Packaging standards
The Ministry of Agriculture of Russia informed industry associations about the adopted change in the interstate standard on fixed packaging volumes of socially important types of products.
“The structural unit of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia informed industry associations about the adopted amendment to the interstate standard GOST 8.579-2019 “The state system for ensuring uniformity of measurements.” Quantity requirements during the production, packaging, sale and import of packaged goods” were reported. TASS In the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia.
The new requirements will only apply to manufacturers who declare that the packaging of their products complies with the GOST standard.
Buckwheat subject to It is packaged in 500, 1000, 2000 grams, milk – 200, 250, 500, 1000, 2000 milliliters.
“The practice of prosecutorial supervision shows that manufacturers often reduce the volume, quantity and weight of products without reducing them, and in some cases even without increasing their sales prices. “Such manipulations mislead consumers about the correspondence of the volume and weight of the goods to their value,” explains the need for innovation in the GP.
The prosecutor’s office will organize monitoring of compliance with the new packaging rules.
List of socially important products looks as follows: beef, pork and lamb, except boneless meat, chicken, except leg, frozen whole fish, butter and sunflower oil, milk, chicken eggs, sugar, salt, black tea, flour, rye and wheat bread, polished rice, buckwheat, millet, noodles, potatoes, white cabbage, onions, carrots and apples.
Milliliter tricks
In the face of economic crises and rising prices, manufacturers often resort to packaging tricks. They reduce the volume and weight of goods to keep the price tags the same. For example, milk is bottled in 900 milligram containers, not in liter containers. The beer is sold in a can that looks like 0.5 liters but there is only 450ml inside. Additionally, packages may often indicate weight rather than volume.
“Marketers have a good idea about Russians’ level of knowledge of physics: most consumers do not realize that a kilogram of milk is less than a liter,” he said. RBC Dmitry Yanin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Confederation of Consumer Associations.
In stores you can also usually find nine eggs instead of a dozen. In fact, in the winter of 2019, State Duma deputy Mikhail Degtyarev submitted a corresponding application to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. In the Ministry’s response it was saidThe requirements for food products are determined by the technical regulations of the Customs Union. They say that the markings on the label should be reliable, understandable and easy to read. There is no instruction in the regulations regarding the fixed volume or number of units of the product in a package.
The FAS later stated that the “nine eggs” may violate the norms of Russian legislation on the protection of consumer rights, but do not violate anti-monopoly legislation.
There are also “thinner” chocolate bars on the shelves, weighing 80g instead of the usual 100g, and packets of chips that retain the same shape but have been reduced in diameter.
What are the advantages
The new norms will have a positive impact on consumers, especially those who are not accustomed to reading the composition, volume or weight of goods, such as retirees. Of course Galina Sorokina, Professor of the Department of World Economy and International Economic Relations at the State Business University. The expert also warned that customers may feel prices rising in stores due to changing rules.
Evgeniy Pantasia, a member of the Russian Lawyers Union, also agrees with Sorokina. He says increased volume can lead to a commensurate increase in product costs. However, Pantasia added that strict packaging standards will set production standards and this could have a positive impact in the future.
“Downsizing is a reaction of producers to decreasing purchasing power. There is clearly no high demand for “plain” packaging today; instead the preference is shifting towards smaller volumes.”
– stated “Fontanka” in one of the federal grocery chains.
Retail expert Mikhail Lachugin believes that, despite the new standards, products of non-standard volume and weight will not disappear anywhere. He points out that there is a loophole in the legislation: a product can be produced according to GOST, but packaged according to specifications (technical conditions – requirements for certain types of products, which are mandatory, unlike GOST).
Alexander Myshinsky, co-owner of the Real chain, adds that GOST is now nothing more than “purely a marketing tool.” He concludes that this is not always a sign of quality.