Procedure for Sale of Loss-Making State Enterprises to Legal Person Approved

The President of the Republic of Belarus approved, by Edict No. 113 of 25 February 2008, procedure for selling loss-making state-owned enterprises to legal persons. The Edict establishes that lists of loss-making enterprises intended for sale are to be approved annually till 15 April by the Government, with regard to enterprises in governmental ownership, and by regional (oblast) and Minsk City executive committees, with regard to enterprises being in the communal ownership, and also contains a number of tax and other privileges to be granted to the buyers of such enterprises, as well as conditions to be included in the contracts with the buyers.

The Edict enters into force after its official publication.

Zero Rate Import Customs Duty on Some Building Materials Established

The Edict of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 130 of 28 February 2008 On certain issues of ensuring supply of some building materials approved zero rate import customs duty on some kinds of cement of heading 2523 of the Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Belarus, which will be effective till 1 January 2009. The Edict enters into force from 1 April 2008.

Regulations on Production, Circulation and Advertising of Beer, Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Products Changed

According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 3 of 29 February 2008, the exclusive right to import of alcoholic products belong to the state. The realization of that exclusive right are to be performed by legal persons which will win respective competitive tendering to be held by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Belarus. The Decree also introduces some changes in the order of advertising of beer, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products and establishes further control measures over the production and circulation of alcoholic beverages in the territory of Belarus.

The Decree enters into force after its official publication.