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3.185. The Strategy [for the Scientific and Technological Development] recognizes seven priority areas: (...) (ii) environment-friendly and resource-saving energy (e.g. hydrocarbon extraction and processing, energy transportation and storage); (...) (iv) farming and aquaculture (e.g. chemical and biological protection equipment for agricultural plants and animals); (...).

4.11. According to the Federal Law 264-FZ of 29 December 2006 on Development of Agriculture (as amended), the overall objective of agricultural policies is to ensure food security and sustainable development of rural areas by developing agriculture as a competitive economic activity with efficient markets. (...).

4.21. In the State Programme for the Development of Agriculture (2018-25), specific activities are outlined under two subprogrammes being implemented between 2019 and 2025. (...) The second subprogramme consists of seven targeted programmes and activities that aim to address (...) the sustainable development of rural areas (...).

Table 4.4 State Programme for the Development of Agriculture, 2nd phase, 2018-25
Project: Sustainable Development of Rural Areas
Timeframe: 2014-18
Federal allocations 2020 (RUB million): 33,759

4.33. In early 2020, the Russian Federation introduced a new (voluntary) programme for the certification of organic products. Products for sale can be labelled "organic" once it has been demonstrated that they meet certain requirements outlined in Federal Law No. 280-FZ of 3 August 2018 on Organic Products and Amendments in Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation, and have been included in an official register. Otherwise, products cannot be labelled as organic. As of 1 June 2021, 64 economic entities were included in the Unified State Register of Organic Producers. No agreement on the mutual recognition of organic labels has been concluded with other jurisdictions to date.

4.41. The forestry sector is regulated by the Forest Code of the Russian Federation No. 200-FZ of 4 December 2006 (Forest Code), which has continued to undergo revisions during the review period, being amended more than 10 times since 2017. Key changes include a shift from reproduction of resources to the conservation of forests (including changes to fire protection measures as a response to large wildfires in recent years), changes in forest classification [63], and changes to the way the use of forests is auctioned or allocated. (...).

[63] (...) the current version of the Forest Code provides for the designation as protective forests (on various grounds), operational forests, and reserve forests. The Forest Code also regulates the use of forests on land outside the forest fund.

4.42. (...) The Strategy [for the Development of the Forest Complex of the Russian Federation until 2030] aims to improve production and exports of a broad range of forestry products in the context of a sustainable management of forests and socio-economic development. It is primarily implemented via the State Programmes on Forest Development, (...).

4.43. The State Programme on Forest Development aims to better protect and maintain forests, improving forest management to ensure sustainable forest use and development of the forest sector. The State Programme was revised multiple times over the reporting period and now spans the period 2013-2024 with planned budget of RUB 180 billion allocated for the period 2016-2020. (...).

4.46. Despite efforts to improve forest management and the national automated information system for timber (transactions), which is already in place , challenges remain including with the legal control of wood and illegal logging. Estimates of the share of illegal logging in total timber harvesting vary greatly, but analysis approximates it around 20%, with rates much higher in the Far East region. A UN research report estimates that illegal logging is primarily the result of misuse of permits, often complex networks of intermediary companies, and over-harvesting, with bribery also playing a role. The Government aims to address these issues and over the reporting period it lowered the criminal liability threshold for illegal trafficking of forest resources to be considered a crime under Article 226.1 of the Penal Code. As of June 2021, the area of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests in the Russian Federation has grown to 60.7 million hectares, more than a quarter of forests certified globally under the FSC scheme, with more than 1,000 companies certified. According to the authorities, these include the largest 10 companies.

4.49. The sector is regulated overall by Federal Law No. 166-FZ of 20 December 2004 on Fishing and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources (as amended) (...).