Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 30.01.2007

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1 of January 10, 2007 on the Compensation Packet of a Participants of the State Program of Assistance of Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad <br>

The state program of assistance of voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad was adopted in 2006 to unite the potential of compatriots living abroad with the demands of development of Russian regions and compensate for natural loss of population in Russia.

The compensation packet is provided to a participant of the state program after registration before obtaining the citizenship of the Russian Federation. The subjects of the Russian Federation may introduce additional guarantees and measures of social support for participants of the state program and members of their families.

Decision of the Plenum of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 67 of December 20, 2006 on Some Issues of the Practice of Application of the Provisions of the Legislation on the Bankruptcy of Absent Debtors and Termination of Inoperable Legal Entities <br>

The procedure of exclusion of the inoperable legal entity from the Joint State Register of Legal Entities is a special reason of termination of the legal entity other than liquidation. Therefore, Item 4 of Article 61 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation requiring bankruptcy proceedings if the property of the debtor is not sufficient to satisfy creditor claims does not apply in the such cases. In this connection, exclusion of the legal entity from the Register at the decision of the body in charge of the registration is permitted also in cases when the mentioned person has debts in taxes, fees, penalties and sanctions to the budgets of various levels.

The issue of expediency of appealing to court to recognize the debtor bankrupt in the presence of chances to redeem the debts in obligatory payments forms the sphere of reference of the authorized bodies in charge of the bankruptcy cases.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAZ-3-09/826@ of December 1, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Documents Used for the Registration and Removal from Records of Russian Organizations and Natural Persons <br>

According to the amendments introduced in the Tax Code entering into force from January 1, 2007, the organization, when submitting an application for the registration at the place of location of its separate division, shall submit copies of certificates of its registration in the tax body at the place of location and the documents confirming the creation of the separate division. The tax body shall register a natural person on the basis of application of this natural person and issues a certificate or registration in the tax body to him.

The tax body must hand out to the organizations or the natural person notifications of the registration (notification of the removal from records) in the tax body. When registering a newly created organization or an independent entrepreneur, the tax body hands out to them certificates of registration.

The tax body must present the certificate of registration in the tax body and/or notification of the registration (removal from records) in the tax body to the organization or natural person registered at the place of location of their immovable property and/or transport vehicles, as well as to the notaries engaged in private practice and the lawyers registered at the place of residence.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 27, 2006. Reg. No. 8683.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1759-U of December 12, 2006 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 245-P of March 26, 2004 on the Procedure of Generation by Credit Organizations of Reserves for Possible Losses for Loans, Debts in Loans and Similar Debts

The amendments specify new approaches to the assessment and grouping of the portfolio of similar loans. Thus the credit organization must exclude from the portfolio of similar loans the one possessing the signs of devaluation (impaired financial standing of the borrower and/or quality of servicing of his debt under the loan). The mentioned loans are assessed (classified) on the individual basis. However, if the individual signs of devaluation are present in the loan not greater or equal to Rbl 1,000, the credit organization may abstain from excluding the mentioned loan from the portfolio of similar loans in the presence of individual signs of devaluation.

The loans granted to natural persons may be grouped depending on the length of overdue payments into one of portfolios of secured (mortgage and car credits) and other loans. Credit organization may combine loans without overdue payments and loans with overdue payments from 1 to 30 calendar days into one portfolio.

The loan granted to a natural person after July 1, 2007 may be included by the credit organization in the portfolio of similar loans only on condition of conveying to the borrower of information on the amount of efficient interest rate as of the moment of granting and/or the restructuring of the credit.

Assessment of the credit risk for the portfolio of similar loans is carried out by the credit organization on the permanent basis.

The Direction is entered into force from July 1, 2007.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 27, 2006. Reg. No. 8676.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 174-T of December 28, 2006 on the Return of Amounts of Reservation and the Special Accounts <br>

Since Article 16 of Federal Law on the currency regulation and currency control is invalidated from January 1, 2007, the earlier reserved amounts available on the accounts in the Bank of Russia shall be transferred on the first working day of 2007 by the divisions of the payment network from the account in the Bank of Russia to the correspondent accounts of authorized bank having transferred earlier the amounts of reservation for subsequent transfer to the bank accounts of clients having reserved these amounts.

Federal Lаw No. 4-FZ of January 10, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 27 of the Federal Lаw on the Procedure of Exit from the Russian Federation and Entry in the Russian Federation <br>

Refines the grounds to put the stamps of restriction of entry in the Russian Federation in the personal identification document of a foreign citizen or stateless person. The grounds of restriction of entry in the Russian Federation do not include now the failure to present a medical insurance policy valid in the Russian Federation, since the given restriction may occur for an insignificant period of time and is removed by presenting the policy. Two new reasons are introduced. These are, first, the presence of an outstanding conviction for a heavy or specially heavy crime with the foreign citizen or stateless person and, second, a decision on unwanted stay (living) in the Russian Federation taken for the foreign citizen or stateless person.

