus suggesting to reduce in 2004 from 20% to 18% the total value added tax rate and in 2005, the effective uniform social tax rate simultaneously with the measures in the sphere of pension, medical and social insurance.
Also provides the directions to increase the efficiency of budget expenses and suggestions to improve interbudget relations.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 311 of May 29, 2003 on the Procedure of Registration, Assessment and Disposal of the Property Converted in State Ownership

Defines the procedure of registration, assessment and disposal of converted in the ownership of the Russian Federation confiscated, movable unowned and exacted property, commodities which, when moved across the customs border of the Russian Federation, were declared as refused in favour of the state, and buried treasures.
The handing over of the property converted in state ownership is carried out using the act of acceptance and transfer signed by the authorised person of the state body (organisation) possessing such property and the authorised person of the Russian Federal Property Fund (its division) or appropriate federal body of executive power, or the act of transfer drawn up by the tipstaff.
The Russian Federal Property Fund (its division) shall provide for the handling of the handed over property converted in the state ownership, and if the sale of this property is impossible because of the loss of consumer properties, its utilisation (destruction).

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 3-11-08/34 of March 21, 2003

Explains the procedure of application of the act of acceptance and transfer of fixed assets in budget-supported institutions. Budget-supported institutions must use OS-1budg document form "Act of Acceptance and Transfer of Fixed Assets in Budget-Supported Institutions" (OKUD code 0504101) instead of the OS-1 document form "Act (Way-Bill) of Acceptance and Transfer of Fixed Assets" (OKUD code 0306001). OS-1budg form is used by budget-supported institutions to register the acceptance of fixed assets from other institutions, organisations and transfer of the objects of fixed assets to other institutions, organisations, as well as to register acceptance (transfer) operations in accounting work in budget-supported institutions. The act is drawn up in two copies, endorsed by the head of the (sender) institutions, organisation and the head of the (recipient) institution, with the first copy remaining in the institution accepting the object of fixed assets on their balance, and the second being handed over to the (se nder) institution, organisation. Since the objects of fixed assets are registered with the budget-supported institutions on operative management terms, the issues of acceptance and transfer of these fixed assets must be coordinated with the owner of the property on whose behalf its territorial bodies act in compliance with the Regulation on the Ministry of Property Relations of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 313 of May 30, 2003 on the Authorised Federal Body of Executive Power in the Sphere of Use of Electronic Digital Signature

The functions of the authorised federal body of executive power in the sphere of use of electronic digital signature in compliance with the Federal Law on the electronic digital signature are vested in the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Communication and Informatisation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 308 of May 28, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Arranging of the Theory Examination in the Framework of the Uniform Program of Training of Bankruptcy Commissioners

The theory examination in the framework of the uniform program of training of bankruptcy commissioners is arranged on the oral basis. Examination questions shall be drawn up by the Ministry of Justice of Russia. The time for preparation for the examination is defined by the commission depending on the number of questions in the examination paper. Successful passing of the examination pertains to the person having answered correctly at least 80% of the questions of the examination paper as qualified by the commission. Persons having passed successfully the theory examination in the framework of the uniform program of training of bankruptcy commissioners get the certificate of specified type. The date of passing of the examination is entered in the certificate.
The authority to form the commission in charge of the organisation of the theory examination in the framework of the uniform program of training of bankruptcy commissioners is vested in the Ministry of Justice of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 304 of May 28, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Use of Confiscated Wild Animals and Plants, Their Parts or Derivatives Falling under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora of March 3, 1973

Defines the procedure of use on the territory of the Russian Federation of confiscated and converted in the state ownership wild animals and plants, their parts or items made of them - derivatives.
The Decision on the use of the species shall be taken by the administrative body of the Convention in the Russian Federation on the basis of the statement of the scientific body of the Convention.
The Decision lists options of decisions to be taken by the administrative body with respect to the live or inanimate species.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 316 of June 2, 2003 on the Measures to Implement the Federal Law on Technical Regulation

The body authorised to execute the functions of the national body of the Russian Federation in charge of standardisation in compliance with Article 14 of the Federal Law on technical regulation is specified to be the Committee of the Russian Federation for Standardisation and Metrology.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 368 of May 31, 2003 on the Amendment to the Instruction Endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia No. 605 of September 16, 1997

According to introduced amendments, it is permitted to present photographs for the passport taken with headgear not concealing the face configuration for citizens with religious beliefs not permitting to appear bareheaded in the presence of outsiders.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 2, 2003. Reg. No. 4615.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 347 of May 24, 2003 on the Documents for Individual Categories of Citizens of the Russian Federation

Endorses the interim procedure of replacement of the passport of the citizen of the USSR for the passport of the citizen of the Russian Federation to the citizen registered at the place of residence in one subject of the Russian Federation and actually living or being registered at the place of stay in another subject of the Russian Federation.
Application for the issue (replacement) of the passport drawn up according to Form 1P, certified photocopy of the passport due for replacement, payment slip for the issued passports, two personal photographs with a cover letter signed by the chief of the body of internal affairs of the Russian Federation or person replacing him in his absence after registration in the logbook of outgoing mail are sent by the special mail or federal messenger service to the body of internal affairs of the Russian Federation at the place of residence of the citizen having applied to replace the passport. The cover letter should indicate the reason of sending of the documents, their list and exact address where the citizen is registered at the place of stay or actually lives.
The drawn up passport and application for the issue (replacement) of the passport according to Form 1P shall be sent by the special mail or federal messenger service to the body of internal affairs of the Russian Federation at the place of stay or actual living of the citizen.
When the passport is handed in to the citizen, his application for the issue (replacement) of the passport and the passport due for replacement are sent according to established procedure to the body of internal affairs of the Russian Federation having drawn up the passport.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 2, 2003. Reg. No. 4614.

Decision of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation No. 31 of May 16, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Design and Safe Operation of Elevators

Specifies the requirements to the design and installation of electric elevators with friction drive, drum or sprocket drive and to the putting in operation, operation, troubleshooting of elevators and supervisory control over elevator operation.
Specifies the requirements ensuring the safety of users, servicing personnel, persons in charge of the inspection control and persons present outside the well, machine and unit compartments (if available), as well as the protection of objects when the elevators are used for the designated purpose, during maintenance and repair works.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 27, 2003. Reg. No. 4597.

Ruling of the Cassation Board of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. KAS 03-167 of May 15, 2003

The Decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of February 12, 2003 having invalidated 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 and Item 9 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 endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 632 of August 28, 1992 inasmuch as they pertain to the collection of payments from users of natural resources according to direct debit procedure is preserved unchanged by the present Ruling.
The cassation appeal of the Government of the Russian Federation has not been satisfied.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 320 of June 2, 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 2001-2003 in Russian Credit Organisations by Fish Industry Producers and Organisations to Build Fish Catching Vessels at Russian Shipbuilding Enterprises

Reimbursement from the federal budget of the part of expenses to pay interest (hereinafter, subsidies) under credits obtained in 2001-2003 for up to five years in Russian credit organisations is granted within the limits of resources of the federal budget envisaged in subsection "Fishing" of section "Agriculture and Fishing" of the functional classification of expenses of the budgets of the Russian Federation. The right to get the subsidy is granted on the contest basis to fish industry producers and organisations regardless of the form of ownership without overdue debts in obligatory payments to the budgets of all levels and to the state non-budgetary funds redeeming the credit and interest under the credit in due time (hereafter, organisations).
The subsidy is granted to the organisation on the monthly basis in the amount of half of expenses made to pay the interest under the credit under the condition that the interest rate is lower than or equal to the rate of refinancing of the Central Bank of Russia as of the date of the most recent payment of the interest under the credit. If the interest rate under the credit is greater than the refinancing rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation as of the date of the most recent payment of the interest under the credit, the subsidy is granted in the amount of one second of the mentioned refinancing rate.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-07/154 of March 31, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Storage Procedures for Alcoholic Products Placed under the Tax Warehouse Regime and the Uniform System of Recording of Their Flow

Endorses the mentioned procedures, as well as the forms of the act of inventory of alcoholic products at excise duty warehouse, notification of the supply (handing over) of alcoholic products from the excise duty warehouse, notification of the receiving of alcoholic products at excise duty warehouse, report of the volumes of alcoholic products available at the excide duty warehouse and other forms.
Specifies the requirements to the place of location of the excise duty warehouse and its outfit. Excise duty warehouses selling alcoholic products intended for retail trade must be outfitted with equipment permitting to provide for the placing of the bar code information on the special regional stamps.
Alcoholic products must be placed in the warehouse so as to permit an unobstructed access to them of officials of the tax bodies to check their quantity, quality, available markings.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4636.

