Russia's Putin says backs recycling tax on farming machines

SOCHI, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Russia could introduce a recycling or 'utilization' tax on imported farming machines, after president Vladimir Putin said on Friday he supported the idea.

Such a tax could give an incentive for owners of old farming machines to update and buy new models, if it works in the same way as a car scrappage scheme which paid car owners cash for turning in their old vehicles.

Putin said the state could well introduce a so-called recycling or utilization tax on imported machines.

"This is a right decision, we could well introduce a utilization tax on imports of machines," he said, in answer to a question when visiting a plant of farming equipment maker Rostelmash.