Russian Civic Chamber urges cutting imported products share in Russian shops

The Russian Civic Chamber on Friday proposed a 30% cut in the share of imported products in Russian shops.
Vladimir Slepak, Chairman of the Civic Chamber commission for social support and life quality put forward the initiative on cutting the share of imported products in Russian shops from the current 80 to 50%, amending the law on trade activity to this end.
He said that Russian producers were currently facing difficulties in getting their products to Russian shops. “This is particularly important in the conditions of economic sanctions against Russia. Today, the national producers must be supported,” Slepak said.
He suggested that the mandatory share of Russian products on the shelves should be at least 50% “Russian producers will be able to meet Russian citizens’ demand if they have favorable conditions for this,” Slepak said.
He also proposed to tighten quality control in shops. “The consumer discontent level has become critical, especially over the quality of children’s products and school meals. Total food safety control is needed, and inspections of Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor [consumer rights and veterinary watchdogs] must become regular,” Slepak told ITAR-TASS.
He called for abolishing the law norms, banning inspections of businesses more often than once in three years.
Maximum punishment, as well as turnover-based fines, should be imposed for the sale of dangerous for life and health products, as it is practiced in many countries, Slepak said. To this end, the Civic Chamber proposes to amend the corresponding articles of the Russian Criminal Code.