Restrictions and measures of state support for business: the digest for 11 – 24 November 2024

DRAFT LAWS

The relaxed regulation in the field of the labelling of goods in the new regions may be extended

The Russian Government’s draft decree

Public discussions are now taking place.

Amendments have been proposed to the specifics of the legal regulation of the labelling of goods (see the Russian Government’s Decree No. 690 dated 4 May 2023) and medicines (see the Russian Government’s Decree No. 977 dated 14 June 2023) in Donetsk People’s Republic, Lugansk People’s Republic, and in Zaporozhie and Kherson Regions. Specifically, the period has been extended from 1 April 2025 to 1 April 2026 in which the following regulation applies in the territories of the new constituent entities of Russia:

• local entities trading in goods / medicines must be registered in the state information system for monitoring / the federal state information system for monitoring the movement of medicines;
• it is permitted to launch goods / medicines on the market, to trade in such goods / medicines and to take them off the market without labelling and transmitting the relevant information to the specified systems;
• it is permitted to launch goods / medicines on the market without labelling and transmitting information to the state information system for monitoring / the federal state information system for monitoring the movement of medicines, if such goods / medicines are being imported / have been imported from states that are not members of the Eurasian Economic Union with a view to being supplied to these regions.

LEGISLATION

The ban has been extended on paying for membership interests in foreign companies without the permission of the Bank of Russia

The Russian President’s Ruling No. 978 dated 14 November 2024

Came into force on 14 November 2024.

The ban has been extended until 31 December 2025 on carrying out certain transactions with non-residents without the consent of the Central Bank (clause 2(1) of the Russian President’s Ruling No. 126 dated 18 March 2022).

Specifically, the ban concerns: payment by a resident for a membership interest, for a contribution or for equity units in the property of a non-resident legal entity; or a contribution being made by a resident to a non-resident under a joint venture agreement.

Licensing rules have been approved in the field of foreign trade in goods

The Russian Government’s Decree No. 1577 dated 18 November 2024

Came into effect on 19 November 2024.

Rules have been established for issuing licences:

• of the general, one-off and exclusive types for the export and import of goods that are subject to measures of non-tariff regulation (exceptions apply);
• of the one-off type during the export of goods out of Russia within the framework of tariff quotas.

Provision has been made for a licence to be issued automatically with respect to goods included in the unified list.

Moreover, the following have been set out: a guideline on how to formalise applications; forms of applications; as well as rules for suspending, resuming and cancelling licences.