Dep. PM presents new Russian Food Security Doctrine
MOSCOW. Dec 30 (Interfax) - Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Gordeyev presented a new version of Russia's Food Security Doctrine on Friday at a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and members of the Security Council.
The new doctrine, drafted by the government on instructions from the president, responds to the main current social and economic conditions both inside the country and on the international level, Gordeyev's press service said.
Gordeyev said that the openness of Russia's agribusiness sector has increased considerably due to the country's accession to the World Trade Organization, which required it to adapt to tariff measures of regulation and factor in foreign trade risks in production and shipment of key Russian agricultural products to foreign markets, the press service reporte.
"In order to prevent possible internal and external risks, the new Doctrine foremost calls for our country's complete self-sufficiency for the main types of agricultural products and increasing the affordability of quality food products for our country's whole population. In addition, in accordance with the new document it is necessary to form a state reserve of agricultural products, raw materials and food in case of emergencies, whether it be bad weather or a bad harvest," Gordeyev was quoted as saying.
The list of indicators for self-sufficiency that have set thresholds has been expand expanded to include vegetables, melons and gourds with a threshold of 90%, fruit and berries with a threshold of 60%, and seeds with a threshold of 75%.