State Duma excluding oil, gas sales from licensed activities

On Wednesday the State Duma of Russia adopted a law excluding sales of oil, gas and their conversion products from activities subject to licensing.

The corresponding bill "On Introduction of Amendments to Article 17 of the Federal Law 'On Licensing of Individual Activities'" was adopted by the lower chamber in the second and final, third, readings at once. The law has been submitted for consideration to the upper chamber, the Federation Council.

The document was passed on the initiative of the parliamentary property committee. The amendments aimed at debureaucratizing the economy, the committee's deputy chairman Mikhail Yemelyanov said in an interview with RIA Novosti. They will help to remove excessive bureaucratic obstacles for developing business activities, he believes.