Law “On cotton growing”.

This Law defines legal, economic and organizational basis of cotton growing in Turkmenistan and regulates the relations connected with the turnover of raw cotton and cotton products. The scope of this Law is to establish a legal and economic framework for the development of cotton growing in Turkmenistan, regulation of relations between subjects of raw cotton processing in accordance with the principles of market economy, growth of competitiveness of cotton products in the world market, further integration of cotton growing into the textile and food industry. State support in the field of cotton growing is provided in the following forms: (a) providing assistance to specialized seed farms in growing of super-elite and elite seed varieties; (b) establishment of a mark-up to the state purchase prices of raw cotton for seed purposes; (c) provision of state benefits aimed at reducing production costs; (d) granting loans on preferential terms; (e) granting tax benefits; (f) assistance in introduction of new progressive production and storage technologies for raw cotton and cotton products. State support in the field of cotton growing can be ensured by providing other types of benefits not prohibited by law of Turkmenistan. Export of cotton products is carried out in accordance with the normative legal acts and international agreements to which Turkmenistan is a party. Import of cotton products intended for scientific research, selection works, as well as exhibiting at exhibitions, shall be carried out in accordance with permits issued by the authorized body in accordance with the procedure established by legislation of Turkmenistan. Safety and quality control of raw cotton and cotton products is carried out by the authorized body within the limits of its competence and is aimed at ensuring compliance with technical regulations, implementation of the provisions of normative documents on standardization defining the requirements set for safety and quality of raw cotton and cotton products. Quality control of raw cotton and cotton products includes: (a) regular control during the acceptance for storage and processing of raw cotton, storage and supply of cotton products in order to comply with technological regulations; and (b) control over determination of raw cotton quality indicators at acceptance, processing and trade of cotton products to protect the interests of the owners of cotton raw material and cotton products, carried out on the basis of official appeals of the cotton market participants. The quality of raw cotton is assessed by accredited (certified) laboratories in accordance with the requirements established by the authorized body in the field of standardization. This Law consists of X Chapters divided into 37 Articles. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Chapter II regards state management in the sphere of cotton growing. Chapter III regards state support of cotton growing and state standards, export and import of cotton products. Chapter IV cotton safety control and expertise of cotton quality. Chapter V regards processing of cotton. Chapter VI regards business activities in the sphere of cotton processing. Chapter VII regards the issuance of cotton receipt, its holders’ rights, loss and redemption thereof. Chapter VIII establishes control over cotton processing enterprises and the competence of the supervisory authority. Chapter IX regards training of staff and scientific substantiation. Chapter X lays down final provisions.