President promulgates changes to Law on entrepreneurship patent

The Moldovan President promulgated the Law on modifying the Law on entrepreneurship patent. The decree was published in Tuesday's edition of the Official Gazette (Monitorul Oficial al R. Moldova), Info-Prim Neo reports. The new redaction of the law allows the retail commerce at stands, booths, counters or cars on in places and markets authorized by the local administrations. The condition is that the incomes of the patent merchants shall not exceed a quota of 300,000 lei during one year. The law allows patent holders to sell industrial goods as apparel, clothes, footwear, fabric, school stationery, perfumes and cosmetics, home appliances etc. At the same time, the are banned to sell body linen and haberdashery, electrical appliances, doors, windows and building materials. The patent-based commerce in Moldova has been gradually forbidden since January 1, 2007. The Government reasoned this system was way of fiscal evasion stimulating the black economy. The patent vendors have repeatedly disagreed with the interdiction, organizing at least 130 protest rallies and demanding to cancel the ban. The meat retailers go on protesting in front of the presidential palace demanding to be allowed to work on the basis of patents and to sell the meat unpacked. In accordance with the new redaction of the Law on entrepreneurship patent, only the meat producers are allowed to sell on the basis of patent.