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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Anti-Monopolies Bill adopted

Belgrade, 13 March 2009

The Ministry of Trade and Services stated that the government today adopted the Monopolies Bill, which will considerably improve the institutional capacity for implementing the rules of competition by strengthening the role of the Anti-Monopolies Commission.

The statement adds that the new law conveys corresponding regulations from European laws in a more precise way, which is an obligation Serbia took upon itself when it signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

The law was drafted by a working group of the relevant ministry, in which representatives from the Commission for the Protection of Competition and the EU Integration Office also took part.

The draft law was debated in public on several occasions and representatives from academia, the general public and business took part, while all interested parties had the opportunity to state their objections and suggestions.

The solutions offered by the new law stem from key strategic documents, such as the National EU Integration Programme and the Serbian Trade Development Strategy.

Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic said that this will increase the number of businesses that can be monitored more efficiently for turnover and tax payments, it will prevent tax evasion and strengthen financial discipline.

He said that completing the fiscal accounting system is one of the priorities because it is the most effective way of fighting against the grey market and for creating conditions for a fair market.

He said that a few years have passed since the introduction of fiscal cash registers in Serbia and there is no need to keep certain businesses excluded from this system but while preparing the Decree care was taken of the specific nature of certain business activities, the capacities of the producers of fiscal cash registers and tax administration inspectors.

According to the Decree, the obligation to keep turnover records through fiscal cash registers will apply from June 1, 2009 to travel agencies and tour operators, the garment production, alteration and repair service sectors, the public health service sectors (excluding services provided through the obligatory health insurance programme), the veterinary services sector (excluding primary animal health care services).

Those doing jobs related to the programme of measures for animal health care, disinfection services in facilities for keeping and breeding animals and work on the prevention of the outbreak, spread and control of infectious diseases amongst animals will also be subject to this obligation.

From January 1, 2010 fiscal accounting obligations will apply to taxi drivers and from March 1, 2010 the fiscal system will also include legal services and the education system.