Local authorities have the right to determine additional types of craft activities in their territory.
This information was announced on September 2 by the head of the Ministry of Economy of Belarus, Yuri Chebotar.
The minister's statement is cited by BELTA .
What the Ministry of Economy said about innovations for artisans
On August 21, the President signed Decree No. 328 on craft activities. The document is intended to restore the historical meaning of the special status of the craftsman as a bearer of unique skills and abilities traditional for Belarus.
Today the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution defining the list of types of craft activities.
It included authentic, original crafts such as blacksmithing, making hand-woven items, national musical instruments, and yarn.
Activities not included in the list, such as making candles, wedding accessories, and soap, can be carried out as independent professional activities.
As the head of the Ministry of Economy explained, when compiling the list, the main task was to ensure the originality of crafts that have come to us from the depths of centuries and are the embodiment of Belarusian culture - processing and painting of products from stone, wood, ceramics, cooperage, yarn making, blacksmithing, etc.
We worked on the list with regulators, including the Ministry of Culture, and with the regions, the minister noted.
He noted that local authorities have the right to define additional original and unique types of craft activities on their territory.
Also, the government decree, which comes into force on October 1, establishes forms for applications for payment of the craft tax and notification of termination of its payment.
According to Chebotar, the approval of this list was the final stage of a major effort to transform the business environment.
The head of the Ministry of Economy recalled that in the summer, lists of permitted types of activities for the self-employed and individual entrepreneurs were approved.
As the minister explained, all the lists are interconnected, so that people who are engaged in modern types of creativity (not crafts), for example, making souvenirs or soap, can become self-employed by registering on a simple platform to pay the appropriate tax.
There will be a seamless transition. There is contact with business in this regard, Chebotar summed up.
