Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 9.12.2005

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 733 of December 5, 2005 on Additional Measures to Regulate the Import of Beef, Pork and Poultry Meat in 2006-2009

In cases of a full or partial prohibition in 2006-2009 to import beef, pork and poultry meat, fresh, chilled or frozen, from any supplier state (union of states) because of unfavourable epizootic situation, the importer may redraw his license for the license to import this commodity from any other country in the same amount regardless of the total fixed quota.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2006.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 729 of December 5, 2005 on the Regulation of Import of Frozen Beef in 2006

In 2006, frozen beef shall be imported at the rate of 15% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.15 per kg within the limits of the quota equal to 435 tons a year in the presence of the license issued by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia. The greater part of the quota (343.7 thousand tons) falls on the countries of the European Union. Frozen beef imported in excess of the fixed quota shall be subject to the rate of 40% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.4 per kg.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2006.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 726 of December 5, 2005 on the Supplies of Liquefied Hydrocarbon Gasses to the Internal Market in 2006

The Federal Agency for Power Supplies shall work out and endorse on the monthly basis the schedules of supplies of liquefied hydrocarbon gases for household needs of the population in 2006 proceeding form the volumes of their production and consumption. The mentioned schedules of supplies shall be worked out taking into account proposals of oil and oil-and-gas processing organisations.

The drawing up of supplies of liquefied hydrocarbon gases for export shall be arranged by the customs bodies on condition of submission of resource certificates confirming the presence with suppliers of the mentioned products in volumes enough for the export taking into account the schedules of supplies.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 724 of December 5, 2005 on the Procedure for Working out the Draft State Defence Order and Its Main Figures

Defines the procedure of working out of the draft state defence order and its main figures and interaction of state orderers for these purposes.

The draft state defence order shall be worked out on the annual basis by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia together with the Ministry of Defence of Russia, Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies and other federal bodies of executive power, organisations ordering development, production, supplies of products (works, services). The state defence order must define the lists and volumes of major types of material and technical resources subject to state reservation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 719 of December 5, 2005 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Procedure to Put Forward the Claims under Obligations of the Russian Federation in Cases of Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Proceedings

Lists the documents attached to the notification of the executive bodies of the Social Insurance Fund on available debts in the payment of insurance contributions for obligatory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases to be present when submitting application to recognise the debtor bankrupt. The list of the federal bodies of executive power and other bodies getting the notification shall include now the Social Insurance Fund.

Order of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being No. 776 of November 21, 2005 on the Sanitary and Epidemiological Expert Evaluation of the Types of Activities (Works, Services), Products, Design Documentation

The sanitary and epidemiological expert evaluation shall apply to pharmacy, medical activities, production of medicines, activities in the sphere of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol, alcohol and alcohol-containing products, educational activities, construction and operation of centralised systems of potable water supplies and water discharge systems, well drilling for water and a number of other types of activities. The mentioned types of activities require a sanitary and epidemiological statement.

The sanitary and epidemiological expert evaluation applies to the following types of products: foodstuffs, goods for children, perfumery and cosmetics, means of mouth hygiene, household chemical items, construction polymers and synthetic materials, printed matter, tobacco items and some other.

From January 1, 2006, the issue of sanitary and epidemiological statements for the types of activities (works, services), products, design documentation in the subjects of the Russian Federation shall be vested in the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being and its bodies.

The Order defines the procedure for carrying out sanitary and epidemiological expert evaluations, investigations, surveys, testing and toxicology, hygienic and other types of evaluations. Provides a regulation on the Register of Sanitary and Epidemiological Statements of Compliance (Incompliance) with the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules and Normatives of the Types of Activities (Works, Services), Products, Design Documentation.

Effective period for the sanitary and epidemiological statement makes: 5 years for products, 1 year for an experimental consignment of products, for the types of activities (works, services) - unlimited except for temporary and seasonal works, for design documentation - unlimited or for a specified time period if necessary.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 7, 2005, Reg. No. 7245.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 313/143n of November 22, 2005 on the Invalidation of the Procedure of Transfer of 10% of Payment for the Environmental Pollution As Incomes to the Federal Budget of the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, No. 04-15/61-638 of March 3, 1993, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, No. 19 of March 3, 1993, State Tax Service of the Russian Federation, No. VG-6-02/10 of March 3, 1993

The mentioned document is invalidated pursuant to the adoption of the Federal Law No. 7-FZ of January 10, 2002 on the environmental protection and invalidation of the RSFSR Law No. 2060-I of December 19, 1991 on the protection of natural environment.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 7, 2005. Reg. No. 7242.

Order of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation No. 109 of November 18, 2005 on the Distribution of the State Housing Certificates

Provides distribution among the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation in 2005 of the state housing certificates issued to provide housing to citizens leaving the regions of the Far North and localities of similar status, citizens having left the mentioned regions and localities after January 1, 1992.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 6, 2005. Reg. No. 7241.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. ShT-6-07/973@ of November 22, 2005 "Explanations on the Registered Capital"

Explains the procedure of forming of the registered capital (registered fund) by organisations engaged in activities in the sphere of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol, alcohol and alcohol-containing products. Thus, the civil legislation of the Russian Federation permits to form the registered capital (registered fund) of the organisation at the expense of monetary resources, securities, other items or proprietary rights or other rights with a monetary value.

Also reports that vodka may be distributed only by state-run enterprises, as well as other organisations with a paid registered capital (registered fund) in the amount of at least Rbl 10 million.

By January 1, 2006, organisations engaged in production and distribution of ethyl alcohol, alcohol and alcohol-containing items must bring their constituent documents in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Law No. 102-FZ of July 21, 2005. If there are violations of this requirement, decisions will be taken to suspend the licenses.