Marketplaces in Russia will not be required to disclose parallel imports - ministry

MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax) - Marketplaces in Russia will not be required to disclose whether a product is supplied by an official dealer or whether it was brought into the country through parallel imports, without the consent of the rights holder, but providing such information would be "logical," the Industry and Trade Ministry said.

"Marketplaces have the right to set these requirements for suppliers themselves, and we for our part think this is logical," the ministry's press service told Interfax.

Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on Tuesday that consumers have the right to receive information about the supplier when purchasing goods from online retailers.

"The buyer must certainly be clearly informed about who is selling the product, an official distributor or a nominal 'uncle Vanya.' However, it should be clearly understood that parallel imports are not at all 'grey imports' and certainly not counterfeit. This is the right to import a branded product not only by those whom the manufacturer themselves designated as the official distributor, but the product will still be original, having gone through customs clearance and certification," Manturov said.