If approved, the bill will take effect in September this year.
Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development has submitted a bill titled “On Platform Economy in the Russian Federation” to the government. The bill aims to create a legal framework for platform economy, regulating relationships between platform operators, their partners, and users, according to an announcement on the ministry's website.
Dmitry Grigorenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chief of the Government Staff, emphasized the need for specific regulation of digital platforms to protect consumers from purchasing dangerous or uncertified products. The regulations are also intended to create more user-friendly services and ensure predictability in interactions between citizens, businesses, and these platforms.
“We are striving to ensure a balance of interests that will protect consumer rights while maintaining the dynamic and sustainable development of the platform economy,”
Grigorenko commented.
The main focus of the regulation is on addressing issues related to intermediary digital platforms that allow users to post product or service offerings, conduct transactions, and handle payment operations. Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development, explained that the relationships between intermediaries, their partners, and users have unique characteristics. Until now, the industry has attempted to address many of these issues independently, leading to imbalances in the interests of participants in these new relationships.
“This bill addresses the most pressing concerns of businesses and is designed to ensure predictability in doing business,”
Reshetnikov stressed.
The bill defines key terms such as “platform economy,” “digital platform,” “intermediary digital platform,” “pickup points,” “product cards,” and others. It also introduces mandatory provisions for agreements with partners, the process of altering terms, offering product discounts, reconciliation of accounts, and the application of sanctions. Additionally, a digital pre-trial dispute resolution system will be implemented.
Maxim Kolesnikov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, noted that the bill includes provisions outlining the responsibilities of platforms and their partners towards consumers. Specifically, platforms will be required to verify partners through the Unified System of Identification and Authentication (ESIA) and state registries, preventing unverified sellers and service providers from joining the platform, and ensuring product cards meet mandatory requirements. For certain categories, information verification will be mandatory, especially for dietary supplements, medicines, medical devices, pesticides, etc. If illegal offers are discovered, their placement will be halted. Sellers and service providers will be held accountable for the accuracy of the information provided.
The bill also clarifies procedures when defects in products or services are found. It proposes enabling functionality for users to file complaints for returns and refunds directly on the platform. Legal clarity will also be established between platforms and clients, including service providers who are individuals.
The development of the bill involved relevant federal executive authorities, as well as industry and business representatives. The bill is expected to be submitted to the State Duma in the first quarter of 2025, and if approved, it will come into force in September this year.
Source: Vedomosti
