Russian e-commerce firm Ozon starts selling goods via parallel imports mechanism (updated)

Ozon Holdings

23/06/2022 16:37

* This content was produced in Russia where the law
restricts
coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine

 (Adds detail, background)
    MOSCOW, June 23 (Reuters) - Russian e-commerce firm Ozon
 OZON.O  said on Thursday it had started selling goods through a
parallel imports mechanism on its platform, benefiting from
legislation Russia has brought in to try to limit the impact of
Western sanctions.
    Hit by unprecedented sanctions and supply chain issues,
Russia has legalised so-called parallel imports, which allow
retailers to import products from abroad without the trademark
owner's permission. 
    "Goods imported with the help of parallel imports are
available on Ozon," the company told Reuters. "We have already
started selling popular electronics brands on Ozon, including
smartphones and their components."
    Ozon said parallel imports gave Russian consumers a range of
products but said it was working to prevent counterfeit items
appearing on its platform, requiring sellers to confirm the
proof of originality of the goods they sell.
    Ozon said it would not disclose the names of brands. 
    The pace of Western companies leaving Russia over Moscow's
actions in Ukraine is accelerating, with Nike  NKE.N  and Cisco
both announcing plans to exit on Thursday. They have joined
McDonald's  MCD.N , Renault  RENA.PA  and others.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2YA0Y9
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2YA19Z  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2Y71EK
    Foreign companies seeking to exit Russia over Ukraine face
the prospect of new laws being passed in coming weeks allowing
Moscow to seize assets and impose criminal penalties.
    

 (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Edmund Blair)