Decision of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation No. 23 of April 29, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Preparation and Examination of Suggestions to Determine the Quota for Invitations to Enter the Russian Federation for Employment Purposes Issued to Foreign Citizens

Employers wishing to attract foreign citizens in the coming year for employment purposes shall prepare and submit on the annual basis before June 1 to the Interagency Commission specially created for these purposes by the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation the request of the needed workforce to replace the vacant and newly created jobs through attraction of foreign employees.
When examining employer requests one should take into account the forecast of the demographic situation, expected disengagement of employees, availability of vacancies in appropriate sectors of economy, forecast of the total number of unemployed citizens, expected number of graduates of professional educational institutions, opportunities of the subject of the Russian Federation to settle the attracted foreign citizens etc.
The Interagency Commission shall submit on the annual basis before August 1 to the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation suggestions to determine the quota for the coming year with substantiation.
The Ministry of Labour of Russia shall distribute together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia on the annual basis before December 1 the all-Russia quota endorsed by the Government of the Russian Federation among the subjects of the Russian Federation and convey it to them before December 15.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 29, 2003. Reg. No. 4604.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-21/125 of March 18, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Transport Tax and Its Filling Instruction

Endorses the tax declaration and its filling instruction for use by organisations possessing transport vehicles recognised according to Article 358 of the Tax Code as object of taxation: motor vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, buses and other self-propelled vehicles and mechanisms - pneumatic-tyre or track-laying - planes, helicopters, motor ships, yachts, sailing ships, cutters, snowmobiles, motor sleighs, motor boats, water bikes, non-self-propelled (tow vessels) and other water and air vessels registered according to established procedure.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4631.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-22/ps of April 23, 2003 on the Normatives of Sufficiency of Own Resources of Professional Participants of Securities Market

Institutes the normatives of sufficiency of own resources for professional participants of securities market engaged in dealer, brokerage, clearing, depositary and other types of activities. When several types of professional activities at securities market are combined, if otherwise is not envisaged in the present Decision, the normative is determined according to the biggest one out of the normatives of sufficiency of own resources specified for the appropriate types of professional activities at securities market.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on July 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4638.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-21/ps of April 23, 2003 on the List of Securities of Foreign States and International Financial Organisations That May Form Part of the Assets of Joint-Stock Investment Funds and Assets of Shared Investment Funds

The list specified by the present Decision includes the bonds of the United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Cyprus and the bonds of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 4, 2003. Reg. No. 4637.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 223-r of May 13, 2003 on Form "A" Certificates of Origin of Commodities

Specifies the particulars of granting of tariff preferences envisaged for preference scheme user-countries for commodities with the origin confirmed by form "A" certificates of origin of commodities.
If the filling of the columns of the certificates does not comply with the Rules, the originals of the certificates are sent to the Directorate of Tariff and Non-Tariff Regulation for subsequent checking. Before getting the results of the check, if there is an opportunity to determine the country of origin of commodities enjoying the most favoured nation status according to commodity accompanying documentation, specification, producer quality certificates, markings, the rates of import customs duties apply envisaged for commodities originating in the countries enjoying the most favoured nation status. Otherwise, the import customs duties apply at double the rate.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4629.

Order of the Ministry of Power Supplies of the Russian Federation No. 193 of May 20, 2003 on the Endorsement of the List of the Minimum Necessary Works (Services) in the Coal Industry Provided for during Strikes in Organisations, Branches and Representations Whose Activities Are Associated with People's Safety, Their Health and Vital Interests of the Society

The list endorsed by the present Order includes the works (services) in mines, including those on the surface and in the underground, works (services) in opencast collieries and in enrichment factories (units).
The particular minimum of the necessary works (services) in the organisation, branch is determined by the agreement of the parties of the collective labour dispute together with the body of local government on the basis of the present minimum of necessary works (services) within five days from the moment of adoption of the decision to announce the strike.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 3, 2003. Reg. No. 4624.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and the Federal Border Guard Service of the Russian Federation No. 225/194/363/126/2330/777/292 of May 30, 2003 on the Endorsement of the List of Positions Associated with the Danger of Being Infected with Tuberculosis Mycobacteria Permitting to Get an Additional Paid Leave, 30-Hour Long Working Week and Additional Labour Remuneration Because of the Hazardous Working Conditions

The list endorsed by the present Order includes positions of medical and other workers directly involved in antituberculosis aid in institutions (organisations) of public health, State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service, Ministry of Defence of Russia, Federal Border Guard Service of Russia, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Ministry of Justice of Russia, in educational institutions (organisations), institutions of social protection of population, in veterinary institutions and organisations engaged in animal raising and fattening, production and storage of products of animal breeding.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 2, 2003. Reg. No. 4618.

Federal Law No. 64-FZ of June 5, 2003 on the Ratification of the Agreement on the Legal Support for the Customs Union and the Uniform Economic Environment

Ratifies the Agreement on the legal support for the Customs Union and the uniform economic environment signed in Moscow on October 26, 1999.

Decision of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation No. 4125-Sh GD of June 6, 2003 on the Amnesty Pursuant to the Adoption of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic

Adopts the decision not to institute criminal proceedings against persons having committed publicly dangerous acts in the course of the armed conflict and/or antiterrorist operations within the boundaries of the former Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic who abandoned participation in illegal military formations or volunteered to dispose of the weapons and military equipment.
Criminal cases processed by the bodies of investigation and pending trial with regard to the mentioned persons must abandoned. If the mentioned persons have been sentenced already, they are released with the sentence being revoked.
The amnesty does not apply to foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as the persons having committed especially dangerous deeds (murder, deliberate damage to health, kidnapping and some other).

Decision of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation No. 4127-Sh GD of June 6, 2003 on the Procedure of Application of the Decision of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the Amnesty Pursuant to the Adoption of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic

The Decision of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the amnesty pursuant to the adoption of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic applies to persons having committed publicly dangerous deeds in the course of the armed conflict and/or antiterrorist operations within the boundaries of the former Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the period from December 12, 1993 to the day of entry into force of the mentioned Decision who abandoned participation in illegal military formations or volunteered to dispose of the weapons and military equipment before 00 hours of September 1, 2003.
The Decision explains what is an armed conflict and antiterrorist operation mentioned in Item 1 of the Decision on the amnesty.
Persons covered by the Decision on the amnesty are not released from reimbursement of the damage incurred as a result of committing of publicly dangerous deeds.
The ruling to apply the act of amnesty is taken for each person independently.
The Decision on the amnesty is to be executed within six months from the day of entry into force.
The present Decision is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation No. 4126-Sh GD of June 6, 2003 on the Decision of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the Procedure of Application of the Decision of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the Amnesty Pursuant to the Adoption of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic

Invites the Government of the Russian Federation to work out and take measures no later than within 10 days from the day of entry into force of the present Decision to ensure the security of the persons having volunteered to abandon armed resistance by reporting themselves to the divisions of internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies, as well as to the bodies of internal affairs of the Russian Federation, federal security bodies, bodies of the prosecutor's office of the Russian Federation, military commandant offices or military commissariats and disposing of the weapons and military equipment available with them, including the confidentiality of information on them.
Recommends the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation to order his subordinate prosecutors to enforce the reasons of instituting of criminal proceedings and further criminal prosecution with regard to the persons covered by the act of amnesty.
The present Decision is entered into force from the day of its adoption.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 331 of June 6, 2003 on the Rates of Import Customs Duties for Motor Vehicles

Specifies that the rates of import customs duties for motor vehicles introduced temporarily for 9 months by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 642 of August 30, 2002 remain in effect on the permanent basis from July 4, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 324 of June 4, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Commodities Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation Outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

Individual types of fertilisers (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 3105 30 000 0 and 3105 40 000 0) are exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements duty free. For newsprint paper in rolls or sheet (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 4801 00 000 0) the rate is fixed in the amount of 5% of the customs cost.
The present Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 46 of April 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Report for Insurance Contributions Paid on the Voluntary Basis to the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation by Individual Categories of Insurers (Form 4a FSS RF)

Endorses the form of the report for insurance contributions paid on the voluntary basis to the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation by individual categories of insurers (Form 4a FSS RF) and its filling procedure.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 16-00-14/177 of May 27, 2003

Explains the procedure of recording in accounting work of the value added tax in export of commodities. VAT amounts to be returned (reimbursed) to the organisation under Article 176 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation are recorded in accounting work on the debit of Account 51 "Clearing Accounts" (68 "Budget Payments") in correspondence with the credit of Account 68 "Budget Payments", Subaccount "VAT for Reimbursement". If the taxpayer fails to confirm the reasons of application of the zero tax rate, VAT amounts recorded on the debit of Account 68 "Budget Payments", Subaccount "VAT for Reimbursement", are written off to the debit of Account 91 "Other Incomes and Expenses".