Letter of the Federal Treasury No. 42-7.1-15/2.4-517 of December 25, 2006 on the Results of Submission of the Budget Reports by Chief Administrators of Resources of the Federal Budget for the Year 2005 and 9 months of 2006 <br>

When drawing up the balance report of execution of the budget, the budget records should not register land plots granted for unlimited use which the budget-supported institution may not dispose of in compliance with the Land Code of the Russian Federation; securities forming the debts of the Russian Federation must be handed over to the administrator - the Ministry of Finance of Russia; cash residues are not envisaged in the cash department of the institution (its availability for making expenses in the first days of 2007 must be coordinated with the Ministry of Finance of Russia).

Analysis of reports of execution of the budget of the chief administrator (administrator), recipient of resources of the budget showed that not all administrators of incomes conclude agreements with departments of the Federal Treasury in the subjects of the Russian Federation, making it more difficult to verify the figures between the bodies of the Federal Treasury and administrators of receipts in the federal budget.

Report of execution of the budget for resources from entrepreneurial and other profitable activities of some chief administrators in Section 1 "Budget Incomes' contained information on incomes with the code of activities 1, i.e. incomes that must be registered as incomes of the federal budget. It is explained that Section 1 "Incomes' of the report must contain incomes of code 3 00 00000 00 0000 000 "Incomes from Entrepreneurial and Other Profitable Activities" (with a breakdown by the appropriate type of incomes) and of code 1 17 01010 01 0000 180 "Unidentified Receipts Transferred to the Federal Budget".

The Federal Treasury suggests examples of individual tables and forms of the explanatory note to the annual budget reports for the year 2006.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 876 of December 30, 2006 on the Rates of Payment for the Use of the Federally Owned Water Objects <br>

According to the new Water Code of the Russian Federation, the rates of payment for the use of water objects in the federal property, property of the subjects of the Russian Federation property of municipal formations, procedure of calculations and collection of such payment are specified respectively by the Government of the Russian Federation, bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, bodies of local government.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 844 of December 30, 2006 on the Procedure of Preparation and Adoption of the Decision to Grant the Water Object for Use <br>

Endorses the rules of preparation and adoption of the decision to grant the water object for use defining the bodies authorized to adopt appropriate decisions, requirements to the content of the application of the interested person and the list of attached documents, as well as the requirements to the content of the decision.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 839 of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Autocomponents Imported for Industrial Assembly and Pertaining to Component Parts and a Number of Raw Materials for Production of Aircraft Engines <br>

Some headings are excluded from the commodity nomenclature and new ones are included. The rates of the import customs duties are endorsed for 9 months.

The Decision is entered into force from January 2, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 807 of December 27, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Registers of State or Municipal Contracts Concluded upon Placing of Orders and on the Requirements to the Technological, Software, Linguistic, Legal and Organizational Means of Support of the Official Internet Site Used to Place the Mentioned Registers <br>

According to the actual procedure, the placing of orders for supplies of commodities, carrying out works, rendering services for the state and municipal needs is arranged on the contest basis. Information on the concluded contracts is placed in the registers maintained by the authorized federal body of executive power, bodies of executive power of the subject of the Russian Federation, bodies of local government. Information of the registers of contracts is placed in the Internet.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2007 and does not cover the registers containing information on the contracts comprising the state secret.

Federal Lаw No. 2-FZ of January 6,2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Lаw on the Amendments to the Federal Lаw on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation and on Invalidation of Individual Provisions of the Federal Lаw on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation <br>

Refines that the authority of the Government of the Russian Federation to fix the quotas to issue permissions for temporary residence on the territory of the Russian Federation covers all categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons regardless of whether they come to the Russian Federation with or without the visa. Earlier, the given permissions to foreign citizens having arrived to the Russian Federation according to the procedure that does not require a visa were to be issued regardless of the quota.

The category of persons that may get permissions for temporary residence on the territory of the Russian Federation regardless of the quotas, as well as not requiring permission for employment in the Russian Federation, include foreign citizens being participants of the state program of assistance of voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation for compatriots living abroad and members of their families moving to the Russian Federation together with them.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 856 of December 30, 2006 on the Currency Operations Carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation <br>

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is granted the right to carry out without restrictions all types of currency operations regulated under the Federal Lаw on the currency regulation and currency control.

Federal Constitutional Law No.7-FKZ of December 30,2006 on the Amendments to Articles 48 and 52 of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Referendum of the Russian Federation <br>

Non-commercial organizations may not transfer donations to the fund of the referendum of the Russian Federation if during the year preceding the transfer of the donation they received monetary resources or another property from foreign states (including their bodies of power), foreign citizens and legal entities (including charitable organizations and religions associations), international organizations and international public movements, Russian legal entities with foreign participation (more than 30%), as well as from organizations founded by the state bodies or bodies of local government of the Russian Federation and legal entities with the share of the Russian Federation, subjects of the Russian Federation or municipal formations in the registered capital greater than 30%. The mentioned restrictions apply only if the monetary recourses or another property received by the non-commercial organizations were not returned to the parties having transferred them (or handed over as incomes to the Russian Federati on if it is impossible to return them).

