Bill on withdrawal of tickets for selling oil products to be sent back for reexamination

The bill providing for taking the tickets for selling oil products out of use and introducing cards with face value instead of them will be sent back to the Ministry of Finance for reexamination. The decision was made at the last meeting of the working group that was set up after a number of oil products operators criticized this initiative, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Ministry of Finance, which is the author of the bill, says the state fails to collect VAT of about 270 million lei now that these tickets are in use. On the other hand, the members of the working group said the accusation of fiscal evasion wasn't proven and it cannot serve as argument allowing the state to intervene. Premier Vlad Filat stressed the discussions on the bill must center on the protection of consumers' interests. Only after that, should they analyze the impact of the modifications proposed by the Ministry of Finance on the budget and the environment. The initiative to withdraw the tickets is supported by the large operators, but rejected by the smaller ones that do not have money to purchase card reading equipment. The small operators also say the move advantages the banks as they will charge a commission for the use of the cards.