The PM Vasile Tarlev asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Intelligence Service, Centre for Combating Economic Crime and Corruption to investigate and expose the “mafia clans” that make the situation concerning the issue of entrepreneur patents unstable. According to the PM, once the patent-related reform started, interests of certain underground groups emerged. Previously, such groups “were purchasing dozens of patents and derided the workers, unofficially employing them without any documents”, the PM says. “Today, one accepts the work of merchandiser, but he is not considering the fact that he will not be offered a pension later”, Tarlev stated. He asked the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, and other specialised institutions to explain to these persons that they were misled and that they must acknowledge the consequences of these actions. The PM assures of the full support of the Government when changing the patents into another forms of entrepreneurship, with the only condition that they work legally, not to the interest of some underground structures. The Government took upon itself the engagement to pay the costs for the change of the patents. The expenses for one person amount to MDL 500. About 4500 patent holders will be registered this year. The amendments to the Patent Law, which provide for the gradual reduction of the patent-based activity, creation of favourable conditions for the switch of patentees to other types of business and development of trade, came into force on July 7, 2006. According to the Law, the patent-based trade of goods subject to excises, selling of electronic devices and home appliances, are banned since August 2006. As from January 1, the services for cargo and 7-passenger transportation, cultivation and selling of flowers, selling of construction materials, furniture, household goods, are interdicted. As of 1 January 2008 there will be banned the patent-based trade of food products, as well as retail trade in booths and other rooms that do not exceed 12 m2, while from 1 January 2009 there will be interdicted the patent-based trade of all types of products at stands, counters and vehicles in authorised marketplaces, and bottled water in authorised places etc. Private and small enterprises must follow the provision of the art.49 of the Fiscal Code that stipulates the full exemption from income tax for a 3-year period and partial exemption of 35% for the next two years.