Federal Constitutional Law No. 6-FKZ of December 30, 2006 on the Forming of the New Subject of the Russian Federation As a Result of the Merger of the Irkutsk Province and the Ust-Ordynsk Buryat Autonomous District <br>

Forms a new subject of the Russian federation - the Irkutsk Province - as a result of the merger of the two bordering subjects of the Russian federation - the Irkutsk Province and the Ust-Ordynsk Buryat Autonomous District.

The Federal Constitutional Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal law No. 283-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Article 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation

Amends Articles 158 and 175 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation ("Theft" "Purchase or Sale of the Property Known to Be Acquired Through Crime") to enhance responsibility for the pilferage of oil, oil products and gas from the mainlines. Extends the Criminal Code to include Article 215.3 envisaging liability for making the mainlines unfit for use.

Federal law No. 282-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Securities Market <br>

Introduces a new emission security - Russian depository slip, which is a registered security without nominal value. The Russian depository slip certifies the proprietary right for a certain number of stocks or bonds of a foreign issuer. The Federal Law is expected to satisfy the demand of the Russian investor pertaining to access to foreign market of capitals and improve the investment appeal and liquidity of the Russian securities market.

Federal Law No. 275-F of December 30, 2006 on the Procedure of Forming and Use of the Specific Capital of Non-Commercial Organizations <br>

The Federal Law specifies the legal basis of regulation of relations pertaining to the forming of the specific capital of non-commercial organizations, as well as the control over the forming of the specific capital and the use of incomes from such capital. The goal of the specific capital and the use of incomes from such capital is assistance in the sphere of education, science, public health, culture, arts, archive activities, physical culture and sports, social support.

The Law also defines the particulars of management of the non-commercial organization being the owner of the specific capital.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 269-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Simplified Procedure of Declaring of Incomes by Natural Persons <br>

Introduces a simplified procedure of declaring of incomes obtained until January 1, 2006 by natural persons to attract capital in the national economy and promote trust in relations between the authorities and citizens.

Federal law No. 268-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to Parts 1 and 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation <br>

The amendments pertain to the procedure of submission of the tax declarations and revocation of individual tax benefits. From January 1, 2007, revokes the tax benefit exempting amounts from sale of securities from the payment of the incomes tax from natural persons.

Introduces an equal procedure of taxation of profits of organizations acquiring the right of use, possession and disposal of land plots and organizations concluding lease contracts for the land plots.

Federal law No. 267-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Currency Regulation and Currency Control <br>

Improves the issues of currency regulation in the payments in the sphere of international transportation.

Federal Law No. 254-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Amendments to Article 5 of the Federal Law on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Licensing of Individual Types of Activities, Federal Law on the Protection of Rights of Legal Entities and Independent Entrepreneurs in the Course of State Control (Enforcement) and the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation <br>

Shifts from January 1, 2007 to July 1, 2007 the time limit for the entry into force of individual provisions of the Federal Law No. 80-FZ of July 2, 2005 pertaining to the procedure of suspension of licenses, revocation of licenses, as well as the license control for activities of investment funds, management of investment funds, shared investment funds and non-state pension funds, activities of specialized depositaries of investment funds, shared investment funds and non-state pension funds in pension support and pension insurance.

Federal Law No. 252-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Invalidation of Individual Provisions of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation <br>

The date of revocation of licensing of audit activities is shifted from January 1, 2007 to July 1, 2007. The same dates apply to the licensing of activities in design and construction of buildings and structures and engineering surveys for construction of buildings and structures.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal law No. 248-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the State Regulation of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcoholic and Alcohol-Containing Products <br>

The Federal Law No. 102-FZ of July 21, 2005 envisaged a set of measures aimed at stopping illegal production and circulation of alcoholic substitutes, products of dual destination.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2007 except for individual provisions entering into force from July 1, 2007or from April 1, 2007.

Federal Law No. 247-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Amendments to Articles 50.36 and 50.39 of the Federal Law on Insolvency (Bankruptcy) of Credit Organizations and Article 72 of the Federal Law on the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)<br>

The Federal Law eliminates restrictions in the sphere of legal qualification of individual types of borrowings and improves banking legislation to expand the sources of increase of capital of Russian banks.

Federal Law No. 246-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Amendments to Articles 11 and 18 of the Federal Law on the Banks and Banking Activities and Article 61 of the Federal Law on the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)<br>

To attract foreign investments in the banking system of the Russian Federation and improve the quality of invested capital, abandons the requirement of obtaining a preliminary permission of the Bank of Russia by the credit organization to increase its registered capital at the expense of resources of non-residents and alienate its stocks (shares)in favor of non-residents, as well as for the participants of the credit organization to alienate their stocks (shares) in the credit organization in favor of non-residents. Also eliminates the right of the Bank of Russia to introduce additional requirements to credit organizations with foreign investments and branches of foreign banks pertaining to obligatory normatives and the minimum amount of capital of the newly registered branches of foreign banks.

