Manufacturers proposed to exclude baby puree from the canned food labeling experiment, since against the backdrop of an increase in the cost of packaging, freight transportation and the cost of goods, labeling can lead to an increase in the price of products by another 10%, Izvestia reported with reference to a letter from the Rusbrand association to the Ministry of Economic Development . The Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to conduct an experiment from May 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023.
Rusbrand noted that baby food is one of the socially important essential goods. Against the backdrop of rising costs for raw materials, packaging and transportation and reducing real disposable incomes of citizens, it will be difficult for manufacturers to contain the cost of products. According to the association, the introduction of labeling can lead to an increase in prices by at least 10%.
The letter says that in the baby food segment, 25-30% are imported products. For foreign products, the developer has offered more expensive technical solutions, which, according to the association, creates a high risk of a shortage of baby food in stores.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade reported to the publication that during the experiment, manufacturers will be able to familiarize themselves with the principles of work in the information system and choose the best integration solutions and methods for identifying goods for themselves. It will be possible to objectively assess the costs of labeling only during the experiment, and several factors can affect the cost of products: an increase in the cost of packaging, electricity, fuel, and logistics services, the ministry noted. Companies that will participate in the experiment will be able to take preferential loans to purchase marking equipment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade added.
The Ministry of Agriculture reported that in 2021, prices for baby food were stable and grew below inflation. The ministry noted that baby food producers can take preferential short-term investment loans. The Ministry of Economic Development did not respond to the publication’s request.