Total control over printed products

Making paper copies will be classified as “printing activity” under a new law.

Under Lukashenka's decree No. 456 issued on October 7, 2013, publishing is considered to be a part of printing activity.

Changes in the Provision on Licensing of Certain Activities remove the paragraph “Publishing Activity” and amend paragraph 38 “Printing Activity”, AFN news agency reports.

The amended version of the law doesn't say that using a printer, copier or other similar devices can be allowed without a license of the Ministry of Information of Belarus.

The first thing worthy of attention is the definition of “printing activity” proposed by the authorities.

”Printing activity is multiple (performed more than once) reproduction (copying) of printed products made with the help of technical and technological means, including preprinting, printing, bookbinding and finishing processes; buying printing equipment is buying ownership of or acquiring operational control over printing equipment by legal entities, foreign organisations or sole proprietors to perform printing activity,” the amended law reads.

The second detail is works and services included in printing, the business activity subject to licensing. There are two types of works and services: “production of printed products without restrictions” and “ production of printed products (except for newspapers)”. The authorities define the term “production of printed products” as follows:

“Production of printed products is making newspapers, magazines, bulletins and other kinds of printed mass media,” the document says.

The companies involved in printing activity and making newspapers, magazines, bulletins and other kinds of printed products “shall implement the license requirements and conditions […] and provide information on implementing the license requirements and conditions to the licensing body (the Ministry of Information)” by December 1, 2013, on the ground of special permits (licenses), the amended law says.