Прилавок магазина в Минске. Молоко. Фото: Reform.by
The Belarusian Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade recently announced that it was introducing a “Belarusian content quota in the retail assortment.” The decision was justified on national security grounds.
The ministry later published Resolution No. 74 concerning assortment lists. It amended a number of notes to the lists, indicating that the assortment for certain product categories must be provided through Belarusian-made goods.
At a seminar, Deputy Minister Sviatlana Karatkevich explained that the resolution requires retailers to ensure a minimum number of product varieties exclusively through Belarusian-made goods. At the same time, retailers may offer any number of products from other countries in excess of the minimum number of items stipulated by the mandatory list.
The resolution is due to take effect on Sept. 10. In the meantime, retailers must adjust and coordinate their lists.
The ministry plans to conduct further monitoring of the share of Belarusian goods.