The commission reviewed the general situation of the food market, with a focus on cereals, horticultural, and dairy products.

The participants of the meeting unanimously agreed that the economic and administrative measures of the government as well as its customs and pricing policies had helped to keep prices down.

One of the most important issues on the meeting's agenda was the state of the grain and sugar markets. The commission concluded that the government's decisions on market interventions and the distribution of grain among regions would help maintain stability on the domestic grain market.

The commission prepared a recommendation for the sub-commission on customs tariff and non-tariff regulation and protective measures in foreign trade to consider a proposal to reschedule the reduction of import duties on crude sugar from May 1 to March 1 of this year.

At the end of the meeting, First Deputy Prime Minister Zubkov requested that regional leaders be invited to each meeting of the commission wherein the issue of pricing in their regions is to be discussed.

Chairman of the Bank of Russia Sergei Ignatyev attended the meeting. Mr Zubkov ordered the commission to prepare the necessary documents to grant Mr Ignatyev membership in the commission.