RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/ACC/MOL/6
18June1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2497)
Working Party ontheAccession Original: English
oftheRepublic ofMoldova
ACCESSION OFTHE REPUBLIC OFMOLDOVA
Communication from Moldova
TheMinistryoftheEconomyoftheRepublicofMoldovahassubmittedthefollowinginformation
ontrade inservices.
_______________WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page2TABLE 1: Measures Relating toMarket Access
Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
A. HORIZONTAL
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Foreign investment maybeundertaken inall
branches oftheeconomy provided thefollowing
isnotviolated:
-State security interests
-anti-monopoly legislation
-norms ofenvironmental protection
-public health
-social order
-moral norms.
Thefollowing activities areforbidden under
Moldovan law:
-production, saleanddissemination of
pornographic materials
-establishment andrunning ofbrothels
-contraband tradeLawonForeign investment No.998-XII of1
April 1994
Government Decision No.581 of17August 1995
(4)Presence ofnatural persons a.Foreign citizens havetheright, totheextent
thatitisimportant fortheactivity ofthecompany
withforeign investment participation, andifthis
isnotagainst theinterests ofnational security and
order oftheRepublic ofMoldova, toreceive an
entry visaandpermission tostayinthecountry,
ifnecessary.LawonForeign investment No.998-XII of1
April 1994WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page3Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
b.Services which aresubject tolicensing can
onlybesupplied through juridical persons
registered inMoldova. Acomplete listofthe
types ofservices concerned isfound in
Government Decision No.581 of17August 1995
which issubmitted together withthese tables.Government Decision No.581 of17August 1995
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply None -
B1. BANKING SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Allbanks, domestic andforeign, must havea
licence. Licenses forsubsidiaries orbranch
offices offoreign banks aregranted onlyif
a.theforeign bankisauthorized toengage inthe
business ofreceiving money deposits orother
repayable funds intheforeign country where its
headoffice islocated;
b.thecompetent foreign authorities that
supervise thefinancial activities attheheadoffice
oftheforeign bankconcerned havegiven their
written consent tothegranting ofsuchlicences;
c.theCentral Bank issatisfied thattheforeign
bankisadequately supervised onaconsolidated
basis bysuchforeign authorities;LawonFinancial Institutions, No.550-XIII of21
July1995
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asindicated inthehorizontal
section.-WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page4 Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B2. INSURANCE, RE-INSURANCE AND RETROCESSION SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply Only permitted iftheservice concerned isnot
available locallyLawonInsurance No.886-XIII of20June1996
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Foreign legalorphysical persons cannot own
more than49%ininsurance companies operating
inMoldova.LawonInsurance No.886-XIII of20June1996
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asindicated inthehorizontal
section.-
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B3. EDUCATION SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Only Moldovan companies orjoint-ventures can
supply educational services, including
professional orientation andtraining of
unemployed; 100% foreign-owned companies
cannot.Government Decision 581of17August 1995
(4)Presence ofnatural persons Educational services aresubject tolicensing and
cantherefore onlybesupplied through juridical
persons. Foreign physical persons canbeengaged
bydulylicensed companies offering educational
services.Government Decision 581of17August 1995WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page5Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B4. ROAD TRANSPORT SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. Government Decision 581of17August 1995
Regulation No.69 of3April 1996 ofthe
Ministry ofTransport
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B5. RAILROAD TRANSPORT SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence There isamonopoly ofstatecompany 'Calea
Ferata dinMoldova 'fortherailroad
transportation services.Government Decision 581of17August 1995
Regulation
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page6 Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
B6. AUXILIARY SERVICES TOALL MODES OFTRANSPORT: INCLUDING CARGO-HANDLING, STORAGE, FREIGHT
TRANSPORT AGENCY SERVICES, ORGANIZATION OFREPARATION AND TECHNICAL SERVICE OFROAD
TRANSPORTATION MEANS; CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE OFROADS.
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. Government Decision 581of17August 1995
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B7. TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence There isamonopoly fortheState company
MOLDTELECOM forthefollowing services:
- international telecommunications,
telegraph, andtelex
- domestic basic telecom services
- leased circuit provision viathepublic
telecom networkLawonTelecommunication No.520-XIII of7
July1995
Limited competition onuseofradio andTV
stations aswellasforother services not
mentioned above.WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page7Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
Licences formobile telephone services and
mobile radio, connected tothepublic telecom
network areissued subject tosufficient demand
andavailability offrequencies.
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B8. POSTAL SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence There isamonopoly forthefollowing basic
postal services heldbyPosta Moldovei:
-forwarding ofletters andparcels
-money orders
-pension money orders.
