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27 Feb, 2026
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Foreign companies must now give notice of new operations in Russia

Starting 1 March 2026, foreign companies wishing to launch operations in Russia in certain sectors will be required to notify the authorities in advance. This is mandated by Federal Law 304-FZ, which was passed in summer 2025.

"Foreign legal entities shall notify the official authorised oversight agency before commencing certain types of entrepreneurial activity, unless Russian law prohibits foreign legal entities from engaging in said activities," the document states in the section amending the Federal Law on Protection of the Rights of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs During Government Oversight. The provision comes into force on 1 March 2026.

The law spelling out the rights that companies and entrepreneurs have when submitting to government inspections currently requires them to notify the authorities before commencing operations in sectors such as consumer services, catering, retail trade, wholesale trade, freight transport, and the manufacture of clothing, furniture, non-alcoholic beverages, containers and packaging. The full list is given in a government decree. Now the duty to report the launch of operations in these sectors also applies to foreign companies.

Notice must submitted to the official authorised oversight agency, such as Rospotrebnadzor, Rostransnadzor, Rostrud, and so forth.

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