They want to make GOSTs mandatory for products

They want to make GOSTs for food products mandatory. A bill with such requirements has been prepared for submission to the State Duma by deputies of the Communist Party faction headed by first deputy chairman of the Central Committee of the party Yuri Afonin.

"Currently, Clause 2 of Article 4 of Federal Law No. 162-FZ dated June 29, 2015 "On Standardization in the Russian Federation" defines a separate list of goods for which the application of standardization documents is mandatory. It seems that the adoption of this draft law will make it possible to tighten the requirements for the food production process and improve its quality," the explanatory note to the draft law, which is available to Izvestia, says.

According to Afonin, at the moment, almost every second manufacturer writes "GOST" on labels in large letters, and in small letters, which you still need to look for on the packaging, it is made according to THAT. And if they don't even write "GOST", the quality of food often does not meet any standards. Neither in appearance, nor in taste.

According to him, in addition, GOST standards tend to be updated frequently, and today they themselves are advisory in nature, that is, they are not mandatory.

"But what's the use of them then? People are already tired of having to study with a magnifying glass what exactly they are buying with their money. And they are even more tired of being disappointed by the quality of food that does not meet any standards," Afonin stressed, believing that the mandatory implementation of GOST will protect citizens from low—quality products and give regulatory authorities the necessary tools to influence producers.

Champagne Guest: what will be the new sparkling wine standard in Russia

The document will strengthen quality control from raw materials to bottles.

Ahmed Yusupov, an economist and partner at the Goldman Energy communications agency, said on March 11 that the new GOST regulating the production of "green" fruits is voluntary and forms a separate segment of products labeled "Green Standard" on the market. He noted that this approach would not change the structure of the entire fruit market, but would create an additional niche for producers willing to invest in eco-friendly technologies.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.