Leading industry associations of food producers and suppliers, as well as retail chains and consumers, have appealed to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin with a request not to introduce price regulation and to assess the impact of such measures with extreme caution, writes "Agroexpert". All participants in the food chain "from field to counter" consider this approach not only unconstructive but also objectively harmful in the current socio-economic and political situation, the appeal states. Among those who signed it are the Association of Retail Companies, Oil and Fat Union of Russia, National Meat Association, National Union of Milk Producers "Soyuzmoloko", "Rusprodsoyuz", Fish Union, etc.
Administrative pressure and legislative activity aimed at state regulation of food prices are increasing, while the reasons for price changes and cost increases, which are beyond the control of the business community, are not taken into account, the authors of the letter note. Consumer market participants support the measures that authorities apply against cartel agreements, but point out that inflationary processes are primarily related to increased production and distribution costs. Therefore, they consider their main task to be reducing costs. This can be helped by improving interaction in the industry and reducing excessive administrative burden.
At the same time, further expansion of price regulation for socially significant essential goods could lead "to an imbalance between supply and demand, stagnation in the development of agriculture and the food industry," industry associations warn. The authors also note that the list of socially significant goods is outdated and does not correspond to the realities of production and consumption.
Insufficient assessment of the consequences of measures to limit pricing freedom "will inevitably lead to the establishment of a mandatory assortment of goods in retail chains, and then to tasks for producers to supply them," industry associations believe. At the same time, the state already has a sufficient set of mechanisms for regulating the market and developing individual industries, so it will be enough to focus on increasing the effectiveness of these tools, they write. The authors of the appeal also consider it important to develop targeted support measures for socially vulnerable citizens to ensure the availability of basic food products. This is more effective than "establishing uniform markups and universal prices for thousands of goods from Russian enterprises," they emphasize.
At the end of March, when presenting the government's report on its work in 2024 to the State Duma, Mishustin said that the authorities should intensify interaction with the market on food prices, and if necessary, take the toughest measures. "Let me remind you that the government specifically provided regions with serious tools and opportunities for joint work with producers, suppliers and retail chains to limit prices and markups," the head of the Cabinet noted.