Russian food producers ask that authorities not ban entry of transport from EU
MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - Associations uniting producers of food products and packaging for the food industry have asked Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin not to restrict the entry of heavy trucks from the EU that deliver feedstock for the industry, according to a letter seen by Interfax.
"We ask that in drawing up a decision regarding the Russian Federation's response to the fifth EU sanctions package, the government not apply 'tit-for-tat' measures to European carriers and ensure unhindered transportation of products, feedstock, materials and components for the food industry to Russia," the letter reads.
The document was signed by the Union of Juice, Water and Drinks Producers (Soyuznapitki), the National Union of Milk Producers (Soyuzmoloko), the Fish Union, the Association of Glass Container Manufacturers, Rusprodsoyuz, the Association of Beer Producers, the Union of Food Ingredients Manufacturers and the Oil and Fat Union.
The letter recalls that the EU ban on hauling of goods via transport from Russia and Belarus, introduced within the fifth package of sanctions, does not apply to the transportation of medicines and food. "At the same time, we note that at the moment there is a situation of a complete ban on the entry of heavy vehicles with Russian license plates into the European Union. At the same time, European transport companies refrain from delivering cargo to Russia, as they see certain risks, up to confiscation of the transport of European carriers in anticipation of retaliatory measures on the part of Russia," the letter reads.
At the same time, they note that the proposals put forward on some expert platforms to create "buffer" zones at the Russian-European border for transshipment of cargo cannot be supported, because it is impossible to meet safety requirements for food products in such conditions. In addition, this will critically increase the delivery time of feedstock and supplies.
According to the president of Soyuznapitki Maxim Novikov, one of the most import-dependent industries of the food industry is the beverage industry. It depends on supplies of concentrated juices for the production of juice products and products for baby food, as well as various ingredients for the production of soft drinks. "There is still a difficult situation in the packaging market, especially the multilayer combination packaging in which a wide range of products are poured," he said.
It will take a considerable amount of time to restructure logistics and find alternative suppliers, which could lead to a breakdown of the production chain, Novikov said. "At the moment, beverage producers are trying to limit prices of finished products, but if negative trends persist, a significant increase in the price of goods on the shelves will be inevitable," he said.
Pointing to the situation with equipment supplies, Novikov said, "Being one of the most high-tech industries, beverage production in Russia is more than 90% equipped with foreign equipment, including European equipment. Failure to supply components could lead to production problems, up to and including line stoppages. To replace this equipment with Russian analogues in the current situation is not possible," he said.