Federal Lаw No. 244 of December 29, 2006 on the State Regulation of Activities of Organization of the Games of Chance and on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

The main novelty of the Law is creation of four special gambling zones permitting organization of the games of chance - the Altay Territory, the Maritime Territory, the Kaliningrad Province, the Krasnodar Territory and the Rostov Province.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 26 of January 11, 2007 on the Improvement of the State Regulation of the Import to the Russian Federation and Export from the Russian Federation of Precious Metals and Precious Stones

Export from the Russian Federation in the customs regime of export of natural diamonds (except for unique natural diamonds and natural diamonds of "bort" and "drilling" shapes regardless of their sizes and degree of processing, diamonds of mesh classes "-3+2" and lower), refined platinum and metals of the platinum group in the form of ingots, plates, powder and granules, as well as nuggets of precious stones, untreated precious metals, ores and concentrates of precious metals, raw materials containing precious metals, waste and scrap of precious metals is permitted without quantity restrictions on the basis of licenses issued by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

The Decree is entered into force from the day of its signing.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 8 of January 15, 2007 on the Procedure of Paying out to Participants of the State Program of Assistance of Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad and Members of Their Families of the Monthly Allowance in the Absence of Incomes from Employment, Entrepreneurial and Other Activities

Participants of the state program of assistance of voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad and members of their families moving jointly for permanent residence to the Russian Federation are entitled for a monthly allowance in the absence of incomes from employment, entrepreneurial and other activities not prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation in the period until they obtain the citizenship of the Russian Federation, however, not more than for six months.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 7 of January 15, 2007 on the Procedure of Paying out of the Lumpsum Allowance for Resettling to the Participants of the State Program of Assistance of Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad and Members of Their Families

Participants of the state program moving to category A territory are expected to get Rbl 60,000 and members of their families Rbl 20,000; participants of the state program moving to category B territory - Rbl 40,000 and members of their families Rbl 15,000.

The Decision is entered into force from the day of its official publication and applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2007.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-131/pz-n of November 21, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia No. 05-15/pz-n of April 20, 2005 on the Delimitation of Authority of the State Registration of Issues (Additional Issues) of Emission Securities between the Federal Service for Financial Markets and Its Territorial Bodies

According to the amendments, the Federal Service for Financial Markets will register the issues (additional issues) of emission securities placed through closed subscription, with the total volume of the nominal cost of each of them being greater than Rbl 200 million (earlier, Rbl 100 million), as well as emission securities of issuers with the amount of the registered capital as of the moment of endorsement of the decision on the issue (additional issue) of emission securities being Rbl 1 billion or greater (earlier, Rbl 500 million).

Territorial bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets will register issues (additional issues) of emission securities of issuers located on the territory covered by the appropriate territorial bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 28, 2006. Reg. No. 8693.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 1243 of November 29, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 395 of March 30, 2004

From January 1, 2007 introduces new sets of blank forms of the customs declaration and the transit declaration endorsed by the Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 724 of August 3, 2006, as well as the new instruction on the procedure of filling of the cargo customs declaration and the transit declaration endorsed by the Order of the Federal Customs Service of Russia No. 762 of August 11, 2006.

Appropriate changes are introduced in the instruction on the customs operations carried out in the cases of declaring of commodities in the electronic form endorsed by the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 395 of March 30, 2004.

The Order is entered into force 90 days after the day of its official publication.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 10, 2007. Reg. No. 8725.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 363 of December 14, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation on the Execution by the Federal Registration Service of the State Function of Drawing up of the Apostille on the Official Documents for Bringing Them Abroad

Endorses the administrative regulation defining the time limits and sequence of actions (administrative procedures) for the Federal Registration Service, procedure of interaction between its structural divisions and officials, as well as interaction with other state bodies, bodies of local government and organizations when executing the state function of drawing up of the apostille on the official documents for bringing them abroad.

The Federal Registration Service shall draw up the apostille on the official documents issued by the federal bodies of executive power, natural persons and legal entities notary certified according to established procedure except for the cases envisaged in the legislation. The territorial bodies of the Federal Registration Service shall draw up the apostille on the official documents issues by the territorial bodies of the federal bodies of executive power, bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, notaries, bodies of local government issued in the subjects of the Russian Federation covered by the appropriate bodies of the Federal Registration Service except for the cases envisaged in the legislation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 29, 2006. Reg. No. 8718.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 300-P of December 25, 2006 on the Procedure of Administration by the Bank of Russia of Individual Types of Incomes Received in the Budget System of the Russian Federation

The Bank of Russia is the administrator of the following types of incomes received from credit organizations in the budget system of the Russian Federation: fines for the violation of the legislation on the banks and banking activities, currency legislation, legislation on export control, combating legalization (laundering ) of incomes obtained in a criminal way and financing of terrorism, legislation on the circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances; state duty for the issue of licenses and certification, state registration of legal entities (liquidation), independent entrepreneurs, changes in the constituent documents, as well as the state registration of issues of emission securities.