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. OS-6-30/564@ of May 19, 2003

Explains the particulars of registration of the biggest taxpayers.
Registration of the biggest taxpayers at the place of location of separate divisions and, respectively, operative accounting work are carried out according to the commonly established procedure - in the tax bodies at the place of location of the separate divisions.

Federal Law No. 65-FZ of June 6, 2003 on the Amendment to Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, Amendments to Some Other Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation and Invalidation of Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

The Tax Code of the Russian Federation is extended to include new Chapter 26.4 "Taxation System in Product Sharing Agreements". The new special tax regime envisages replacement of the multitude of taxes and fees with the sharing of produced items under the product-sharing agreement, preserving the duty to pay a number of taxes (including VAT, profit tax, uniform social tax, tax on extraction of mineral resources and other) taking into account the particulars envisaged in the new chapter of the Tax Code.
Meanwhile, there are changes to the Federal Law on the product sharing agreements, Law of the Russian Federation on the mineral resources and a number of other legislative acts.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 66-FZ of June 6, 2003 on the Ratification of the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Ratifies the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation signed on behalf of the Russian Federation in St.Petersburg on June 7, 2002.

Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 62-FZ of May 29, 2003 on the Ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Strategic Offensive Reductions

Ratifies the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the USA on strategic offensive reductions (hereinafter, SORT) signed in Moscow on May 24, 2002.
Specifies the authority of the President of the Russian Federation, chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation in execution of the SORT treaty. Defines exclusive circumstances permitting to exit the Treaty. Such circumstances may include: significant violations of the obligations under the Treaty by the other side, deployment by the other state or group of states of the antimissile defence system capable of reducing significantly the efficiency of strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation, the stockpiling by the other state or group of states of strategic offensive armaments or decisions taken by them in the military sphere, as well as other obligations, that may jeopardize the highest interests of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 613 of June 5, 2003 on the Law Enforcement Service in the Bodies in Charge of Control of the Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances

Endorses the Regulation on the law enforcement service in the bodies in charge of control over the circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
The law enforcement service in the bodies of control over circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances is a type of state service of the citizens of the Russian Federation occupying positions in the law enforcement service of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Control over Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances and its territorial bodies.
The Decree specifies restrictions for admission to service in the bodies of the state drug control, as well as age restriction specified for the bodies in the bodies of the state drug control. Employees of the federal bodies of the tax police, bodies of internal affairs of the Russian Federation, servicemen dismissed from the mentioned bodies and military service because of the transfer to the bodies of control over circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances are exempted from the age restrictions envisaged in the present Regulation.
The Decree is entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 328 of June 5, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Suspension of Operations on Personal Accounts of Chief Administrators, Administrators and Recipients of the Resources of the Federal Budget Opened in the Federal Treasury Bodies

Specifies the procedure of suspension of operations on personal accounts of chief administrators, administrators and recipients of resources of the federal budget opened in the federal treasury bodies.
The suspension of operation on the personal accounts is effected in cases of failure to submit within specified time limits of reports and other accounting and financial documents pertaining to the use of resources of the federal budget, information on the sources of the building debts and the figures of the budget classification of the Russian Federation implying the expenses of the federal budget in execution of the requirements of the writs of execution or in cases of violation of the procedure of recording of obligations due for execution at the expense of the federal budget specified by the Government of the Russian Federation.
If violations are revealed, the chief administrator, administrator and recipient of the resources of the federal budget having committed this violation get a representation demanding to eliminate the violation drawn up according to the form endorsed by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. If the demand to eliminate the violation is not executed within 5 working days from the date of receiving of it, the federal treasury takes the decision to suspend operations on the personal accounts until elimination of the violation.
The Decision provides the list of officials who may take the decision to suspend operations on personal accounts.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 327 of June 5, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

The Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation now does not include Subheading 3904 10 009 0 and includes Subheadings 3904 10 009, 3904 10 009 1 and 3904 10 009 9 (varieties of polyvinyl chloride). Specifies the rates of import customs duties for the subheadings included in the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication and preserves its force for 9 months.

Federal Law No. 72-FZ of June 9, 2003 on the Ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Lithuanian Republic on the Russian-Lithuanian State Border

Ratifies the Treaty between Russia and the Lithuanian Republic on the Russian-Lithuanian state border singed in Moscow on October 24, 1997.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 624 of June 6, 2003 "Issues of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Control over the Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances"

Endorses the Regulation on the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Control over the Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances and the structure of its central office.

      The State Committee of Russia for Control over the Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances is the federal body of executive power specially designated to solve the tasks in the sphere of circulation of narcotic substances, psychotropic substances and their precursors, countermeasures against their illegal trafficking, as well as coordinating the activities of other federal bodies of executive power and the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation in this sphere.

      The State Committee of Russia for Control over the Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances shall arrange and carry out the search of persons accused or suspected of crimes in the sphere of reference of the bodies of state drug enforcement and absconding from the bodies of investigation or court or those with unknown place of residence, provide for investigation in criminal cases in the sphere of reference of the state drug enforcement, process the cases of administrative violations, control activities of legal entities and independent entrepreneurs in the sphere of circulation of narcotic substances, psychotropic substances and their precursors etc.

      The State Committee of Russia for Control over the Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances shall be headed by the Chairman in the rank of the federal minister.

      The Decree is entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 333 of June 6, 2003 on the Implementation by the Federal Bodies of Executive Power of the Authority in Implementation of the Rights of the Owner of the Property of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise

Sets forth that coordination of the deals of the federal state unitary enterprise with respect to the federal immovable property assigned to it for economic management purposes (except for the leasing) and owned by the enterprise stocks, contributions (shares) in the registered (shared) capitals of economic companies and partnerships, as well as the decision of the enterprise to conclude a simple partnership contract, is vested in the Ministry of Property Relations of the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of Property Relations of Russia shall take the decision of coordination (refusal to coordinate) the deal within one month or submits appropriate proposals and documents to the Government of the Russian Federation while notifying within 5 days the enterprise and the federal body of executive power in charge of the coordination and regulation in the appropriate sphere (sphere of management).

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 325 of May 13, 2003 on the Organisation of Issue of Permissions to Attract and Use Foreign Workforce

Endorses the blank form of the permission to attract and use foreign workforce in the crews of Russian sea vessels.

      The ministers of internal affairs, chiefs of directorates of internal affairs, departments of internal affairs of the subjects of the Russian Federation are ordered to organise from July 1, 2003 the drawing up and issue to employers, orderers of works (services) of permissions to attract and use foreign workforce from the CIS member-states except for the permissions to attract and use foreign workforce on the territory of several subjects of the Russian Federation or in the crews of the Russian sea vessels, as well as the registration of the issued permissions.

      Before the blank forms for attraction and use of foreign workforce are made, the issue of such permissions to employers, orderers of works (services) is implemented on the blank form of the permission endorsed by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 2146 of December 16, 1993.

      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 6, 2003. Reg. No. 4658.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 119 of April 17, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Granting of Subsidies and Subventions in 2003 to Organisations of the Highway, Air, Sea and River Transport

Sets forth the procedure of granting of subsidies and subventions from the federal budget in 2003 to organisations of the highway, air, sea and river transport regardless of the organisational and legal form.
Transport organisations getting the subsidies and subventions are determined on the contest basis.
The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation shall enjoy the authority to allocate the volumes of subsidies and subventions among transport organisations, to conclude contracts with transport organisations to grant subsidies and subventions etc.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 6, 2003. Reg. No. 4650.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-05/214 of April 25, 2003 on the Amendments to the Methodology Recommendations on the Procedure of Calculation and Payment of the Uniform Social Tax

The changes pertain to the taxation of payments in favour of foreign citizens and stateless persons. Beginning with January 1, 2003, the payments and remuneration under labour contracts and civil contacts for the works (services), authors' contracts in favour of foreign citizens and stateless persons are subject to taxation according to the commonly accepted procedure.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. ShS-6-24/622 of June 3, 2003 on the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-24/149 of March 28, 2003

Explains the procedure of issue of the certificate of the absence of unsettled debts in taxes and other obligatory payments and violations of the tax legislation to the residents to get the permission to defer the payment for more than 90 days for the export of commodities (works, services, results of intellectual activities).

