December 13, 2004

On November 25, 2004 a new Law of the Republic of Belarus On Measures to Protect Economic Interests of the Republic of Belarus at Foreign Trade of Goods No. 346-Z was adopted. The Law determines measures to protect economic interests of the Republic of Belarus at external trade of goods as well as the procedure for introduction, application, review and abolishment of such measures. The Law abolishes the previous Law of the Republic of Belarus concerning the same subject.

On November 25, 2004 also a new Law No. 347-Z On State Regulation of Foreign Trade was adopted. The law determines legal basics of state regulation of foreign trade, rights and duties of state bodies of the Republic of Belarus in the sphere of foreign trade with a view to provide the national security of the Republic of Belarus, including the economic sphere, stimulating the development of national economy providing favorable conditions for foreign trade.

Decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus No. 267 dated of November 25, 2004 approves the Instruction on Procedure of Agreeing the Applications for Issuing Multiple Entry Business and Working Visas of the Republic of Belarus. The Instructions determine the procedure of agreeing with the Department on Citizenship and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs the applications of legal persons and individual entrepreneurs registered in the Republic of Belarus for issuing to the foreign citizens and stateless persons the multi entrance business and working visas. The purpose of the agreeing process is to control the migration movement and suppression of illegal hiring of foreigners for the work in the Republic of Belarus. In particular, a ground for Departments consent to issue business visas is stable business interactions between the Belarusian legal persons (individual entrepreneur) and the foreign organization providing the need to visit the Republic of Belarus several times.

Decision of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of December 2, 2004 No. 1537 approves the Regulations on Procedure of Production and Turnover of Biologically Active Food Supplements. The Regulations include the list of substances prohibited for sale in the Republic of Belarus as components of the biologically active food supplements and the list of substances prohibited for sale in the Republic of Belarus being the only component of the biologically active food supplements.