The regulation is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 29, 2006. Reg. No. 8716.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 2-T of January 11, 2007 on the Rouble Equivalents of the Figures Specified in the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1755-U of December 11, 2006

The rouble equivalent of the minimum amount of the registered capital of the newly registered bank makes Rbl 173,124.5 thousand, and the newly registered non-bank credit organization - 10 times lower.

The rouble equivalent of the minimum amount of own resources (capital) of the bank (including the one requesting the general license) and non-bank credit organization requesting the status of a bank makes Rbl 173,124.5 thousand.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 13 of January 16, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Individual Types of Chemical Commodities

Endorses for 9 months the rates of import customs duties for individual types of chemical commodities.

The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 12 of January 16, 2007 on the Interim Rate of the Import Customs Duty for Tungsten Ores and Concentrates <br>

Introduces for 9 months the zero rate of the import customs duty for tungsten ores and concentrates (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 2611 00 000 0). At present, the rate of the import customs duty for the mentioned commodities makes EUR 5 per kg.

The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 10 of January 15, 2007 on the Amount of Payment for the Services of Organizations of the Federal Postal Communication to Accept Notifications of Arrival of the Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person to the Place of Stay on the Territory of the Russian Federation <br>

The amount of payment for the services of organizations of the federal postal communication for accepting the notification of the arrival of the foreign citizen or stateless person to the place of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation delivered by registered mail makes Rbl 118.

The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from January 15, 2007.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1778-U of December 26, 2006 on the Signs of Solvency and the Rules of Exchange of Banknotes and Coins of the Bank of Russia <br>

Specifies the signs of solvency of banknotes and coins of the Bank of Russia, as well as the rules of exchange of the damaged banknotes and coins of the Bank of Russia.

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 16, 2007. Reg. No. 8748.

Order of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation No. 370 of December 25, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Application for the Permission for Employment to a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person and the Form of the Permission for Employment to a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person <br>

From January 15, 2007, there are new rules of issue of permissions for temporary employment on the territory of the Russian Federation for foreign citizens.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 15, 2007. Reg. No. 8736.

Order of the Federal Migration Service No. 369 of December 25, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Application for the Permission to Attract and Use Foreign Work Force to the Employer or the Party Ordering Works (Services) and the Form of the Permission to Attract and Use Foreign Work Force <br>

From January 15, 2007, there is a new procedure of issue of permissions for temporary employment of foreign work force in the Russian Federation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 15, 2007. Reg. No. 8735.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-09/861@ of December 13, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Forms of the Bank's Reports of the Opening (Closing) of the Account, of the Change of Account Details <br>

Item 1 of Article 86 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation introduced the duty of the banks to report the opening or closing of accounts, change of details of the account of the organization (independent entrepreneur) on paper or in the electronic form to the tax body at the place of location within five days from the day of the appropriate opening (closing) or change of details of such account.

The Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. SAE-3-24/441@ of July 27, 2004 is invalidated.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 15, 2007. Reg. No. 8730.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 17 of January 17, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Individual Types of Meat of Bovine Animals and on the Amendment to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 732 of December 5, 2005

Introduces the rates of import customs duties for individual types of meat of bovine animals until December 31, 2007 in the amount of 30% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.3 per kg.

The limiting levels of the rates of export duties for 2007 for poultry meat and edible offal of Heading 0105 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature, fresh, chilled or frozen (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 0207), are increased to 60% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.48 per kg (earlier, 50%, however not less than EUR 0.4 per kg).

The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 16 of January 17, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Raw Oil and Individual Categories of Commodities of Oil Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation Outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

From February 1, 2007 reduces the rates of export customs duties for raw oil and individual categories of commodities of oil. The rate of the export duty for raw oil is reduced by USD 1 to make USD 179.7 per ton.

Export from the Russian Federation of propane, butane, ethylene, propylene, butylenes, butadiene and other liquefied gasses, xylenes, light and medium distillates, gas oils, benzene, toluene will be subject to the rate of USD 133.4 per ton (at present, USD 134).

The rate of the export customs duty for liquid fuels, oils, spent oil products, petrolatum, oil coke, oil bitumen and other residues of processing of oil or oil products from bituminous materials (other than calcined oil coke) will make USD 71.8 (earlier, USD 72.2) per ton.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 15 of January 16, 2007 on the Licensing of Activities of Making Printed Items Protected against Forgery, Including Blank Securities, As Well As of Sale of the Mentioned Items

Endorses a new Regulation on the licensing of activities of making of printed items protected against forgery, including blank securities, as well as of sale of the mentioned items.

The licensing of the mentioned activities, as well as the sale of the mentioned items, is vested in the Federal Tax Service. As before, the period of validity of the license makes 5 years with the right of prolongation.

The Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 817 of November 11, 2002 on the endorsement of the Regulation on the licensing of activities of making printed items protected against forgery, including blank securities, as well as the sale of the mentioned items is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 25 of January 18, 2007 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Polyethyleneterephthalate

The amendments are stipulated by the merger of individual subheadings. Interim rates of import customs duties are introduced for the mentioned commodities in the amount of 5% of the customs cost for 9 months. Earlier the rates for polyethyleneterephthalate intended for application in pharmacy made 10%, other - 5% of the customs cost.

The Decision is entered into force 2 months after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 168n of December 8, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Directions on the Procedure of Application of the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation

The Directions are endorsed to provide for a uniform budget policy and drawing up and execution of budgets of all levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation in proper time. Specify new rules of application of the budget classification of the Russian Federation by participants of the budget process of all levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation. As before, a uniform 20-digit code of classification of incomes, expenses and sources of financing of deficits of the budgets of the Russian Federation is envisaged.

The Order invalidates the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 152n of December 21, 2005 on the endorsement of the Directions on the procedure of application of the budget classification of the Russian Federation an the Orders of the Ministry of Finance of Russia having amended it.

The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 18 of January 17, 2007 on the Licensing of Operation of Explosive Industrial Objects

Endorses a new Regulation on the licensing of operation of explosive industrial objects. The licensing is vested in the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement. The period of validity of the license for operation of explosive industrial objects remains the same - 5 years.

The previous procedure of licensing of activities of operation of explosive industrial objects endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 382 of June 4, 2002 is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 21 of January 17, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Submission of the Notification of Confirmation of the Residence in the Russian Federation by a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person

In the framework of the liberalisation of the migration legislation, foreign citizens (stateless persons) living in the Russian Federation were exempted from the duty to register on the annual basis. Instead, from January 15, 2007, they have to confirm annually their residence in the Russian Federation in the territorial body of the Federal Migration Service at the place of getting of the residence permission.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 24 of January 18, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Tea and Individual Types of Raw Skins

Endorses for 9 months the zero rates of import customs duties for tea and individual types of untreated skins. The Decision is entered into force 1 month after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 169n of December 11, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Ledger of Incomes and Expenses of Independent Entrepreneurs Using the System of Taxation for Agricultural Producers (Uniform Agricultural Tax) and Its Filling Procedure

According to the new wording of the provisions of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation pertaining to the procedure of determination and acknowledgement of incomes and expenses for calculation of the taxable base for the uniform agricultural tax, independent entrepreneurs must keep the ledger of incomes and expenses of independent entrepreneurs using the system of taxation for agricultural producers (uniform agricultural tax).

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8778.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 179n of December 19, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 48n of March 23, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Estimate for Advance Payments for the Transport Tax and Its Filling Recommendations

Introduces a number of amendments in pursuance of the adoption of the Federal Law No. 137-FZ of July 27, 2006 having entered into force from January 1, 2007.

The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax estimate for advance payments for the transport tax for the first reporting period of 2007.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 19, 2007. Reg. No. 8798.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-06/829@ of December 5, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Sending of Requests to the Bank by the Tax Body of the Presence of Accounts in the Bank and/or Residues of Monetary Resources on the Accounts, for the Excerpts on Operations on the Accounts of Organisations (Independent Entrepreneurs, Private Notaries, Lawyers Having Founded Lawyer Offices) and the Forms of Appropriate Requests

In pursuance of the Federal Law No. 137-FZ of July 27, 2006 having entered into force from January 1, 2007, makes more specific the provision of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation pertaining to the duties of the banks in the sphere of registration of taxpayers.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8759.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 1300 of December 12, 2006 on the Fixed Amount of Security for the Customs Payments for Excisable Commodities

Introduces a new, fixed amount of the backing of customs payments for excisable commodities imported to the customs territory of the Russian Federation. The rates, in contrast to the previous ones, are endorsed in roubles rather than euros.
The Order of the Federal Customs Service of Russia No. 725 of August 11, 2005 on the fixed amount of security of customs payments for excisable commodities is invalidated.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8785.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 415 of December 19, 2006 on the Procedure of Distribution of the Quota for Import to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation under the Customs Regime of Release for Internal Consumption of Electric Incandescent Lamps with the Power Rating Not Greater Than 200 W and Voltage over 100 v Except for the Ultraviolet and Infrared Lamps, Halogen Lamps with Tungsten Filament and Reflector Lamps Classified under Heading 8539 22 900 0 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia

To protect the interests of Russian producers of incandescent lamps, from February 3, 2006 introduces quotas for the import to the Russian Federation of electric incandescent lamps with the power rating not greater than 200 W and voltage over 100 v except for the ultraviolet and infrared lamps, halogen lamps with tungsten filament and reflector lamps classified under Heading 8539 22 900 0 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia in the amount of 136.7 million pieces a year. The quotas are introduced for 3 years.
The procedure of distribution of the quota for the import to the Russian Federation in 2006 of electric incandescent lamps with the power rating not greater than 200 W and voltage greater than 100 v endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia No. 50 of February 22, 2006 is invalidated.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8771.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 54 of January 18, 2007 on Some Issues of Military and Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation with Foreign States

Introduces a new procedure for the Russian organisations for foreign trade activities pertaining to products of military destination. Earlier, the issue was regulated by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1062 of September 10, 2005.