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of June 11, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Amendments to the Federal Constitutional Law on the Referendum of the Russian Federation

The applicants claim that the adoption of the given Law increases the period prohibiting the initiative of the referendum and the referendum itself, which is in violation of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, in particular, its Articles 3, 16, 32, 55. The request pertains only to the referendum initiated by the citizens of the Russian Federation.
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised the mentioned Federal Constitutional Law, inasmuch as it specifies the period prohibiting the citizens to initiate a referendum of the Russian Federation and the referendum itself, as not contradicting the Constitution of the Russian Federation, since the period permitting the citizens to initiate a referendum of the Russian Federation and directly participate in it must be at least two years long, so as to permit an opportunity to arrange at least two referendums within the four year long election cycle.
The Constitutional Court proceeded from the fact that the periods permitting the citizens to show their free will at elections of the federal bodies of state power and referendums of the Russian Federation must be commensurable.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Federal Law No. 69-FZ of June 9, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the State Registration of the Rights for Immovable Property and Deals with It

Amends a great part of the articles of the Law. The changers are aimed at improving the registration procedure, including a more complete protection of civil rights and legal interests of participants of the real estate market. In this connection, the Federal Law extends the authority of the legal institutions in charge of the registration of rights, as well as the authority of tipstaves.
Individual norms have been changed pursuant to the adoption of the normative legal acts of the Russian Federation pertaining to activities of the bodies (organisations) in charge of the state registration and technical inventory of the objects of immovable property.
The Federal Law is entered into force three months after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 68-FZ of June 9, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance for the Year 2002

The Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance is permitted to allocate up to 10% of the financial resources of the Fund earmarked to equalise the financial conditions of activities to finance the target regional programs of maternity and childhood protection.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 71-FZ of June 9, 2003 on the Ratification of the Treaties between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on the Transfer of the Property Owned by the Republic of Armenia to Redeem the Debt in State Credits Granted by the Government of the Russian Federation to the Government of the Republic of Armenia

Ratifies the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on the procedure of transfer of the state property owned by the Republic of Armenia to redeem the debt in state credits granted by the Government of the Russian Federation to the Government of the Republic of Armenia singed in Yerevan on July 17, 2002 as amended by the Protocol of November 5, 2002.

Federal Law No. 70-FZ of June 9, 2003 on the Ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Lithuanian Republic on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf in the Baltic Sea

Ratifies the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Lithuanian Republic on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf in the Baltic Sea singed in Moscow on October 24, 1997.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 335 of June 9, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Form of the Visa, Procedure and Terms of Its Drawing up and Issue, Prolongation, Reinstatement in Case of Loss, As Well As Revocation

The visa is drawn up on the blank form or using a mastic stamp according to the forms endorsed by the present Decision. The visa is issued by the authorised state body of the Russian Federation (the list being provided in the endorsed Regulation) to a foreign citizen who may apply to this body personally or through an authorised representative.
The drawing up of the visa, including its prolongation and reinstatement, is charged with a state duty and other fees specified in the legislation of the Russian Federation. The time limit to draw up the visa is fixed to within 20 working days from the day of appeal of the foreign citizen. The date of applying for the visa is the day of submission of all appropriately drawn up documents envisaged in the present Regulation.
The Regulation applies to all categories of visas.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 515 of May 14, 2003 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 848 of December 16, 1998

Changes the rules of filling the cargo customs declaration pertaining to individual columns if a structural division acts on behalf of the Russian legal entity.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 9, 2003. Reg. No. 4665.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 500 of May 13, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of the Customs Registration and Customs Control of Commodities of Individual Category Moved across the Customs Border of the Russian Federation

Endorses the procedure of customs registration and customs control of commodities of individual categories including: spare parts, components, parts of a transport vehicle, including added equipment, auxiliaries and service means (including automobile chemicals and cosmetics), lubricants and liquids, except for motor oils, troubleshooting and maintenance equipment and tools, servicing and repair technical documents including guides for transport vehicles, spare parts and accessories (on any medium), accompanying products, promotion items on any medium.
The Order provides the list of the terms to be met by the mentioned commodities to apply the mentioned procedure.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 6, 2003. Reg. No. 4646.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-17/ps of April 1, 2003 on the Distribution and Circulation of Emission Securities of Russian Issuers outside the Russian Federation

Endorses the Regulation on the procedure of issue of the permission of the Federal Commission for Securities Market for distribution or circulation of emission securities of the Russian issuers outside the Russian Federation. Specifies the list of the documents required to get the permission. The documents may be presented together with the documents for the state registration of the issue (additional issue) of emission securities of the Russian issuer to be placed outside the Russian Federation.
The permission of the Federal Commission for Securities Market is issued no later than within 30 days from the date of submission of all documents.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 6, 2003. Reg. No. 4644.

Federal Law No. 75-FZ of June 11, 2003 on the Amendments to the Criminal Execution Code of the Russian Federation

Amends a number of articles regulating detention of persons suspected and accused of crimes, execution of criminal punishments, as well as the detention conditions.
Provides the new wording for the legal norm defining the moment permitting for an early exculpation from an earlier punishment. Introduces the rule permitting an early exculpation from an earlier punishment for a convict with an unserved punishment.
The Code is extended to include the provision recognizing an underage convict as a recurrent violator of the detention procedure. The underage convicts may appeal according to the procedure specified in the legislation against their transfer to more stringent conditions of detention if they do not agree with it as is envisaged for the adults. The term of pre-trial detention of the underaged is included in the term of detention in common colonies if he is not recognised as a recurrent violator.
The Government of the Russian Federation is entitled to define the list of diseases preventing detention, a well as the procedure of medical certification of the convicts recommended for release from punishment because of the illness.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 74-FZ of June 11, 2003 on the Peasant (Farmer's) Enterprise

Defines the legal, economic and social fundamentals of creation and activities of the peasant (farmers') enterprises. The Law guarantees the citizens' right to create peasant (farmers') enterprises and their independent activities.
Chapter 1 "General Provisions" contains the definition of the peasant (farmer's) enterprise which implies an association of citizens with a kinship and/or apanage relations possessing common property and engaged in common production and other economic activities (production, processing, storage, transportation and sale of agricultural produce) based on their personal participation. A farmer's enterprise may be created by a single person.
The farmer's enterprise carries out entrepreneurial activities without the forming of the legal entity. Peasant (farmers') enterprises created as legal entities under the Law of the RSFSR No. 348-I of November 22, 1990 on the peasant (farmer's) enterprise may preserve their status of a legal entity until January 1, 2010.
Chapter 2 "Creation of the Farmer's Enterprise" formulates the requirements to the farmer's enterprise. Chapter 3 "Property of the Farmer's Enterprise" defines its composition and terms of ownership, use and management. Chapter 4 defines the legal status of the land plots provided and purchased to create a farmer's enterprise and procedure of its activities. Chapter 5 specifies the procedure of admission of new members to the farmer's enterprise and membership termination, as well as the rights, duties and authority of the head of the enterprise. Chapter 6 is dedicated to the types of activities of the farmer's enterprise. The main types of activities of the farmer's enterprise are production and processing of agricultural produce, as well as transportation, storage and sale of own-made agricultural produce. Chapter 7 provides for opportunities to unite farmers' enterprises. Chapter 8 defines termination procedure for the farmer's enterprise.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 73-FZ of June 11, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Agricultural Cooperation

The amendments pertain to the norms regulating the issues of management of the cooperative, membership and property relations in cooperatives.
The Law envisages a number of refinements stating that executive bodies of the cooperative are the chairman of the cooperative and the management board of the cooperative. If the membership of the cooperative amounts to less than 25 persons, the charter of the cooperative may envisage election of only the chairman of the cooperative and his deputy. The chairman of the cooperative, the management board are elected by the general meeting of the members of the cooperative out of its members not more than for five years. The chairman of the cooperative is the member of the management board of the cooperative and heads it.
The Law extends significantly the list of issues forming the exclusive authority of the general meeting of the members of the cooperative. Introduces additionally the norms stating that the chairman of the cooperative assumes the responsibility envisaged in the Law for the members of the management board. Extends the norms regulating the management procedure for a union of cooperatives.
The charter of a consumer cooperative may specify the right and admission procedure to the members of the cooperative of citizens or legal entities other than agricultural producers but participating in economic activities of the cooperative or rendering services to the cooperative. The number of such members of the cooperative may not be greater than 20% of the membership of a consumer cooperative being agricultural producers.
The Law specifies that the changes in the number of the members of the cooperative or associated members of the cooperative, as well as the change of the amount of the shared fund of the cooperative may not serve as grounds to enter this change in the charter of the cooperative.
The Law refines the notion of the shared fund and introduces the notion of the indivisible fund of the cooperative, envisages opportunities for both the shared and other contributions in the cooperative not being shared ones. Also refines a number of norms regulating the procedure of creation and activities of audit unions of agricultural cooperatives, as well as the notion and name of the audit union and control over its activities.
The Law is extended to include the norms stating that the number of the members of the credit cooperative may not be less than 15 citizens and/or 5 legal entities and greater than 2,000 citizens or 200 legal entities.
The charters of agricultural cooperatives, unions of agricultural cooperatives must be brought in compliance with the requirements of the present Federal Law within one year from its entry into force.

