"Following his routine visit to the Tambov Region, President Dmitry Medvedev asked us to prepare proposals on that matter," Mr Zubkov said in his opening remarks.

The participants discussed the efficiency of current mechanisms for state control over the compliance with safety and quality regulations in grain trade.

"Russia ranks among the world's largest grain exporters. This is why its regulations and business models should be brought in line with the legislation of other leading grain producers and the fellow members of the Customs Union, as well as with the requirements of importing nations," Mr Zubkov said.

The first deputy prime minister emphasised the need to improve the system of inventorying grain and its derivatives. "To be able to make managerial decisions, we need reliable and up-to-date information on our grain stocks," he said.

Following the session, Mr Zubkov requested relevant federal executive bodies that by the end of this year, they should prepare a draft law enabling the creation of a workable and full-fledged system of state control over the compliance with safety and quality regulations in grain trade. The draft should be elaborated drawing from global expertise, including that of the Customs Union member states, he said.