On October 26, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. Maximum allowable selling prices for bread and dairy products have been increased in Belarus. This decision is contained in Resolution No. 86 of the Ministry of Economy dated October 18, 2012, the department of public relations of the Ministry of Economy informed BelTA correspondent. The document introduces amendments and additions to Resolution No. 35 of the Ministry of Economy of Belarus dated April 26, 2012. Resolution No. 86 provides for the possibility for manufacturing organizations to increase selling prices for high-fat milk, kefir, sour cream, cottage cheese, as well as for similar dairy products with flavourings and fillings by 4% in October 2012. The Ministry of Economy recalled that in April 2012, Resolution No. 35 of the ministry decided that milk processing organizations should not exceed the selling price levels for the aforementioned products established as of April 29, 2012. In August and September 2012, in accordance with Resolution No. 68 of the Ministry of Economy dated June 31, 2012, manufacturing organizations were allowed to increase the selling price levels for these products by 4% per month. As for low-fat dairy products, as well as dairy products without flavourings and fillings, their production has practically ceased at present due to unprofitability, the Ministry of Economy noted. In order to reduce the price difference for various dairy products and to encourage manufacturers to increase the output of such products, the maximum allowable selling prices for milk and kefir with a fat content of up to 3.5%, sour cream with a fat content of up to 25%, and cottage cheese with a fat content of up to 9% without flavourings and fillings are increased by 35%. Also, in order to compensate for the increased cost of grain raw materials, reduce production unprofitability, and saturate the consumer market with socially significant types of bread and bakery products (rye and rye-wheat bread without additional imported ingredients, wheat flour bakery products with a sugar and fat content not exceeding 14% in total), the maximum allowable selling prices for bread and loaves are increased by 10%, and for other types of bakery products – by 3%. Resolution No. 86 of the Ministry of Economy comes into force on October 27, 2012. -0-

BELTA