Federal Law No. 67-FZ of June 7, 2003 on the Execution of the Federal Budget for the Year 2001

Endorses the report of execution of the federal budget for the year 2001 with incomes amounting to Rbl 1,593,987,122.1 thousand and expenses amounting to Rbl 1,321,902,684.6 thousand and incomes exceeding expenses (federal budget surplus) by Rbl 272,075,437.5 thousand.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 650 of June 10, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Defence Order of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

The State Committee of the Russian Federation for Defence Order is the federal body of executive power providing for the improvement of activities in the building and placing of the state defence order, uniform state policy in the sphere of development, production, unification, standardisation of general purpose armaments and military equipment, as well as development and implementation, within their sphere of reference, of the necessary measures to preserve and enhance the defence and scientific and technical potential of the Russian Federation and its adaptation to market economy conditions while executing the state defence order.
The Decree is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-05/300 of June 5, 2003 on the Amendments to the Orders of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-05/91 of February 21, 2002, No. BG-3-05/173 of April 3, 2002

The amendments are introduced in the procedure of filling of the personal card of awards and other remuneration, accrued uniform social tax, as well as tax exemptions, by the persons making payments to natural persons. The Order defines the particulars of filling of the personal card by taxpayers paying the uniform imputed income tax and using the simplified system of taxation.
To avoid differences between the values accrued in the personal cards and declarations and in advance payments, appropriate figures in columns 15-20 of the personal cards are recommended to be shown with 4-5 digits after the decimal point.
If during the tax period the taxpayer and the natural person discontinue the existing contract and then conclude a new labour contract (civil, author contract), the taxpayer may keep one card for the same person. The card must show the contract Nos. If the employee is transferred from one separate division of the organisation to another during the tax period, the new personal card is opened at the new place of work.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 107 of May 30, 2003 on the Entering into Force of SanPiN 2.2.2.1332-03 Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules and Normatives

From June 25, 2003, introduces hygienic requirements to the work on the copying equipment. Prohibits deployment of copying equipment in the cellars. The copier operator positions are not permitted for persons younger than 18 years of age, expecting mothers and persons with medical contraindications.
Specifies that the distance from the wall or pillar to the edge of the machine (taking into account the design of the ventilation system) must be at least 0.6 m or 1.0 m on the side of the service area.
The sanitary rules are obligatory for all organisations using copying equipment on the territory of the Russian Federation regardless of the forms of ownership and length of work.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 16, 2003. Reg. No. 4685.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 227-P of May 14, 2003 on the Procedure of Record Keeping and Submission of Information on Affiliated Entities of the Credit Organisation

The credit organisation must keep records of its affiliated entities by drawing up and keeping of the list of affiliated entities of the credit organisation. The software developed by the Bank of Russia may be used in this case. The Regulation provides the forms to be used by credit organisations to submit the lists of affiliated entities to the territorial institutions of the Bank of Russia.
The Regulation is entered into force 10 days after the day of its publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 11, 2003. Reg. No. 4676.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 118 of June 3, 2003 on the Entering into Force of SanPiN2.2.2/2.4.1340-03 Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules and Normatives

From June 30, 2003, introduces hygienic requirements to personal computers and organisation of work with them.
Thus, the area per one operator using a personal computer with a CRT display must be at least 6 m2 or 4.5 m2 for the LCD or plasma panels. The distance between the tables with monitors (from the back of one monitor to the screen of another) must be at least 2.0 m, with the distance between the sides being at least 1.2 m.
Expecting mothers must be transferred to works other than those associated with the use of the personal computer, or the work with the personal computer must be restricted to up to 3 hours per working shift.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4673.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 225-P of May 6, 2003 on the Guide of the Bank Identification Codes of Participants of Payments Making Payment through the Payment Network of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)

The new Regulation defines the purpose and rules of building of the Guide of Bank Identification Codes of participants of payments making payments through the payment network of the Bank of Russia, the structure of the bank identification code (BIK), procedure of assigning it, as well as the rules and terms of inclusion (removal) of information on the participants of payments.
The Regulation envisages an opportunity of reproduction of the Guide on paper medium.
The structure of the bank identification code has not changed and still consists of nine digits. Recurrent use of the bank identification codes of participants of payments is permitted upon expiry of one calendar year after the date of their removal from the Guide, however, no sooner than the entry in the summary balance report of the Bank of Russia for payments using avisos for the mentioned calendar year.
The Guide is extended to include new requisites "Control Date" and "Control Code" showing the restrictions or termination of payments by the participant and used for preliminary notification of the supposed changing of its "Bank Identification Code" and "Account No." requisites or of the anticipated termination of payments.
Besides, the Guide will show successor BIK appearing in cases of removal of information on the participant of payments.
The Regulation is entered into force from November 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4669.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1275-U of May 6, 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. 225-P of May 6, 2003 having endorsed the new rules of building of the Guide of the Bank Identification Codes of the Russian Federation, invalidates the Regulation on the Guide of the Bank Identification Codes of the Russian Federation No. 48 of September 16, 1996 with amendments.
The Direction is entered into force from November 1, 2003.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 344 of June 12, 2003 on the Normatives of the Payment for the Discharge into the Atmosphere of Pollutants by Stationary and Mobile Sources, Disposal of Pollutants into the Surface and Underground Water Objects, Deployment of Waste from Production and Consumption

The mentioned normatives are applied with coefficients taking into account ecological factors and the additional coefficient for the specially protected natural territories, regions of the Far North and similar localities, Baykal Lake natural territory and the zones of ecological disasters.
The text of the document has not been published officially as of the moment of placing on the site.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 110 of May 30, 2003 on the Entering into Force of SP 2.5.1337-03 Sanitary Rules of Operation of Subways

From June 30, 2003 introduces the sanitary and hygienic requirements to the stationary objects and the rolling stock of subways being obligatory for all legal entities and natural persons engaged in construction, repair, modernisation and operation of stationary objects and the rolling stock of the subway. Specifies, in particular, that the ambient temperature in the passenger sections of stations in the warm period of the year must be from +18°C to +28°C, and in the cold period of the year - from +10°C to +16°C (except for the open surface platforms and passages).
The temperature in the cars in the warm period of the year must be 3°C higher than the ambient temperature, and in the cold period of the year - +16±2°C.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 10, 2003. Reg. No. 4672.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1291-U of June 11, 2003 on the Invalidation of Item 3.2.1 and Chapter 4 of the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1025-U of August 27, 2001 on the Procedure of Initiation of the Revocation of the License for Bank Operations from Credit Organisations in Compliance with Parts 1 and 2 of Article 20 of the Federal Law on Banks and Bank Activities

Invalidates the provisions of the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1025-U of August 27, 2001 specifying the particulars of determination of the amount of own resources (capital) of the credit organisation to reveal the grounds for the revocation of the license for bank operations. At present, the mentioned issues are regulated by the 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.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Operative Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 89-T of June 11, 2003 on the Methodology Recommendations for the Systematisation and Analysis of Indicators Characterising the Condition of the Market of Pay Cards in the Region

