Belarus curbs growth of prices of essential goods from Mar 2021 – resolution

<p> MINSK, Feb 24 - PrimePress. The government of Belarus has prohibited to raise prices of socially important essential goods until February 28, 2021, and restricted their growth to no more than 0.2% per month fr om March 1, 2021. The list includes 62 kinds of foods and consumer goods and 50 kinds of medicines produced in Belarus, as per government decree No.100 of February 23, 2021 posted on the National Legal Internet Portal on February 24, 2021. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Price rises above the lim it are only allowed in consultation with the Commission for State Regulation of Pricing of the Council of Ministers of Belarus. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The list of socially important goods includes polished rice, polished (including steamed); wheat flour; semolina; buckwheat groats; oat flakes; pearl barley groats; wheat groats; rye bread; rye-wheat bread; top-grade wheat flour bread and bun goods (loaf); first-grade wheat flour bread and bun goods; pasta (noodles, vermicelli etc.); beef (except boneless meat); boneless beef; pork (except boneless meat); boneless pork; edible meat by-products (except poultry by-products); chicken (including broilers); top-grade boiled sausage; first-grade boiled sausage; second-grade and other boiled sausages; semi-smoked, cooked and smoked sausage; wieners; canned stewed beef; canned stewed pork; live fish; frozen ungutted fish (cod and mackerel); frozen fish (fillet and gutted); canned fish (except delicatessen); milk; kefir; sour cream; high-fat cottage cheese; low-fat cottage cheese; hard and semi-hard cheese; chicken eggs; butter; margarine; vegetable oil (except olive); apples; fresh white cabbage; onions; beets; carrots; fresh cucumbers; fresh tomatoes; garlic; sweet peppers; potatoes; granulated sugar; instant coffee; black tea; table salt; porridge for babies and dietary; canned meat for children and dietary; dry milk mixtures for children and dietary; fruit preserves for children and dietary; laundry soap; toilet soap; toilet paper; napkins; diapers; sanitary pads and towel; matches (in boxes). </p> <p>   </p> <p> The government has instructed line ministries and agencies to ensure execution of the resolution and to “take systemic measures to analyze and monitor pricing, issue local legal acts on measures to stabilize prices and ensure their close monitoring. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MART) and the Ministry of Health are instructed to revise the lists of goods and medicines, if necessary, to ensure the availability of socially important goods of prime necessity, and to monitor the availability of listed goods and medicines in stores and pharmacies. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The government took similar drastic measures to regulate prices last year as well. Decree No.184 of March 30, 2020 limited price increases to 0.5% per month. It was revoked as soon as April 17, 2020. Regulation of prices of socially important goods by limiting trade markups was introduced. This mechanism had been in effect until recently. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The decree comes into force upon its official publication. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, annual inflation in Belarus increased to 7.7% in January 2021 from 7.4% in December 2020. In January 2021 alone, inflation was at 1.1%. According to MART, prices of socially important goods increased in January by an average of 1.3%. Inflation in 2020 reached 7.4%, the official forecast being at or below 5%. The monetary policy guidelines for 2021 established the inflation rate at up to 5%. </p> <p>   </p> <p> President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at the 6th All-Belarusian People’s Assembly on February 11, 2021 that price regulation in Belarus would remain a priority. He said that prices were controlled by the State Control Committee, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, parliamentarians and trade unions. End </p>

2021-02-25

Primepress