Government to help modernize wholesale food markets

The government of Russia is going to form an integral system of wholesale food markets, rendering the entire range of services for acceptance, packaging and sale of products. The concept of this sector’s development was approved by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin by the order No.2689-r dated September 27, reports Megafishnet.com.

According to the Government, at present, there is no special regulation of wholesale food markets in our country, there is no approved terminology in this area, and the infrastructure of existing markets is extremely limited and does not meet current requirements. The adoption of the concept will partially eliminate these shortcomings.

The document defines the wholesale food market as an enterprise that provides trading places, equipment and various services to competing wholesalers. These include, for example, loading and unloading operations, protection of goods, sanitary treatment of premises, cleaning of territories, information and advertising support, as well as communication services. It is clarified that retail trade is also possible at the territory of wholesale markets, but the government recommends conducting it in a separate zone.

In order to ensure control over food safety, it is proposed to legislate the requirement to place veterinary and sanitary laboratories on the territory of the market. At the same time, the markets themselves, as indicated in the concept, should tend to become the centers of food consumption, primarily to large agglomerations and cities.

The document also sets out key tasks in the field of the wholesale food market development. Firstly, it is the improvement of legal regulation. The improvement of infrastructure is the second target. Thirdly, state support of wholesale sites. Specific steps to handle these challenges will be presented in a special plan of measures. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been instructed to prepare it within a six-month period.

The implementation of the concept will help to form an effective system of wholesale food trade in Russia. This, in turn, will simplify the access of agricultural producers to direct sales channels, reduce their costs and respectively the product prices.