Specifies uniform methods of approach to the collection of data and estimation of indicators used to analyse the condition of the market of pay cards in the region. Defines the indicators of the condition of the market of pay cards and their estimation procedure.
Estimated indicators may be used to draw up the section of the annual report, carry out the current monitoring, prepare analytical materials on the functioning of the payment systems of the region.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of June 19, 2003 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provisions of the Federal Legislation and the Legislation of the Subjects of the Russian Federation Regulating Taxation of Small Businesses - Independent Entrepreneurs Using the Simplified System of Taxation, Accounting and Reporting Pursuant to the Appeals of a Number of Citizens

According to the challenged norm of Item 3 of Article 1 of the Federal Law on the simplified system of taxation, accounting and reporting for small businesses, application of the mentioned system of taxation by independent entrepreneurs envisages replacement of the tax from incomes obtained from the carried out entrepreneurial activities with the cost of the patent for the given type of activities. The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised the mentioned norm of the Law as not complying with the Constitution of the Russian Federation since it does not exempt independent entrepreneurs using the simplified system of taxation, accounting and reporting from the value added tax and the sales tax thus creating less favourable conditions of work for independent entrepreneurs as compared to legal entities.
Provisions of Item 3 of Article 1 of the Law of the Stavropol Territory on the simplified system of taxation, accounting and reporting for small businesses and Item 7 of Article 1 of the Law of the Kirov Province on the simplified system of taxation, accounting and reporting for small businesses on the territory of the Kirov Province were also recognised as not complying with the Constitution of the Russian Federation because they reproduce the mentioned norm.
The Decision emphasises that introduction form January 1, 2001 of the value added tax for independent entrepreneurs by Article 143 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation does not mean that the taxation procedure providing beneficial terms for the first four years of work to independent entrepreneurs that was in effect as of the moment of their state registration stops to apply to them simultaneously. Thus, independent entrepreneurs having applied the simplified systems of taxation before January 1, 2003 must not pay the value added tax and the sales tax. The cases of taxpayers having paid the mentioned taxes besides the cost of the patent must be revised.
The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Decision of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation No. 71 of June 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Protection of Mineral Resources

Defines the requirements to the design works, construction and putting in operation of the objects of exploitation of mineral resources, to the development of the deposits of oil and gas, requirements to the processing of the mineral raw materials, as well as additional requirements to the development of the deposits available in complex mining and geological and other natural environments.
The rules are obligatory for organisations regardless of their organisational and legal forms and forms of ownership, independent entrepreneurs drawing up and implementing projects in extraction and processing of mineral resources, use of mineral resources for the purposes other than extraction of mineral resources, as well as carrying out survey and prospecting works on the territory of the Russian Federation and within its continental shelf and exclusive sea economic zone of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4718.

Decision of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation No. 70 of June 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Protection of Mineral Reserves While Processing Mineral Raw Materials

Sets forth technical requirements to the protection of mineral reserves in the course of initial processing of mineral raw materials. The requirements are obligatory for organisations regardless of their organisational and legal forms and forms of ownership, independent entrepreneurs engaged in the drawing up and implementation of the projects of initial processing of solid mineral resources except for the radioactive raw materials.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 18, 2003. Reg. No. 4701.

Decision of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation No. 69 of June 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Development of the Deposits of Thermal Waters

Sets forth technical requirements to the drawing up and implementation of the projects of development of the deposits of thermal waters, their protection against pollution, spoiling and early exhaustion. The requirements are obligatory for organisations regardless of their organisational and legal forms and forms of ownership, independent entrepreneurs engaged in the drawing up and implementation of the projects of extraction of thermal waters on the territory of the Russian Federation and within the boundaries of the continental shelf and exclusive sea economic zone of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4699.

Decision of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation No. 72 of June 6, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Development and Protection of the Deposits of Mineral Waters and Peloids

Sets forth technical requirements to the drawing up and implementation of the projects of development of the deposits of medicinal mineral waters, peloids and other mineral resources qualified as medicinal (bischofite, naphthalane, ozokerite and other) and their protection against pollution, spoiling and early exhaustion. The requirements are obligatory for all organisations regardless of their organisational and legal forms and forms of ownership, independent entrepreneurs engaged in the drawing up and implementation of the projects in extraction of the above mineral resources on the territory of the Russian Federation and within the boundaries of the continental shelf and exclusive sea economic zone of the Russian Federation.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 17, 2003. Reg. No. 4698.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 355 of June 20, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

For rice and meal and flour products of it (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 1006, 1103 19 500 0, 1103 20 500 0, 1104 19 910 0, 1108 19 100 0), institutes the combined rate of the import customs duty in the amount of 10% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.03 per kg. Earlier, there was an ad valorem rate in the amount of 10% of the customs cost for the mentioned commodities.
The Decision is entered into force one months after the day of its official publication for 9 months.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 346 of June 19, 2003 on the Implementation of the Right of the Insured to Choose the Investment Portfolio (Management Company) in Compliance with the Federal Law on the Investing of Resources to Finance the Accumulated Part of the Labour Pension in the Russian Federation

Defines the procedure and time limits when the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation informs the insured in 2003 of the amount of resources of the accumulated pensions available in the special part of their individual personal accounts, as well as the procedure of submission of applications by the insured to choose the investment portfolio (management company) and their examination by the Pension Fund of Russia.
Before August 1, 2003, the Pension Fund of Russia informs the insured of the amount of insurance contributions to finance the accumulated part of the labour pension received for this persons in 2002 by sending appropriate notification. Application of the choice of the investment portfolio (management company) to transfer the resources of the accumulated pensions in 2003 is submitted to the Pension Fund of Russia once before October 15, 2003 according to the form endorsed by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.
The Decision specifies that the payment for the transfer of the resources of the accumulated pensions when the insured person chooses the investment portfolio (management company) is deduced from the amount of insurance contributions in the amount of expenses actually suffered by the management company.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 12-1-4/1997 of May 15, 2003 on the Procedure for Making Payments in the Currency of the Russian Federation by the Residents

Explains that the drawing up of the import deal certificate for the import contracts envisaging payments in the currency of the Russian Federation and import of commodities within the time limits greater than 90 days from the date of payment is carried out without submission of the permission of the Bank of Russia by the importer to the authorised bank.
The currency legislation permits the use of the currency of the Russian Federation to cover invoices in foreign currencies under foreign trade contracts if these contracts envisage payment in both the foreign currency an the currency of the Russian Federation.
If the payments are made by the transfer of cash to the cash department of the exporter by the non-resident with subsequent entry on his payment account in the authorised bank, the money received by the exporter must not be recorded by the authorised bank in the currency control documents as receipts.

Information of the Central Bank of Russia of June 20, 2003 on the Refinancing Rate (Discount Rate) of the Bank of Russia

      From June 21, 2003, the rate of refinancing (discount rate) of the Bank of Russia is reduced to amount to 16% annual (earlier, 18% annual).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 359 of June 21, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

The rate of the import customs duty for dry yeast (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 2102 10 310 0) is fixed to amount to EUR 0.25 per kg (earlier, 15% of the customs cost).
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication for 9 months.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 358 of June 21, 2003 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation for the Import to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation of Individual Types of Transport Vehicles Older Than 7 Years of Age

Fixes the new import duties for trucks older than 7 years of age in the amount of 10% to 15% (earlier, from 5% to 10%) of their cost.
The Decision is entered into force one months after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 357 of June 21, 2003 on the Equalisation of the Customs Payments Collected from Legal Entities and Natural Persons When Importing Used Cars to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation

Fixes uniform customs payments for natural persons and legal entities for imported used cars 3 to 7 years of age. Natural persons will have to pay EUR 0.85 per cm3 if the car engine capacity is not greater than 1,000 cm3; EUR 1 if the capacity is 1,000 to 1,500 cm3; EUR 1.5 if the capacity is 1,500 to 1,800 cm3; EUR 1.75 if the capacity is 1,800 to 2,300 cm3; EUR 2 if the capacity is 2,300 to 3,000 cm3; and EUR 2.25 if the capacity is greater than 3,000 cm3.
Earlier, the uniform rate of the customs taxes and duties for natural persons amounted to: EUR 0.85 per cm3 for cars with engine capacity not greater than 2,500 cm3 and EUR 1.4 per cm3 for more powerful engines.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. VG-6-03/672@ of June 19, 2003 on the Value Added Tax

Amounts of advance payments for the imported commodities received by the exporter after the drawing up of the customs cargo declaration for them are exempted from the value added tax only within the limits of resources corresponding to the part of dispatched products, carried out works (rendered services).