The given activities are carried out through the state mediator - specialised federal state unitary enterprise founded at the Decision of the President of the Russian Federation. Organisations developing and making products of military destination meeting specified requirements and having obtained this right earlier shall carry out the given activities where it pertains to supplies of spare parts, units, instruments, component parts, special, teaching and auxiliary items, technical documentation to the earlier supplied products of military destination; works of certification, benchmarking, prolongation of service life, technical maintenance, repair (including modernisation other than requiring scientific research and design works), utilization and other works of complex servicing of the earlier supplied products of military destination; training foreign specialists to carry out the mentioned works. Other terms may be envisaged in the Decision of the President of the Russian Federation or international treaty of the Russian Federation.

Decisions to grant the right of foreign trade activities pertaining to products of military destination to organisations and to deprive of such right shall be taken by the President of the Russian Federation at the presentation of the Government of the Russian Federation.

The Decree regulates the procedure of termination of contract obligations for the organisations having obtained this right before the entry into force of the Decree.

The Decree envisages an obligatory allocation of resources in the amount of the difference between the price of the contract concluded by Rosoboronexport with a foreign client and the price of the contract of commission concluded between the mentioned enterprise and organisations developing and making products of military destination to finance promising developments of arms and military equipment and increase the volumes of issued products of military destination.

The Decree is entered into force from the day of singing.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 154n of November 27, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Accounting Regulation "Registration of Assets and Liabilities in Foreign Currencies" (PBU 3/2006)

Specifies the particulars of generation by legal entities (except for credit organisations and budget-supported institutions) in accounting work and accounting reports of information on assets and liabilities in foreign currencies (including those due for coverage in roubles).

The Order is entered into force beginning with accounting reports for the year 2007. The organisations must recalculate into roubles in accounting work as of January 1, 2007 the cost of resources in foreign currencies for payments (including the borrowings) with legal entities and natural persons to be covered in roubles according to the terms of contracts (regardless of the time of their conclusion). Underestimated or overestimated cost of the mentioned resources having emerged as a result of the recalculation are included in undistributed profit (uncovered loss).

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8788.

Order of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 3086/311/170n of December 11, 2006 on the Amount of Payment for the Requested Information on the Compliance Certificates Available in the Joint Register of Issued Compliance Certificates

Specifies the amount of payment for the information available in the Joint Register of Issued Compliance Certificates provided to requests, making Rbl 26 for one compliance certificate.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 19, 2007. Reg. No. 8821.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 32 of January 22, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Licensing of Technical Maintenance of Medical Equipment (Except for the Case When the Mentioned Activities Are Carried out for Own Needs of the Legal Entity or Independent Entrepreneur)

Introduces a new Regulation on the licensing of technical maintenance of medical equipment (except for the case when the mentioned activities are carried out for own needs of the legal entity or independent entrepreneur) to replace the endorsed earlier Regulation No. 613 of August 16, 2002.

The licensing is vested in the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development. Earlier, the function was vested in the Ministry of the Industry, Science and Technologies of Russia.

The license is granted for 5 years. The period of validity may be prolonged according to the procedure envisaged for the redrawing of the license.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 33 of January 22, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Licensing of Production of Medical Equipment

Introduces a new procedure of licensing of production of medical equipment. The licensing applies to both industrial production of medical equipment and its individual manufacture.

The licensing is vested in the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development. According to the previous procedure, the licensing body was the Ministry of the Industry, Science and Technologies of the Russian Federation.

The pervious procedure of licensing of production of medical equipment endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 612 of August 16, 2002 is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 37 of January 22, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the State Expert Evaluation of Reserves of Mineral Deposits, Geological, Economic and Ecological Information on the Parts of Subsoil Reserves Granted for Use, on the Determination of the Amount and Procedure of Collection of Payment for It

The state expert evaluation of reserves of mineral deposits, as well as the geological, economic and ecological information on the parts of subsoil resources granted for use, is carried out for the purpose of rational use of subsoil resources, state registration of reserves of mineral deposits and parts of subsoil resources, assessment of correctness of information on the quality and quantity of investigated reserves of mineral deposits, determination of payment for the use of subsoil resources.

Federal Law No. 5-FZ of January 26, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 1062 of Part 2 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation

Creates legal conditions for transactions envisaging the duty of the side (sides) to pay depending on the change of prices for commodities and securities, currency rates, interest (values calculated proceeding from the multitude of the mentioned figures) or on the circumstances whether or not they occur.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 44 of January 24, 2007 on the Seasonal Duties for Individual Types of Vegetables Imported to the Territory of the Russian Federation

The rates of the seasonal duties for cabbage, carrots, beet (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 0704 90 100 1, 0706 10 000 1, 0706 90 900 1) imported to the territory of the Russian Federation are reduced from 15% to 5% of their custom cost until May 31, 2007.

