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Since July 2020 year tightened the rules of digital labeling. Labeling became mandatory for all medicines, footwear and tobacco products. All participants of turnover must also register in the system “Honest sign”. According to the state Secretary – Deputy Minister of industry and trade of the Russian Federation Victor Evtukhov, “the increase in prices in connection with the introduction of mandatory labelling of medicines and shoes should not be”.

according to the founder of the party “New people” Alexey Nechaev, the system of official digital labeling is additional pressure not only for business but also for ordinary people, especially in times of crisis associated with the pandemic.

“the very idea of mandatory digital labeling is ambiguous, – says Alexey Nechaev. – On the one hand, in some sectors, in the same food sector enter marking is advisable, as this will limit the influx of counterfeit goods, will reduce the number of defective products and will deter grey imports. For example, in fish retail on the shelves may be poaching fish and eggs. During the period of active import substitution in the stores have met such a unique phenomenon of the Belarusian shrimp, salmon or Belarusian. Sea in Belarus is not, and, apparently, it was just a transit and import of banned seafood from Norway. Now the markets can see salmon caviar, produced with the poaching method, or the Chinese sturgeon caviar, which is issued for the Russian product”.

on the other hand, according to Alexey Nechaev, in many segments of the economy, the marking may be a veiled tax for citizens.

“Mandatory labeling is practically a new hidden tax on people, a price Increase from the introduction of the labeling can be on the order of 3-5%, and some goods may reach up to 10%, – says Alexey Nechaev. – In addition, the marking system slows down the business, which and so not just in a pandemic. This is additional bureaucracy and new costs. For example, why the labeling of perfumes, I do not understand. First they said that to fight against counterfeiting, but the test showed that the percentage of counterfeit goods in the perfume is extremely low. However, labelling of cosmetics is not ruled out, but simply stopped talking about this segment as a priority. It is possible that the list of marked categories will be expanded further.

So when we talk about real measures to support businesses, it would be efficient to declare a moratorium until the end of 2020 for mandatory labeling of goods. A further point to analyze the industry, where this marking is vital, and where is simply a brake on the economy and source of wealth of a specific business elites. Moreover from a strategic point of view, the state would be beneficial to provide subsidies to business in all of these processes associated with marking. Now support manufacturers working in white to broaden their tax base, and potentially to get more tax revenue,” said Nechaev.