The bill on QR codes in public places will be considered in December

The initiative to allow the introduction of QR codes in public places will be considered in the first reading in the State Duma before the New Year, RBC sources said.Previously, the bills were not included in the House work plan for December

Both bills on QR codes - on their introduction in public places and in transport - are planned to be considered in the State Duma in the first reading in December. RBC was told about this by two sources in the lower house. At the same time, the initiatives were not included in the preliminary work plan of the lower chamber, which the State Duma must approve during the plenary session on November 25.

“The non-inclusion of projects does not mean that they will not be considered in the end,” one of RBC’s interlocutors explained. “There are plans for these projects for December.” Although the State Duma's calendar of consideration of issues is one of the documents that determines its work, the regulations also allow consideration of issues that were not originally in the plan.

In mid-November, the government submitted two bills to the State Duma related to the introduction of mandatory QR codes for vaccination against coronavirus and for covid. If the bills are passed, QR codes can be entered at public events, in shops, cafes, trains and planes. The final decisions on where exactly such restrictions will be introduced will be made by the regional authorities. A transitional period is provided for the introduction of measures - until February 1, instead of QR codes, it will be possible to present a negative PCR test to enter a public place, but after this period only those who have received a medical exemption from vaccination will have such an opportunity. The measure will be in effect until June 1. The bill does not affect the operation of public transport, pharmacies, grocery retail and shops with essential goods.

The second draft law, introducing QR codes in transport, concerns long-distance and international trips. It is assumed that the verification of QR codes will be carried out when selling tickets. RBC also wrote that the government is discussing the possibility of introducing QR codes for unofficially recovered COVID-19 .