Labeling of dairy products with a shelf life of more than 40 days starts in Russia

Producers of dairy products with a shelf life of more than 40 days are connected to the labeling system. ‘Since January 20, when the registration of turnover participants in the labeling system began, 92% of manufacturers producing products with a shelf life of more than 40 days have joined the "Honest mark" system. They are ready to produce products with labeling codes. To date, 64 printing houses are fully ready, their capacities cover the needs of the industry,’ said Deputy General director of the labeling system operator of Center for Advanced Technologies Development (CATD) Revaz Yusupov.

According to him, since the beginning of the first stage of labeling in the categories of cheese and ice cream, the system shows good results and copes with a high load. Both large and small manufacturers have confirmed their readiness for labeling

Head of the Certification and Standardization Department of Chistaya Liniya, Nerses Kagramanyan, said that the company has completed the preparation. ‘The enterprise has been fully ready by September 1. We decided to prepare in advance for the first and second stages of mandatory labeling of dairy products,’ he said. According to Kagramanyan, the "Honest mark" system helps to control the quality of products and allows the consumer to see when and where the product is produced.

Butter with labeling codes produced by Rovenki-Butter and cheese factory will be available on store shelves from September 1. ‘The second stage of labeling involves working with a line of packaged butter - this sector is now a priority. This week, since September 1, it will be possible to see the packaged butter “Bogdasha” from the manufacturer Rovenki-Butter and cheese factory with the labeling code on the retail shelves. The corresponding mark is applied to the packaging material,’ said Director of the enterprise Leonid Zaskalko.

He noted that retail chains have also adapted to the new standards. The largest milk processor, the Group of companies Ekoniva, has also completed training. ‘The sites of Obninsk dairy plant and MosMedynAgroprom, which are part of Ekoniva Group, will begin labeling products with an expiration date of more than 40 days with the means of identification "Honest mak" in full since September 1. Currently, the debugging of technical and IT solutions for the correct application and commissioning of labeling codes is being completed. The company chose ordering of packaging with an "Honest mark" in a printing house as the main method of application, which is a guarantee of the quality and readability of the code,’ said Lyubov Aksenova, head of the GR - service of Ekoniva Group.

‘Ultra-pasteurized milk, cream and butter produced by Ekoniva fall under the mandatory requirements.’ ‘They are produced at two sites of the group in Kaluga and Voronezh regions. The changes affected four high-speed lines,’ she concluded.

Labeling of dairy products has become mandatory in Russia since June 1, 2021 for the categories of cheeses and ice cream. Since September 1, the requirements will become mandatory for products with a shelf life of more than 40 days, and since December 1 - for goods with a shelf life of 40 days or less. In addition, since December 1 this year, it will be mandatory to withdraw goods from circulation at the checkout, and since September 1, 2022 - volume and grade accounting. For farmers who will sell products directly or through retail, labeling will become mandatory since December 1, 2022. Per-item accounting of dairy products will be introduced on December 1, 2023.