The government will be asked to set standards for packaging socially significant goods

The government is being asked to set standards for packaging socially significant goods. Sergei Mironov, head of the Fair Russia faction, and Yana Lantratova, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Civil Society Development, Public and Religious Associations, addressed such an appeal to Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. The appeal is at the disposal of Izvestia.

"Government Decree No. 530 establishes a list of socially significant essential food products for which the maximum allowable retail price may be imposed. However, the current legislation does not provide for the mandatory establishment of standards for the volume and weight of packaging of these goods. In particular, GOST 8.579–2019, which defines the range of packages, is advisory in nature and does not cover the entire range of essential goods," the deputies said in their appeal.

The document also notes that the practice of covertly cheapening a product — "shrinkflation" — is becoming a passing form of inflation. According to analysts, in the third quarter of 2023, the average reduction in package weight in the grocery category was almost 5%, and in bakery products — over 4%. Similar trends are recorded in other studies — for example, chocolate bars and candies decreased by an average of 8-10%, and lightly salted fish — up to 6%, according to deputies.

"To protect consumer rights and prevent hidden inflation, we propose to set clear standards for the volume and weight of packages of socially important goods. This will prevent unfair reduction of their volume and increase control over food prices," Mironov explained to Izvestia.

According to him, it has become the norm for food producers to reduce the weight or volume of packages of flour, buckwheat, rice, bread, butter, and dairy products by 50, 70, 100, 130 grams or milliliters.

"But money is often charged as for an ordinary liter or kilogram of goods," the parliamentarian noted.

"There has never been an example of such rapid development of the agricultural sector in the world as in Russia"

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"Eggs, for example, sell for 9, 8, 6, pieces, and try to calculate in a hurry how much a standard dozen can cost. Anyone who does this arithmetic task will be surprised to learn that eggs are more expensive than 10 pieces in a regular package," said the deputy.

Lantratova expressed the opinion that mandatory packaging standards should be established for socially significant goods such as flour, butter, and dairy products.

"We can take the current GOST as a basis, making it mandatory for use. This will simplify control, increase market transparency and protect the buyer from unfair volume games," Lantratova told Izvestia.

According to her, it is necessary to make sure that prices rise fairly, and the consumer always understands what he is paying for.

On July 10, Mishustin reported that Russia was oversupplied with grain and sugar. He also emphasized the growing use of seeds of domestic breeding. According to him, the indicator currently stands at about 67%. Mishustin clarified that these are not only cereals, but also sunflower, sugar beet and a number of other crops.