Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 25.06.2009

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 710 of June 22, 2009 on Deeming as No Longer Effective Paragraph 6 of Item 15 of Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 314 of March 9, 2004 on the System and Structure of Federal Executive Governmental Bodies in as Much as It Concerns Transferring the Functions of Adopting Normative Legal Acts to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation

The following is deemed no longer effective: the provision under which the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation acquired the functions of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation transformed into the Federal Customs Service concerning the adoption of normative legal acts on customs affairs. This provision is contained in the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation that endorsed the system and structure of federal executive governmental bodies in 2004.
The reason for it is that in 2006 the Federal Customs Service acquired the function of state policy elaboration and normative legal regulation that belonged to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation which in 2008 was transformed into the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
The Decree takes effect as of the date when it is signed.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 512 of June 22, 2009 on Amending Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 109 of February 26, 2004

These amendments affect tariffs for the electricity supplied by guaranteeing suppliers, power-supplying and power-selling organisations.
The executive governmental bodies of Russian regions charged with state tariff regulation are permitted to set tariffs for agricultural commercial producers other than tariffs for the rest of consumers, depending on regional characteristics.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 511 of June 22, 2009 on Amending Some Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation on the Issue of Vehicle Certificates for Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles and Other Types of Self-Propelled Machines

It is established that vehicle certificates for motor vehicles and electric-motor powered chassis manufactured or imported after August 7, 2008 are issued by the manufacturers or customs bodies respectively. If they were manufactured or imported before that date vehicle certificates for them are to be issued by the State Road Traffic Safety Inspectorate at registration.
A similar procedure applies when vehicle certificates are drawn up for self-propelled machines and other types of electric-motor powered vehicles, though the registration body is this case is the state technological supervision service.

Information Letter of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 130 of June 4, 2009 on Some Issues Relating to the Transitional Provisions of Federal Law No. 296-FZ of December 30, 2008 on Amending the Federal Law On Insolvency (Bankruptcy)

Recommendations are provided concerning the rules used to apply the new version of the Law on Bankruptcy that entered into force as of December 31, 2008.
The amendments are applicable when courts are hearing the bankruptcy cases in which rulings on acceptance of applications have been issued after December 31, 2008.
A case commenced before December 31, 2008 is subject to the law with no regard to the amendments until the completion of the proceeding commenced before that date. Upon the completion of the proceeding the case is further considered with account being taken of the rules set out in the new version of the law. Unless a new bankruptcy proceeding is instituted, the case is considered according to the previously-effective rules.
A court's approval of an arbitration insolvency practitioner after December 31, 2008 is subject to the amendments, irrespective of the date of institution of the bankruptcy proceeding. However, the fee and expenses of the practitioner are subject to the old rules when a proceeding commenced before December 31, 2008 is in question.
Also, explanations are provided for the cases in which proceedings were commenced before December 3, 2002. Until July 1, 2009 bankruptcy proceeding petitions may be filed by parties to such cases. Unless petitions are received, the cases are terminated, though a decision on termination cannot be taken by a court before July 2, 2009. If petitions are filed the cases are to be heard according to the new rules set out in the law.