Industry associations: labeling will create new economic barriers in the EEU
According to industry representatives, the continuation of the project in the context of the global economic crisis will negatively affect honest market participants and will hinder the free movement of goods between countries.
The appeal notes that the introduction of labeling throughout the EEU may cause significant damage to the functioning of the single economic space. The introduction of unilateral labeling in any of the EEU states will automatically complicate the access of goods from other countries or lead to additional costs for fulfilling the project requirements. Only in Russia, the total cost of business to introduce labeling will amount, according to Scientific-Research Financial Institute, to 1.5 trillion rubles, and 39 thousand small businesses may show a negative economic result.
The Union of producers of soft drinks and mineral waters, SOYUZMOLOKO, ASCOND, the National Union of meat processors, Fat and Oil Union, RATEK, “RusBrand” and the Association of direct sales propose to change the approach to the project within the framework of the EEU and introduce labeling only if all participating states make a joint decision on the results of public discussion. It is necessary to exclude the unilateral format of the introduction of the project, since it can harm the entire ecosystem of relations between states within the Union.
The associations also suggest using labeling as a tool to combat counterfeiting only in those categories where a significant share of illegal traffic has been proven and the procedure for assessing economic feasibility has been carried out.
"We believe that labeling as a measure to combat counterfeiting is excessive and ineffective not only in Russia, but also throughout the EEU", said Maxim Novikov, President of the Union of producers of soft drinks and mineral waters. "The cost of such an instrument will exceed the estimated damage from illegal turnover of goods".
Earlier, we reported that according to CEO of Soyuzmoloko Artem Belov, labeling is the most expensive regulatory measure in the history of modern Russia.
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