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. SA-6-22/657 of June 11, 2003 on the Explanation of Individual Issues of Application of Chapters 26.2 and 26.3 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Explains individual issues of taxation of incomes and expenses of taxpayers applying special tax regimes.
To observe the principle of equality of taxation, independent entrepreneurs may reduce the taxable base for the incomes envisaged by Article 251 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation as is envisaged for organisations. In this case, taxpayers (organisations and independent entrepreneurs) having chosen as the object of taxation the incomes reduced by the amount of expenses in the determination of the taxable base record only those expenses that are envisaged in Article 346.16 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.
When using the cash method of determination of incomes and expenses, one should keep in mind that expenses for forward-purchase commodities unsold in the reporting (tax) period are recorded when getting incomes from the sale of such commodities in the subsequent reporting (tax) periods.
Preliminary payment (advance payments) with taxpayers applying the simplified system of taxation is the object of taxation in the reported (tax) period when they are received.

Federal Law No. 85-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Amendment to Article 36 of the Federal Law on Political Parties and Amendments to the Federal Law on the Elections of the Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Refines the procedure of participation of electoral blocks in the election of the deputies of the State Duma. All-Russia public organisations and movements will participate as a part of electoral blocks only in the nearest election of the deputies of the State Duma. The Law specifies the list of all-Russia public organisations and movements prohibited from participation in the electoral blocks.
After the nearest election of the deputies of the State Duma, there will be no opportunity to participate in the election to the bodies of state power for public associations other than political parties.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 84-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Amendments to Subitem 2 of Item 4 of Article 98 of the Federal Law on the Elections of the Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

According to introduced amendments, political parties created by transformation of public associations, including those forming part of the electoral blocks, with debts to TV and radio broadcasting organisations and editorial boards of periodicals as of the day of the official publication of the election decision may not enjoy free air time during this election. This provision applies also to electoral blocks created with participation of the mentioned political parities, other all-Russia public associations with the mentioned debt as of the day of the official publication of the election decision.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 83-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Amendments to Subitem "g" of Item 5 of Article 40 of the Federal Law on the Main Guaranties of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in the Referendum of the Citizens of the Russian Federation and Subitem 8 of Item 4 of Article 49 of the Federal Law on the Elections of the Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Refines the list of actions qualified as the use of advantages of the official position of candidates being simultaneously deputies of representative bodies of state power and local government by elective officials. The notion of the "use of advantages of the official position" in the publication of the reports of the deputies and elective officials is restricted to publications in mass media and promotion printed matter.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 82-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Amendments to Item 2 of Article 5 of the Federal Law on the Elections of the Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Specifies that the day of the vote in the election of the deputies of the State Duma is the first (earlier, the second) Sunday of the month of the expiry of the constitutional term of service of the State Duma of the previous convocation.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 81-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic on Avoidance of Double Taxation for the Income Taxes

Ratifies the Agreement signed in Damascus on September 17, 2000.

Federal Law No. 80-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Ratification of the Convention between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Iceland on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Evasion of the Income Taxes

Ratifies the Convention singed in Reykjavik on November 26, 1999.

Federal Law No. 79-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the New Zealand on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Evasion of the Income Taxes

Ratifies the Agreement singed in Wellington on September 5, 2000

Federal Law No. 78-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Amendments to Article 97 of the Federal Law on the Federal Budget for the Year 2003 and Article 245 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Employees undergoing service in the bodies of control over circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances are subject to the norms on the monetary foodstuff compensation. Besides, the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Control over Circulation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances is exempted from the uniform social tax.
The Federal Law is entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 77-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Amendment to Article 4 of the Federal Law on Obligatory Insurance of the Civil Responsibility of the Owners of Transport Vehicles

Specifies that the duty to insure the civil responsibility does not apply to both the owners of transport vehicles of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the owners of transport vehicles of other troops, military formations and bodies envisaging military service. Still preserves the duty to insure for the owners of buses, cars and trailers to them, other transport vehicles used to provide for the economic activities of the mentioned bodies and troops.
The Federal Law is entered into force from July 1, 2003.

Federal Law No. 76-FZ of June 23, 2003 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the State Registration of Legal Entities

The amendments specify the procedure of state registration of independent entrepreneurs taking into account the uniform principles, forms, methods of registration and keeping of the State Register used in this Law. Chapter VII.1 "State Registration of Independent Entrepreneurs" is introduced in the Law. The Law lists information on independent entrepreneurs to be contained in the Uniform State Register of Independent Entrepreneurs. Specifies that information on the place of residence of the particular independent entrepreneur may be granted by the body in charge of the registration only on the basis of the request submitted directly to the body in charge of the registration by a natural person having presented his identification document. The body in charge of the registration must present information at the request of the independent entrepreneur on the persons having applied for information on his place of residence.
The Law lists the documents to be submitted to the body in charge of the registration before January 1, 2005 by the natural person registered as an independent entrepreneur before the entry into force of the Law. If this duty is not fulfilled, the state registration of the given person as an independent entrepreneur loses its power from January 1, 2005.
The Federal Law is entered into force from January 2004 with the exception of the Order to the Government of the Russian Federation to adopt normative legal acts in elaboration of the adopted amendments to be entered into force from the day of the official publication of the Law.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 532 of May 16, 2003 on the Classification of Individual Commodities According to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation and Confirmation of the Country of Origin of Individual Commodities

Endorses the rules of classification by the customs bodies of individual imported commodities according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation and the procedure of confirmation of the country of origin of these commodities. Lists all information to be contained in the request sent to the customs body to take the decision on the classification of the commodity. Reduces the time of consideration of the request - from 30 to 20 days from the day of registration of the request. The total time of consideration of the request may not be greater than 45 days (earlier, 3 months). As before, the effective period of the decision of the classification of the commodity is 1 year from the moment of issue.
The Order is entered into force thirty days after its official publication.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 20, 2003. Reg. No. 4800

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1283-U of May 28, 2003 on the Procedure of Fixing of the Book Prices for Refined Precious Metals by the Bank of Russia

Defines the rules of fixing of the book prices for refined precious metals (gold, silver, platinum and palladium) applied for accounting purposes in credit organisations. The book prices are fixed by the Bank of Russia on each working day at 14:00 Moscow time.
For accounting purposes in credit organisations, the book prices are applied from the calendar day following the day of their fixing and preserve their force till the day when the Bank of Russia fixes the new values inclusive.
The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4759.

Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 03-27/ps of May 21, 2003 on the Amendments to the Regulation on Internal Control of a Professional Participant of the Securities Market Endorsed by the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 16 of July 19, 2001

Specifies that if the number of employees of the branch of the professional participant executing the functions directly associated with professional activities at securities market carried out by the branch is less than 12, the functions of the controller of the branch may be executed by the controller of the parent organisation of the professional participant. Earlier, the number of such employees must have been at least 7.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4758.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-07/260 of May 22, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Blank From of the Permission to Institute an Excise Duty Warehouse

Endorses the form and description of the blank permission to institute an excise duty warehouse introduced from July 1, 2003. Specifies that an integral part of the permission is the general diagram of the territory housing the rooms used by the taxpayer for production and/or distribution of the alcohol products and indicating the place of location of the excise duty warehouse certified with the signature of the authorised official of the tax body having issued the permission and the seal of the tax body.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4745.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 363 of June 24, 2003 on the Partial Changes to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

Adjusts the headings of individual commodities classified under Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature code 2101 (extracts and concentrates of coffee, tea, mate and finished products on their basis). The duty rates are not changed.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 361 of June 23, 2003 on the Measures to Ensure Execution of Obligations Assumed by the Russian Federation under the Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the European Union on the Transit Shipments between the Kaliningrad Province and the Rest of the Territory of the Russian Federation

Beginning with July 1, 2003, institutes the special procedure of drawing up of travel documents (tickets) to passengers and their boarding on the trains when travelling to the Kaliningrad Province from the rest of the territory of the Russian Federation in transit through the territory of the Lithuanian Republic and back.
The travel of the citizens of the Russian Federation through the Lithuanian territory is permitted in the presence of the travel document (ticket), personal identification document and the special document permitting the mentioned transit travel. Such document may be the visa or residence permit of the Lithuanian Republic, category A or B accreditation card of the Lithuanian Republic, simplified railway transit or travel document. In the absence of such document, all necessary information is sent via the terminals of the automatic system "Express" to the embassy of the Lithuanian Republic to get the travel permission. Within 26 hours from the moment of drawing up of the travel document (ticket) the passenger may get information on the issue of the permission for the transit travel for him by the embassy in any ticket window outfitted with the terminals of the mentioned system.