The Decision is entered into force one months after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 42 of January 23, 2007 on the Amendments to Some of the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation

Introduces appropriate amendments to the procedure of issue of permissions for temporary stay and residence permits to foreign citizens pursuant to the separation of the Federal Migration Service from the bodies of internal affairs. The mentioned documents will be issued by the Federal Migration Service of Russia instead of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 41 of January 23, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Individual Types of Nuts and Seeds

Endorses for 9 months the zero rates of import customs duties for individual types of nuts and seeds. The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Information of the Department of External and Public Relations of the Central Bank of Russia of January 26, 2007

From January 29, 2007, the rate of refinancing of the Bank of Russia is fixed in the amount of 10.5% annual.

Federal Constitutional Law No. 1-FKZ of January 30, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 7 and 9 of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Government of the Russian Federation <br>

Introduces a prohibition to assign to the position of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation the persons that have foreign citizenship, residence permit or another document confirming the right of permanent residence of the citizen of the Russian Federation on the territory of a foreign state.

      A similar prohibition is introduced for the positions of the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and the federal ministers.

      The mentioned amendments are intended to provide for the security of the country and are stipulated by the special status of the members of the Government of the Russian Federation.

      The restriction has been introduced earlier for the members of the Council of the Federation, deputies of the State Duma, members of the Security Council, auditors of the Audit Chamber and a number of other positions.

Federal Law No. 6-FZ of January 30, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 21 of the Federal Law on the Main Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in the Referendum of Citizens of the Russian Federation <br>

Excludes the requirement of obligatory presence with the member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation of the higher legal education or a scientific degree in the sphere of law.

Federal Law No. 7-FZ of January 30, 2007 on the Renaming of the City of Krasnogvardeyskoy of the Krasnogvardeyskoy Region, Belgorod Province, into the City of Biryuch <br>

The city of Krasnogvardeyskoy regains its historical name of Biryuch founded in 1705 through the decree of Peter the Great.

Federal Law No. 8-FZ of January 30, 2007 on the Invalidation of Individual Provisions of Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation <br>

Invalidates individual provisions of the Federal Law on the status of the member of Council of the Federation and the status of the deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation having specified that transport vehicles of the members of the Council of the Federation and the deputies of the State Duma were to be outfitted with special state registration plates.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1789-U of January 26, 2007 <br>

From January 29, 2007, the interest rate for the overnight credit is fixed in the amount of 10.5% annual.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1790-U of January 26, 2007 on the Partial Invalidation of the Provision of the Bank of Russia No. 437 of April 23, 1997 on the Particulars of Registration of Credit Organisations with Foreign Investments and on the Procedure for the Registered Credit Organisation to Obtain a Preliminary Permission of the Bank of Russia to Increase the Registered Capital at the Expense of Resources of Non-Residents <br>

In the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 437 of April 23, 1997, omits all provisions specifying the procedure of obtaining a preliminary permission of the Bank of Russia to increase the registered capital of the registered credit organisation at the expense of resources of non-residents. Also omits the provision specifying that the minimum amount of the registered capital of the created affiliated credit organisation of a foreign bank is determined by the normative acts of the Bank of Russia.
The Direction is entered into force from the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 8-T of January 29, 2007 on the Inclusion of Securities in the Lombard List of the Bank of Russia <br>

The list of securities forming the Lombard List of the Bank of Russia shall include the bonds of the Republic of Bashkortostan with the state registration number of issue RU25005BAS0 and the bonds of the Republic of Komi of the years of 2004 and 2005 with the state registration numbers of issues RU35007KOM0 and RU35008KOM0.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 9 of January 15, 2007 on the Procedure for Keeping Migration Records of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Russian Federation

Endorses the rules of keeping of migration records of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation regulating the procedure of registration of the mentioned persons at the place of residence (removal from records), as well as the procedure of registration at the place of stay and removal from records.
      The Decision is entered not force from the date of its official publication.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1783-U of December 27, 2006 on the Invalidation of Subitem 2.21 of Item 2 of Appendix 1 to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1317-U of August 7, 2003 on the Procedure for the Authorised Banks to Establish Correspondent Relations with Non-Resident Banks Registered in the States and on the Territories Providing a Beneficial Tax Regime That Do Not Disclose and Provide Information on the Carried out Financial Operations (Off-Shore Zones)

The list of the states and territories housing off-shore zones now does not include the Republic of Panama earlier included in risk group 2 of off-shore zones. When establishing corresponded relations with non-resident banks registered in group 2 off-shore zones, one of the following conditions must be observed on the obligatory basis: the non-resident bank must have own resources (capital) in the amount of at least EUR 100 million equivalent and present reports and documents confirming its fair activities; have a high rating of long-term creditworthiness according to the leading rating companies.
      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 January 26, 2007. Reg. No. 8846.