Cancellation of notifications and increase in the share of Belarusian goods: what new things are proposed to be introduced into trade laws

August 16, MINSK. The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade proposes to discuss amendments to the laws on trade and public catering. The public discussion is taking place at the Legal Forum of Belarus from 16 to 26 August, BelTA informs.

Among the proposed changes is the abolition of the obligation of business entities intending to engage in trade and public catering to notify the local executive and administrative body in writing. "Thus, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs will have the right to start without notice activities in the field of catering, retail and wholesale trade (with the exception of goods whose turnover is limited or requiring a license). At the same time, they remain obliged no later than five calendar days from the date of commencement of trade ( including without a trading facility) or activities in the field of catering, operation of a shopping center, market,

The bill also provides for the abolition of the need to coordinate with local authorities the operating hours after 23.00 and before 7.00 shopping centers, markets, shopping facilities and catering facilities, with the exception of those that sell ALCOHOL, low-alcohol drinks and beer. In addition, it is proposed to cancel a number of requirements for catering networks.

The bill provides for the creation of additional conditions for achieving the indicators set by the doctrine of the national food security of Belarus until 2030, and ensuring national security in general. Thus, it is proposed to establish the obligation of retail trade entities to ensure a minimum share of the sale of individual food and non-food products of domestic production in the total volume, as well as an increase in the share of Belarusian foodstuffs in the retail turnover (if such a share for the previous year was less than 85%). It is envisaged that such requirements will not affect individual entrepreneurs, micro-organizations, farmers, company stores, as well as entities selling exclusively goods, the demand of the domestic market for which is satisfied by Belarusian products by 50% or less (for example, nuts, tea, coffee, fish, rice and others). The Council of Ministers will establish lists of such goods and the values ​​of indicators in the relevant periods of time.

"It is assumed that by 2030 these measures will make it possible to achieve a reduction in the share of foreign-made food products in the volume of sales of trade organizations on the domestic market to 14%, and will also significantly reduce the share of sales of foreign-made non-food products," MART said.

Additional conditions are also provided for the development of retail trade using the Internet. "It is proposed to expand the list of technologies with which subjects can trade using the Internet. Distance trading can be conducted not only through an online store, but also using other information networks, systems and resources (Internet platforms, applications for mobile devices and other ),” the department said.

A number of measures are also proposed to develop domestic production and provide the consumer market with high-quality food products, small and medium-sized businesses and consumer cooperation organizations.