On October 23, the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation (the “FAS”) has published recommendations for preventing greenwashing in marketing communications (the “Recommendations”).

Greenwashing is described as actions involving the distribution of false or incorrect environmental statements that mislead consumers regarding the environmental characteristics of goods in order to obtain unjustified advantages.

The Recommendations provide for the concept of environmental statements, their types and requirements for them, as well as the consequences of non-compliance with the requirements for such statements.

Lidings’ Corporate and M&A practice team has successfully concluded its advisory role for the owners of Autotechinmash LLC, the largest auto dealer of Belarusian cars, in restructuring of the company’s founding team.

It has been reported in public sources that the Sub-Commission of the Government Commission for Control of Foreign Investments in the Russian Federation (the “Sub-Commission”), which issues permits for the sale of Russian assets by companies from ‘unfriendly’ countries, has decided to tighten the conditions for the exit of foreign companies from the Russian market.

On 15 October, Lidings hosted a webinar for its clients to break down the legal aspects of critical information infrastructure (CII) security, focusing on the regulation applicable to the pharmaceutical and chemical (Pharma and FMCG) and healthcare industries.

Russia and the Gulf countries continue to deepen economic cooperation, which becomes especially important against the backdrop of sanctions restrictions. The Russian-Gulf Business Forum: New Ties, New Opportunities (took place in Moscow on 24 September 2024) provided an opportunity for a comprehensive discussion of both business prospects and legal issues related to the activities of Russian companies in the region.

Highlights of the event in our report.

On 27.09.2024 the Decree of the Government the Russian Federation No. 1278 was published. This Decree amends for the Regulation on Patent and Other Fees for Legally Significant Actions.

Lidings is pleased to announce that in accordance with Federal Law N 394-FZ "On the State Council of the Russian Federation" dated December 8, 2020 and Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin dated July 22, 2024, N 613 "On the Commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation in the areas of socio-economic development of the Russian Federation and their chairmen", Stepan Guzey, partner of the firm, has been included in the expert council of the State Council of the Russian Federation's commission on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic.

Also, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin dated August 13, 2024 N 691 Stepan was included as an expert in the Council for the Protection of National Interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation.

On 1 September 2024, a joint order of the Ministry of Industry and Trade No. 3554 and the Ministry of Health No. 406n dated 7 August 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the “Order”) entered into force, approving a new procedure for providing the Ministry of Industry and Trade with information on medicines necessary for the purposes of licensing their production and inspecting the subjects of their circulation for compliance the requirements of good manufacturing practice. The Order replaced the previously existing procedure for interdepartmental interaction between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

On September 24, 2024, Moscow hosted the Russian-Gulf Business Forum: New Connections, New Opportunities, a central platform for exploring business prospects in the Gulf. The event highlighted new avenues for collaboration and showcased the commitment of key market players to deepen ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

Bankruptcy Law has gone through many changes over the past summer, but perhaps the hottest of them all was published on 29.5.2024 and applies to petitions filed after the date, regardless of the date of the procedure used in the bankruptcy case. We propose to familiarize ourselves with the most significant of them.