The Association of Retail Trade Companies (AKORT) opposed the bill on the “Russian shelf,” writes Izvestia citing a letter from the association. The Association of Internet Trading Companies (AKIT) also pointed out potential risks.
AKORT indicated that the obligation to create a “Russian platform” may lead to an increase in prices, and the cost of domestic products may be higher than that of foreign counterparts.
The association also warns that domestically produced products may face low demand due to high costs and inconsistent quality.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade disagreed with the objections of industry representatives and stated that such bills are necessary for economic development and technological sovereignty.
The deputy head of the department, Viktor Evtukhov, believes that products imported through parallel imports are usually more expensive than local ones. At the same time, Evtukhov claims, it is Russian products that have high consumer qualities and the necessary certificates.
According to a representative of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, local products have a lower demand than imported ones due to the recognition of international brands.
“And they (Russian products) are doing worse at the moment only because they are still not advertised as much as the transnational brands that left Russia,” Evtukhov is quoted in the publication.
Earlier, United Russia deputy Tatyana Butskaya prepared an updated version of the bill on the “Russian regiment”. It will force marketplaces to display the first 50 products of Russian origin in search results.
The Association of Internet Commerce Companies (AKIT) distrusts the initiative. According to the president of the organization, Artem Sokolov, such a mechanism can cause the opposite effect.
“Retailers will have the obligation to put certain products on the shelves, and their manufacturers will have no responsibility for quality and price for the consumer,” Sokolov said, adding that support for national brands should be carried out taking into account a healthy competitive environment. .
As a study by Online Market Intelligence (OMI) showed, Russians continue to trust foreign brands even after they have officially left the country. Among the 20 favorite brands of the country’s residents there are still mainly foreign brands.
Author:
Natalia Gormaleva
Source: RB
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