On the issue of closing deliveries from the Republic of Belarus

And this is quite surprising that the media and experts hung the initiative to regulate the market on ROSSELKHOZNADZOR, although this is the prerogative of the Ministry of Agriculture of RUSSIA and the Government of the Russian Federation.

No one thought that the rhetoric about “closing the market” has been going on for a very long time, from different and high offices, and that if you give the situation a political color, why then, for example, postpone the “embargo” date to March 6?

Therefore, the Dairy Union of Russia tried to systematize and answer the main questions addressed to the Unions by various market participants, including the media.

Question No. 1: the closure of the supplies of the Republic of Belarus to Russia is connected with the containment of domestic prices for raw materials from their further fall. We remind you that the current situation on the market was predicted a year and a half ago, and is associated with indicators of a drop in demand, household incomes and an increase in the cost of a trading shelf for consumer. In December, nothing supernatural happened to prices, which we would not have talked about in November, October or even earlier, which would require a hard “embargo”.

Question number 2: the supply was closed suddenly! Why suddenly? Questions regarding the supply of MILK and dairy products, especially through the Republic of Belarus, have arisen with the control department for a very long time, moreover, the work to control the safety of incoming products has never stopped. However, in the last couple of years, the media have given such news a special importance, bringing the headlines of their articles, terrible for dairy consumers, to the front page.

No. 3: Questions about the supply of milk and dairy products that do not meet the requirements of the Technical Regulations for milk (TR TS 033/2013), and are not always of high quality, especially through the Republic of Belarus, have arisen from the regulatory authorities of Russia for a very long time.

The Dairy Union of Russia has long reported that a protein-fat concentrate is chaotically entering the country, that an incomprehensible product is sold under the “cheese product” and how sanctioned products “legally slip” under the guise of cottage cheese desserts.

The Rosselkhoznadzor also paid attention to this, and the Belarusian milk processing enterprises are not accused in this case. The country, due to its geopolitical location, unwittingly serves as a channel for the supply/transit of products that are unsafe for humans and the Russian economy.

They fully supported us in the need to resolve this issue, moreover, a week ago we received official confirmation from the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia that the necessary changes would be made on the territory of the EEC, which would allow Rosselkhoznadzor to control this volume of the gray market.

Moreover, when it comes to security, the Union will allow itself to bring the data of the service itself:

 ... In October 2017, the Rosselkhoznadzor revealed the facts of supplies to Russia by Belarusian companies Gaz Venture LLC, Globalkostom LLC and RUE Beltamozhservice of dairy products of Ukraine and EU countries prohibited by retaliatory economic measures under the guise of manufacturers from countries that were not subject to current restrictions (Iran, Macedonia, San Marino and CHINA ). It was about the legalization of 150 thousand tons of products prohibited for import into Russia ...

... Rosselkhoznador sent a letter to the Department of Veterinary and Food Supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus, in which he noted that at present 42 enterprises of the dairy and milk processing industry are in the zone of increased attention in relation to ... which ... Rosselkhoznadzor suspended 67 declarations of conformity for dairy products produced in the Republic of Belarus….

... In 2016, in 723 cases of violations of veterinary and sanitary standards and requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Russian Federation in the products of manufacturers of the Republic of Belarus - 386 were found in milk and dairy products ...

... Of the 596 cases of violations of veterinary and sanitary standards and requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Russian Federation detected in 2017 in the products of manufacturers of the Republic of Belarus - 376 were found in milk and dairy products (63.1%), of which 210 cases were the detection of residues of prohibited and harmful substances (55.6% of all cases of detected violations in milk and dairy products)...

… As of February 22, 2018, Rosselkhoznadzor has already recorded 32 cases of violations of veterinary and sanitary standards and requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Russian Federation in milk and dairy products, of which 65.6% are residues of prohibited and harmful substances…

The Dairy Union of Russia in no way stands up for the "closure" of supplies from the Republic of Belarus. Both sides do not need "trade wars". However, the issues of food security in any country, including, such as Russia and Belarus, are issues of national and economic security.

It is in this situation that we understand how everyone needs to implement a traceability system for raw materials and products. This will make the dairy market transparent and predictable for the formation of a package of appropriate government measures to support the country's dairy industry.

And the last. Safety issues have been solved, are being solved and will be solved methodically and professionally by Rosselkhoznadzor constantly. And apart from this department, no one can do such work.