Express letter andparcel forwarding isopento
competition.LawonthePostNo.463-XIII of18May1995
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page8 Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
B9. PIPELINE SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence There isonlyonegaspipeline going through
Moldova which isoperated bya
Russian-Moldovan joint-venture which isholding
adefacto monopoly.Nospecific legislation exists.
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B10. AUDIO-VISUAL SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Foreign natural orjuridical persons canonly
create acompany offering audio-visual services in
ajoint-venture withMoldovan persons.LawonAudio-Visual Services No.603-XIII of3
October 1995.
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B11. LEGAL SERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page9Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence a.Foreign lawyers canpractise lawinMoldova
onlyifMoldovan lawyers areaccorded thesame
rightintheforeign country concerned
(reciprocity).
b.Notary services canonlybeprovided by
MoldovansLawontheBar,approved byParliament butnot
yetpublished.
LawonNotaries, approved byParliament butnot
yetpublished.
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B12. CIVIL AVIATION SERVICES
1) Cross -border supply Foreign airlines offering civilaviation services to
andfrom Moldova require governmental approval
which isgenerally granted.Nospecific legislation exists.
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Companies withtheirheadquarters registered in
Moldova supplying civilaviation services must be
joint-ventures ordomestic companies. There are,
however, nolimitations onforeign airlines
establishing subsidiaries orrepresentative offices
inMoldova.Government Decision No.581 of17August
1995.
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page10 Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
B13. REPAIR AND COMMERCIALIZATION OFARTICLES MADE OFPRECIOUS METALS OROFARTICLES CONTAINING
PRECIOUS METALS
(1)Cross -border supply - -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Therepair andcommercialization ofarticles
made ofprecious metals orofarticles containing
precious metals canonlybecarried outby
joint-ventures orbydomestic companies.Government Decision No.581 of17August
1995.
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B14. GEODESY, CARTOGRAPHY, AND LAND SURVEYS
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Thefollowing services canonlybecarried outby
100% Moldovan companies:
- general landsurvey, astronomic survey
andgravimetric works
- topographical andaerophoto-cosmic works
- mapdrawing andmappublishing, in
general andaspartoftechnical
prospection forconstruction
- survey works relating tolegalandfiscal
surveys andthespecial State survey.Government Decision No.581 of17August 1995
State securityWT/ACC/MOL/6
Page11Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B15. IPRSERVICES
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Only Moldovan companies canactasauthorized
agents torepresent theinterests ofholders of
IPRs inMoldova.Government Decision No.581 of17August 1995
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B16. STATE ARCHIVE SERVICE
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Only Moldovan companies canbeengaged to
evaluate andselect documents fortheir
transmission totheState Archive forstorage or
disposal.Government Decision No.581 of17August 1995
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page12 Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
B17. IMPORTATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OFCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS AND STIMULANTS FOR THE
GROWTH OFPLANTS
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence Theimportation andcommercialization of
chemical andbiological products andstimulants
forthegrowth ofplants canonlybecarried out
byjoint-ventures orbydomestic companies.Government Decision No.581 of17August 1995
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -
B18. SERVICES INCONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING: PROJECT DESIGNING AND ASSESSMENT
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence None, except asstated inthehorizontal section. -
(4)Presence ofnatural persons There isarequirement tobecitizen ofMoldova Government Decision No.361 of25July1996
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply - -WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page13TABLE 2: Measures Relating toNational Treatment
A. HORIZONTAL
Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
(1)Cross -border supply None -
(2)Consumption abroad None -
(3)Commercial presence (i)Formation ofanenterprise withforeign
investment intheequity exceeding $5million
requires theapproval oftheanti-trust authorities.
Criteria forapproval are,however, thesame as
fordomestic firms.
(ii)Foreign investment mayonlybemade in:
- freely convertible currency orother
accepted foreign currency purchased by
thebanks inMoldova through normal
banking operations
- machinery, equipment including office
equipment
- property andnon-property rights,
including IPR.LawonForeign Investment, No.998-XII of1
April 1994
LawonForeign Investment No.998-XII of1
April 1994
(4)Presence ofnatural persons None -
(5)Relationship between modes ofsupply None -WT/ACC/MOL/6
Page14TABLE 3: Measures Relating toMost-Favoured-Nation Treatment (MFN)
A. HORIZONTAL
Mode(s) ofSupply Measures Relevant Laws andRegulations
(1)Cross -border supply Services supplied from CIScountries, except
Ukraine, areVAT exempt, provided thatVAT has
beenpaidinthecountry oforigin.1997 Budget Law
B11. LEGAL SERVICES
(3)Commercial presence Lawyers dulylicensed inCIScountries and
Rumania canpractice lawonthebasis ofthe
licence issued intheirhome country (reciprocity).
Their activity must, however, beregistered asa
business.LawontheBar,approved byParliament butnot
yetpublished.