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According to the new law that came into effect since February 26, physical persons can bring consumption goods to Russia duty-free only once a month. Before that, it was allowed to do it once a week. Alongside with that, non-chargeable weight has been lowered from 50 to 35 kilograms.
The aim of these rules is to struggle with people who go abroad for buying things to sell them in Russia. “The government must keep creating conditions for development of Russian plants and factories that produce consumption goods”, said Galina Balandina, the head of the department of state control over foreign trade and customs of the Ministry of economic development of Russian Federation.
However, in reality the new rules can make troubles to a bigger group of travelers, which go on tours or business trips on a frequent basis. Many of them, especially business travelers, make more than one trip a month and so it is highly probable that they will exceed the limit, despite the fact that they are not into trade business and just carry their personal things with them. Apparently, the Federal customs service of Russia is the only supporter of this new law. Experts forecast a very serious growth of consumer’s prices, for footwear and clothes - up to 50%. Besides, it is obvious that the new law, instead of settling the problems with buying-and-selling people, will lead to mass violations of the law, growth of corruption in the customs and negative consequences for tourism and economics.
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