Russia Aims to Lift Duty-Free Restrictions Within EAEU

The Russian government has submitted a bill to the State Duma that removes sales restrictions for goods in duty-free shops for travelers departing from Russia to other countries in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). This information was published in the database of the lower house of the country's parliament. Sputnik Armenia reports on this development.

Currently, in all EAEU countries, except for Russia, individuals traveling from one EAEU member state to another are allowed to sell goods in duty-free shops in accordance with the EAEU Customs Code. According to the existing law on customs regulation in Russia, duty-free shops that cater to individuals, including those departing from Russia to other member states, must be located in such a way that prohibits the sale of goods to travelers leaving from Russia.

The government states, "This norm implies a ban on the sale of goods in duty-free shops for individuals departing from Russia to another member state of the union." To create a uniform approach to this issue, the new bill allows individuals departing from Russia to other EAEU countries to sell goods in duty-free shops. This will create equal competitive conditions in the Russian Federation and other member states of the union.