Import substitution in food sphere can be considered as accomplished - experts

UFA, 4 April 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Alim Faizov/. At the year-end 2016, the Ministry of Industry and Trade registered a record low in this millennium the share of imports in the Russian grocery stores. According to the ministry, imports amounted to 23 percent of the assortment of the grocery stores. In some niches the share of domestically produced foodstuffs reached 95-100 percent. Experts argue that import substitution should be considered as taken place and further growth in the share of domestic products should not be expected, Izvestiya reports .

The share of imported food products on the shelves of the Russian shops is constantly decreasing, it is stated in the letter of the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Yevtukhov to the Committee for Agrarian-Food Policy and Nature Management of the Federation Council.

"In 2013 this indicator was 36 percent, in 2014 - 34, in 2015-28, in 2016 - 23 percent", the Deputy Minister said.

He noted that the share of some domestic products reached 95-100 percent in the trade turnover of federal trade chains. These are, in particular, bread, milk, sugar, cereals, meat, fish, eggs and pasta.

Victor Yevtukhov also specified that the share of regional producers exceeded 35 percent in the foodstuffs trade turnover. In a number of categories it constitutes more than a half: in bread and bakery products, meat, meat and sausage products, dairy products, seasonal vegetables.

However, the increase in quality of Russian foodstuffs is out of the question. According to Rospotrebnadzor, last year 66 percent of producers violated the sanitary conditions for production and storage of products. To solve the problem, the department has already approved the Strategy for improving the quality of food products in the Russian Federation until 2030.