Order of the Russian Patent Agency No. 84 of June 6, 2003 on the Rules of Drawing up, Submission and Consideration of the Request for the Patent for the Industrial Prototype

Defines the procedure of drawing up, submission and consideration of the request for the patent for the industrial prototype. Protection of the industrial prototype includes the artistic design of the industrial or popular craft item that determines its appearance.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 20, 2003. Reg. No. 4813.

Order of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation No. 107 of June 2, 2003 on the Endorsement of Regulation on the Organisation and Implementation of Control over Observation by License Holders of the License Requirements and Terms for the Types of Activities in the Sphere of Reference of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of Russia

Control is implemented in the form of planned checks with the frequency specified by the bodies of the State Mining and Industrial Supervision Agency of the Russian Federation. Extraordinary checks may be arranged if there are written reports from the interested parties of violations of the license requirements and terms by the license holder, as well as to confirm elimination of the mentioned violations by license holders.
An directive act is drawn up as a result of the check indicating the particular violations of the license holder. The time specified for elimination of the violations resulting in the suspension of the license may not be greater than six moths. Otherwise, the license may be revoked by a court ruling.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4750.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 494 of May 12, 2003 on the Placing of the Precious Metals, Precious Stones and Raw Material Commodities Containing Precious Metals under the Customs Regimes of Processing on the Customs Territory, Processing under the Customs Control and Processing outside the Customs Territory

Import and export of the precious metals and stones listed in the Order under the mentioned customs regimes is permitted only for organisations and independent entrepreneurs using them in their production work.
The Order defines the particulars of issue of the license for processing by the customs office. To get it, it is necessary, in particular, to present the coordinated with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation norms of output of products of processing of precious metals and stones, as well as of raw material commodities.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4729.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 28-04-02/1248/SSh of June 17, 2003 on Individual Issues of Professional Development of Auditors

To exchange the qualification certificates issued before September 10, 2001 (date of entry into force of the Law on auditing activities), permits professional development measures for auditors both on the annual basis and otherwise if there are justifiable reasons. This rule does not apply to the certificates issued, prolonged, exchanged in compliance with the mentioned Law without time restrictions, since according to Item 3 of Article 15 of this Law, the absence of the annual professional development with an auditor serves as grounds to revoke the qualification certificate.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. RD-6-23/670@ of June 17, 2003 on the Reimbursement of the Valued Added Tax to Foreign Diplomatic Representations

Before October 1, 2003, foreign diplomatic representations must have reimbursed VAT amounts for commodities intended for official use. Consideration of applications of the mentioned representations and reimbursement of VAT amounts to them for the periods from January 1, 2001 to January 1, 2003 shall be arranged in the alphabetical order.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. RD-6-23/664@ of June 16, 2003 on the Procedure of Application of Article "Dividends" of Individual Agreements on Avoidance of Double Taxation

Explains the procedure of recalculation into euros of the shares of capital of the residents of the contracting parties expressed in agreements on avoidance of double taxation in ECU and other earlier available national currencies of some of the European states.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 367 of June 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Financial Analysis Carried out by the Bankruptcy Commissioner

Defines the principles and terms of financial analysis carried out by the bankruptcy commissioner, as well as the composition of information used in it by the bankruptcy commissioner.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 366 of June 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Checks of the Work of Its Members Carried out by the Self-Regulating Organisation of Bankruptcy Commissioners

Defines the reasons and procedure of carrying out by self-regulating organisations of bankruptcy commissioners of the checks of work of their members as bankruptcy commissioners, as well as the rights and duties of bankruptcy commissioners during such checks.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 365 of June 25, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Check of Activities of a Self-Regulating Organisation of Bankruptcy Commissioners Carried out by the Regulating Body

The regulating body shall carry out planned and extraordinary checks of the work of a self-regulating organisation. The planned check is carried out once in two years according to the endorsed quarterly plan. The check is carried out by an inspector of the regulating body or group of inspectors.
When violations of the legislation of the Russian Federation are revealed as a result of the check in the work of the officials of the self-regulating organisation, a copy of the act of the check with attached materials are sent to the law enforcement and other bodies to examine opportunities of calling these persons to account.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1297-U of June 21, 2003 on the Procedure of Drawing up of the Card of Signature and Seal Specimens

The card drawn up according to the provided form is presented by legal entities and natural persons to the credit organisation (branch) or division of the payment network of the Bank of Russia permitted to open and keep bank accounts together with other documents necessary for the opening of the bank account. One card is submitted for each bank account. One card may be drawn up if one account manager serves several bank accounts and the persons entitled for the right of signature are the same.
The Direction specifies that the card may be drawn up without the notary certification of the authenticity of signatures in the presence of the authorised employee of the credit organisation (branch) or division of the payment network of the Bank of Russia.
The Direction is entered into force from July 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 25, 2003. Reg. No. 4829.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1294-U June 20, 2003 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 205-P of December 5, 2002 on the Rules of Accounting Work in Credit Organisations Located on the Territory of the Russian Federation

The chart of accounts in credit organisations is extended to include the passive Account 40817 "Natural Persons". The account is intended for recording monetary resources of natural persons not pertaining to the carried out entrepreneurial activities. The account is opened on the basis of the bank account contract in the currency of the Russian Federation.
The mentioned account is used to register amounts deposited in cash, amounts arriving in favour of the natural persons or transferred by him according to the cashless procedure to accounts of legal entities and natural persons, as well as amounts of granted credits or allocated to redeem the debts under granted credits and other.
The new wording is provided for the list of operations carried out on Account 40911 "Transit Accounts".
The Direction is entered into force from July 1, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 25, 2003. Reg. No. 4827.

Order of the Ministry of the Railways of the Russian Federation No. 27 of June 18, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Calculation of the Time of Delivery of the Cargo by the Railway Transport

Calculation of the time of delivery of the cargo begins at 0:00 of the day following the day of the drawing up of the documents of accepting of the cargo for transportation as indicated in the original invoice and the railway bill and the cargo acceptance slip.
The normative time of delivery of the cargo is calculated at the station of departure proceeding from the distance used to calculate the transportation charge according to the tariff guide taking into account the railway directions and the types of shipments.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 23, 2003. Reg. No. 4816.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 44n of May 20, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Methodology Directions to Build Accounting Reports in Cases of Reorganisation of Organisations

Specifies the rules of building of information in accounting reports of the reorganisation of organisations (other than credit organisations and budget-supported institutions) being legal entities carried out in compliance with the civil legislation of the Russian Federation. The methodology directions do not apply to economic operations pertaining to privatisation of state and municipal unitary enterprises.
The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2004.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4774.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 635 of June 6, 2003 on the Amendment to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 814 of November 24, 1999

Invalidates the provision stating that the recurrent temporary import by a natural person of the transport vehicle returned by the mentioned natural person outside the Russian Federation after temporary import for at least 6 months is not permitted without customs duties and taxes within 6 months after the day of export of the transport vehicle.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 25, 2003. Reg. No. 4830.

Order of the Ministry of the Railways of the Russian Federation No. 44 of June 18, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Cargo Forwarding on the Railway Transport

Defines the procedure of forwarding of the cargo transported by the public use railway transport, including the international cargo transportation, if otherwise is not envisaged in the international treaties of the Russian Federation.
The rules are entered into force from June 30, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 25, 2003. Reg. No. 4826.

Order of the Ministry of the Railways of the Russian Federation No. 29 of June 18, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Handing out of the Cargo on the Railway Transport

Defines the procedure of cargo handing out on public use and non-public use sites, including the international transportation, if otherwise is not envisaged in the international treaties of the Russian Federation.
The rules are entered into force from June 30, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4772.

Order of the Ministry of the Railways of the Russian Federation No. 24 of June 17, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Sealing of Cars and Containers on the Railway Transport

Defines the procedure of sealing of the cars and containers in the railway cargo transportation. Cargo transportation in direct international shipments in cars and containers without locking and sealing devices is not permitted. The Order lists the types of cargo permitted for transportation on the territory of the Russian Federation in containers, tanks, boxcars and special cars without the locking and sealing devices but with a garrot.
The rules are entered into force from June 30, 2003.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 19, 2003. Reg. No. 4770.

Information of the State Statistics Committee of the Russian Federation of June 28, 2003

Conveys additional adjustment reduction coefficients taking into account the ageing of the low-value items and non-material assets that budget-supported institutions may apply if necessary to the earlier fixed coefficients of reassessment of non-material assets and low-value items.