"We are holding the first meeting of the commission, the primary task of which is to coordinate the actions of federal and regional authorities in monitoring the situation in food markets, responding to changes, and implementing regulatory acts of the Russian Federation in agricultural, food raw materials, and food products markets as well as the food trade," Viktor Zubkov said, opening the meeting.
"The commission is not starting from a clean slate," he continued. "A special working group, headed by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Andrei Dementyev, was created to monitor the food market under my order in July, at a time when significant jumps in prices were recorded both domestically and internationally. A number of measures were taken, including a ban on grain exports until July 1, 2011, and the introduction of an exclusive rate for rail transport of grain and grain products. Meanwhile, import duties on potatoes, cabbage, and buckwheat were removed." The first deputy prime minister also underscored active participation by the Federal Antimonopoly Service in preventing unreasonable price hikes on the market. "More than 350 cases have been filed since August. Judgments, including the imposition of fines, have been passed on more than 70 such cases. I ask the Federal Antimonopoly Service to continue its work," Zubkov said.
"Thanks to such a wide range of initiatives, the situation in the domestic food market was stabilised. Now we need to continue this work under the purview of the commission," he stressed.
To that end, Viktor Zubkov examined the proposals of commission members on additional specific measures and mechanisms for further stabilisation of primary food markets. Following the discussion, the first deputy prime minister ordered that finalised proposals aimed at implementing such initiatives be completed and submitted for review.
At the end of the meeting, Zubkov ordered the representatives of Russian constituent entities to take part in subsequent meetings of the commission and prepare its work plan for the first half of 2011, focusing on improving the efficiency of market regulation.
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The Government Commission on Monitoring and Promptly Responding to Changes in the Food Market was established under an order of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The commission consists of members of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, and the Federal Customs Service.