Ministry of Economic Development prepares new rules for marketplace operations in Russia
The Ministry of Economic Development has prepared a second package of amendments to legislation on the platform economy. The new rules regulate interactions between marketplaces and sellers, pickup-point operators, and other platform partners.
One of the key proposals is to limit the time marketplaces have to transfer funds to sellers and pickup-point operators. Marketplaces would be required to transfer the money no later than 30 days from the sale of the product or provision of the service.
Platforms would also be prohibited from charging Russian companies, individual entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals higher fees for equivalent services than those charged to other partners.
New Rules for Sellers
The amendments address promotional campaigns and discounts. Sellers would be able to set a minimum price for their products and refuse to participate in promotions before the product is sold.
The bill also distinguishes between cancellation of a purchase and return of a product. A product of satisfactory quality could be returned within seven days of receipt. If the seller did not provide written information about the return policy, the period would be extended to three months.
The seller would be required to refund the money within 10 days, while being allowed to deduct the cost of return shipping.
Violations of the requirements would carry fines for legal entities ranging from RUB 100,000 to RUB 400,000.
When Will the New Rules Take Effect?
The second package of amendments will supplement the platform economy law that has already been adopted, with its main provisions scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026. The first law establishes basic rules governing interactions between platforms and their partners, including procedures for amending contracts and determining search rankings.
The new amendments are expected to take effect on March 1, 2027.
Which Platforms Will Be Covered?
In July, the Ministry of Economic Development compiled a preliminary list of 12 digital platforms that will be regulated under the new law. The list includes Ozon, Wildberries, Yandex Market, Avito, and other major players.
To be included on the list, a platform must facilitate payments and the conclusion of transactions, have an average daily audience of more than 100,000 users, and have more than 10,000 partners.
Marketplaces in Government Procurement
At the same time, the authorities plan to expand the use of marketplaces in government procurement. A pilot project involving specialized trading platforms is scheduled to launch on October 1, 2026, in Russia’s Far East.
According to government estimates, this approach will help reduce the number of intermediaries, lower the administrative burden, and limit corruption risks.
The new amendments prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development are intended to complement the regulatory framework for the platform economy and introduce additional requirements governing payments, commissions, promotions, and product returns.