Russian Duma passes law on platform economy
MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax) - The Russian State Duma has passed at second and third readings a law to regulate the platform economy in the country.
The bill, No. 959244-8, and related legislative amendments, was introduced to the lower house of parliament on July 3 and passed at first reading on July 9.
The documents are regulate relations between operators of digital intermediation platforms (DIP), their partners and users in connection with the sale of goods, work and services.
Amendments were submitted for the second reading, one of which changes the date of enactment of the law from March 1, 2027 to October 1, 2026.
The law defines basic concepts that are new to Russian legislation, including "platform economy," which are property relations arising from the interaction of an unlimited number of persons through digital platforms to carry out entrepreneurial activity or for other purposes, including those not related to entrepreneurial activity.
It describes a digital platform as an information system, website and computer programs providing technical, organizational, information-related and other opportunities for interaction between an unlimited number of people, including to exchange and disseminate information, sell goods, perform work and provide services.
Digital platforms that provide interaction between the operator, partners and users to conclude civil law contracts, as well as the technical capability to place orders and (or) product cards, conclude transactions between partners and users, make payment for goods (work, services) between users and partners and that are on a register of digital intermediation platforms (DIP) are defined as digital intermediation platforms.
The operator and partners interact on the basis of an agreement following verification of information about the person intending to become a partner, through the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Unified State Register of Private Entrepreneurs or by identification and authentication using a unified system. Such an agreement can be concluded electronically on the DIP.
The bill imposes requirements for product cards, discounts, amending agreements, logistics infrastructure and pick-up points.
The Russian government said in a statement on Tuesday that the next stage would be to draft eight regulatory acts necessary to approve rules for maintaining and forming the DIP register and the procedure for verifying information on product cards (labeling requirements, references to records in conformity registers, state registration certificates, etc.).
Regulating digital platforms, including marketplaces, have been under discussion in Russia since 2024.
During the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for accelerating the adoption of a bill on the platform economy to regulate digital platforms and marketplaces.
