en.Wedoany.com Reported - During its session this week, the Russian State Duma passed several bills related to the agro-industrial complex, with one new bill submitted for consideration. Lawyer and mediator Ekaterina Gorshkova from the Moscow City Bar Association (MGKA) law firm "Advokat Premium" provided insights into the impact of these legislative initiatives.
In the third and final reading, State Duma deputies passed a bill clarifying requirements for advertising wineries. According to the bill, wineries may advertise in their regions of origin, along highways, and through outdoor advertising structures. However, the document retains all restrictions on advertising such products, including a ban on directly promoting specific wine brands. Ekaterina Gorshkova noted that, from a legal perspective, this bill represents a targeted relaxation for the industry, allowing wineries to engage in outdoor advertising, but with strictly limited content, leaning more towards a tool for developing regional brands. Previously, such information boards and all outdoor advertising were completely prohibited, severely limiting the wine industry's ability to convey product information to the public.
Additionally, the State Duma passed a bill stipulating that, under certain circumstances, the loading, unloading, and transshipment of catches and fish products may be carried out without the presence of a border inspector. Specific requirements for the acceptance, unloading, and transshipment of aquatic biological resource catches without inspectors will be established by the government. The lawyer believes this measure provides the industry with a choice of control locations for operations, potentially reducing vessel downtime caused by waiting for inspectors. It is expected to encourage companies to unload at Russian ports and simplify procedures, while also lowering loading and unloading costs and financial burdens for producers.
State Duma deputies passed a bill in the first reading granting federal executive authorities access to tax-related confidential information held by the Federal Tax Service (FNS). Roman Chekushov, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, stated at the plenary session that this would help monitor food price situations. The lawyer commented that the bill will strengthen price monitoring of products, and is expected to expand price control over the entire product circulation chain (from producer to retail), as authorities will gain access to data such as transaction prices, sales volumes, revenues, expenses, and company profits.
Furthermore, a bill amending the rules for releasing juvenile Pacific salmon from fish farms was passed in the first reading. The lawyer noted that the new regulations allow for the release of juveniles directly near the farm, which can reduce financial losses for enterprises, as releasing juveniles near factories and production facilities will no longer constitute a violation, thereby avoiding fines and sanctions from enforcement agencies.
Regarding bills submitted for consideration, State Duma deputies introduced a bill requiring product weight information to be displayed on the front of packaging and holding producers accountable for changing product volume while maintaining package size. In April of this year, deputies had already proposed combating shrinkflation. The lawyer analyzed that if the bill passes, to combat shrinkflation (i.e., secretly reducing the product volume in original packaging without informing consumers), such actions would be directly classified as consumer deception. This would not only increase the risk of administrative liability and related complaints and lawsuits but would also force some producers to modify packaging formats, labeling product weight on the front, thereby incurring additional costs to avoid government fines and complaints.
