"If, after January 1, 2022, an organization is found to be operating without a license, it will be subject to fines, and Rosselkhoznadzor will initiate legal action to suspend the permit to perform," the regulator explained.
Under current legislation, circuses, zoos and other organizations can face fines from RUB 4,000 to RUB 5,000 for operating without a license. Legal entities may face fines from RUB 40,000 to RUB 50,000.
As a reminder, according to a bill that has been introduced into the State Duma organizations may face fines of up to RUB 200,000 for not having a license.
All Russian circuses, zoos, dolphinariums, oceanariums and other organizations and individual entrepreneurs that keep and use animals for cultural and entertainment purposes must until the end of 2021 obtain a license.
Rosselkhoznadzor will be in charge for granting licenses. Prior to granting a license, the regulator’s staff will conduct an inspection of the organization that has submitted a license application. In particular, the inspectors will check living conditions of animals in captivity, feeding and drinking standards, veterinary attendance, safety and security for animals and organization’s employees.
147 organizations have been granted licenses by the end of December.
"In particular, among the licensees are Nikulin’s Circus in Moscow, Rosgostsirk, the Great Moscow State Circus on Prospect Vernadskogo, the Kuklachev Cat Theater, the Peterhof State Museum-Reserve (St. Petersburg), Moskvarium, Museum of the World Ocean (Kaliningrad)," said the spokesperson for Rosselkhoznadzor.
Currently, about 180 license applications filed by business entities are pending, the regulator added.
