Ministry of Agriculture and Food Expects Increase in Demand for Belarusian Dairy Produce in Russia

Mikhail Savelyev, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, informed the journalists that Belarusian Ministry of Agriculture and Food expects an increase in demand for Belarusian milk and dairy produce after new technical regulations come into effect in Russia.

Mikhail Savelyev, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, informed the journalists that Belarusian Ministry of Agriculture and Food expects an increase in demand for Belarusian milk and dairy produce after new technical regulations come into effect in Russia.

“Attachment of new technical regulations concerning milk and dairy products in Russia will create the necessary prerequisites for keen demand for natural dairy produce manufactured in Belarus,” thinks M. Savelyev.

At the same time, believes Deputy Minister, Belarus needs to “harmonize terminology and exact designations of imported items of production” with the Russian party.

Dairy produce is one of the main Belarusian food items exported to Russia.

According to the Ministry of Statistics, in 2007 the shipment of milk and non-condensed cream made up 106.4 thousand tons to the sum of $41.3 million (which is 24.8% less and 9.4% more, respectively, than in 2006), condensed and powdered milk and cream – 119.1 thousand tons to the sum of $284.7 million (which is 13.1% less and 33.9% more, respectively). Cheese and cottage cheese deliveries increased by 19.5% to 98.6 thousand tons. In value terms they increased by 56.6% to $336.6 million. Export of dairy butter amounted to 54.2 thousand tons (which is 1.5% more) to the sum of $154.1 million (which is 48.1% more).

At the plenary meeting held on 23^rd May State Duma of Russia adopted “Technical Regulations for Milk and Dairy Produce” at the third reading. The document was worked out in concordance with the law “On Technical Regulation” and specifies mandatory requirements for milk, dairy produce and processed products, their manufacture and turnover in order to improve pro-life safeguards and population health. Besides that, it aims at preventing the activities which can mislead the customers as well as at ensuring reliability of information about the name, composition and consumer properties of milk and dairy produce.

The experts note that introduction of technical regulations will allow forming clear demand for full natural cream milk and adequate prices on it as well as ruling out the situation when manufacturers of really natural produce have to compete with those who manufacture reduced products. It will also let provide customers with accurate information about the product offered.

Regulations will come into effect on the expiry of 6 months after its official publication.