Russian govt extends business licenses, permits for one year, simplifies processing rules

MOSCOW. March 14 (Interfax) - The Russian government has approved a resolution to automatically extend licenses and other types of permit documents for business by 12 months, as well simplify the process for obtaining or reissuing them in 2022.

The measure will apply to 120 types of permits in agriculture, industry, retail sales (including sales of products subject to excises), communication services, taxi services and other areas, the government said in a press release. More than 2.5 million permits will be extended automatically or reissued under the simplified process.

The resolution also defers the need to under product compliance confirmation for one year. "This decision was made due to technological restrictions and the need to re-equip Russian businesses amid sanctions pressure," the press release said.

The government has empowered government agencies to make decisions to accelerate provision of services concerning permits, reduce mandatory requirements or lists of documents submitted for licensing, and eliminate assessments of compliance with mandatory requirements.

Rules for importing and certifying products have also been simplified. For example, in order to allow the sale of products imported into Russia before a foreign partner decided to stop shipments to Russia, the government has extended by one year the validity of certificates that needed to be reissued before September 1, without the need for additional assessment, the Economic Development Ministry said in a statement.

For those who have valid certificates that do not expire before September 1, inspections can be done remotely through product testing or inspections can be deferred by six months, the ministry said.

For new manufacturers and suppliers, special, simplified declaration rules are being introduced that will allow the safety of products to be confirmed by the documents of foreign certification bodies or labs.

"This will make it possible to increase market supply for children's goods, electronics, construction materials and other groups of products of which imports are restricted," the ministry said.