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At June 26 extraordinary sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, the package of draft laws on Making Amendments and Addenda to the law on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and on Amending the RA Code on Administrative Offences was debated in the second reading.

Let us remind that the debate of the package was postponed up to two months for revision at the previous sitting of the Committee.

The legislative package is aimed at the creation of more favourable conditions for the production of the hemp, export, import and licensing of wholesale trade and the regulation of legal relations arising in that direction. It is proposed to specify the requirements of licensing the mentioned activity, as well as in case of violation of quotas he basis of suspending the licensing and the licensing person is given an opportunity for reviewing the quotas.

According to the First Deputy Minister of Health Lena Nanushyan, after the first reading the Government proposed make editorial amendments, which were accepted. As a result, revised version was presented.

The package of drafts designing addenda and amendments to the RA Codes on RA Tax and Administrative Offiences was also debate din the second reading.

It is proposed to review the rates of the excise tax established for the goods taxed with excise tax. It is suggested to index the rates of the excise tax of the sub-excise goods conditioned by the rise in prices, setting the indexation 8% for each year, and the to raise the rates of the tobacco product by 10% every year, in case of e-cigarettes – 18% and more percentage. The rates of vodka and ethyl spirit excise tax will be raised by 10% every year.

Administrative responsibility was designed for cases of selling tobacco with high price from maximum retail price.

The RA Deputy Minister of Finance Armen Poghosyan informed that the two proposals made by the deputy Arsen Torosyan, which refereed to the rise of the rates of the tobacco products were not accepted. It was noted that in this issue the Government pursues balanced policy for avoiding possible risks.

The Committee members endorsed the legislative packages.