Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 15.12.2003

Federal Law No. 165-FZ of December 8, 2003 on the Special Protective, Antidumping and Compensation Measures in the Sphere of Import of Commodities

Specifies a definite procedure of introduction of special protective, antidumping and compensation measures used to protect economic interests of producers of commodities of the Russian Federation. The Government of the Russian Federation enjoys a freedom of actions to arrange measures of protection of the Russian internal market.
Refines the definitions of the main notions, in particular: serious and material damage to the branch of the Russian economy, subsidy of a foreign state, compensation measures, similar commodities in the context of antidumping and compensation measures.
The main difference of the new Law from the earlier one is the detailed presentation of the particulars of the procedure of carrying out of investigations to establish the growth of import incurring a serious damage to the branch of the Russian economy or danger of such damage, as well as the dumping import or import of a subsidised commodity and the presence of a material damage to the branch of the Russian economy because of this, or danger of such damage. A number of measures is aimed at improving the mechanism of introduction, application, revision and revocation of the special protection, antidumping and compensation measures.
The federal body of executive power is empowered with authority to submit to the Government of the Russian Federation not only suggestions to apply the special protection, antidumping or compensation measures, but also suggestions to introduce them, revise and revoke.
The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 749 of December 11, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rate of the Export Customs Duty for Rye, Wheat and Meslin Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

The rate of the export customs duty for rye (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 1002 00 000 0), wheat and meslin (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 1001) is endorsed in the amount of EUR 0.025 per kg.
The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication and remains in force till May 1, 2004 inclusive.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 748 of December 10, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Reimbursement of Communication Operator Expenses in 2004 for the Benefits in Communication Services Provided to Veterans and Invalids Getting Pensions from the Pension Bodies of the Federal Bodies of Executive Power Envisaging Military and Similar Service

Specifies the procedure of reimbursement of communication operator expenses in 2004 for the benefits in the payment for communication services provided in compliance with the Federal Laws on the veterans and on the social protection of invalids in the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 747 of December 10, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Use of the Sea- (River-) Going Vessels of the Customs Bodies of the Russian Federation for the Purposes of Customs Control

Creates search groups consisting of authorised officials of the customs body to implement customs control using the sea- (river-) going vessel. The sea- (river-) going vessels are used to participate in the measures to reveal, prevent and stop violations of the customs rules, implement control over observation of the customs control zone regime, participate in the customs escort measures and other.
The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2004.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 746 of December 10, 2003 on the Rates of the Import Customs Duties for Tea and "Homogenized" or "Reconstituted" Tobacco

The rates of the import customs duties for tea (codes according the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 0902 10 000 1 and 0902 30 000 1) endorsed earlier for 9 months are preserved in effect from December 11, 2003 on the permanent basis. The rate amounts to 20% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.8 per kg.
Effective period of the rate of the import customs duty for "homogenized" or "reconstituted" tobacco (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 2403 91 000 0) is prolonged for 9 months more. The rate amounts to 10% of the customs cost.

Order of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation No. 1286 of November 13, 2003 on Individual Customs Operations Carried out When Using the Re-Import Customs Regime

Defines the procedure of prolongation of the time of declaring of commodities for the re-import customs regime for more than 3 years from the day following the day of the crossing of the customs border by the mentioned commodities when they are exported from the Russian Federation. The declaring of such commodities is arranged in compliance with the rules of filling of the cargo customs declaration for foreign-made commodities imported to the Russian Federation or released for free circulation except for the cases when it is permitted to use a written customs declaration of another form.
The decision permitting to place the commodities under the re-import customs regime is drawn up by entering in the customs declaration (Column "A" under No. 1 in the cargo customs declaration) the resolution "Re-Import Permitted" by the chief of the customs body or person replacing him, certified with the signature, as well as by putting the stamp "Release Permitted" in the customs declaration.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 5, 2003. Reg. No. 5302.

Order of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. BG-3-04/583 of October 31, 2003 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Reports for the Income Tax from Natural Persons for the Year 2003

Endorses the new forms of reports for the income tax from natural persons and their filling procedure: Form No. 1-NDFL "Tax Card for the Registration of Incomes and the Income Tax from Natural Persons for the Year 2003", Form No. 2-NDFL "Certificate of Incomes of the Natural Person for the Year 2003".
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 5, 2003. Reg. No. 5296.