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Authorities deny restrictions on sales of foreign-made candies

 

The trade ministry has denied reports that authorities have ordered retailers to limit sales of foreign-made candies.

"There are no restrictions, no documents prohibiting stores from selling goods of foreign origin," Tatsyana Radkevich, of the ministry's food market department, told BelaPAN.

The official added that the ministry was not involved in helping Belarusian candy makers Kamunarka and Spartak sell their goods. "They lower their prices themselves, advertise their goods. Sales of goods depend on the buyer. Some prefer foreign-made goods, some domestic goods, the customer cannot be forced to buy something," she said.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich was said to have ordered retailers to limit the share of imports in their candy sales to 15 percent.

Kamunarka and Spartak are said to have seen their sales plunge shortly after their de facto nationalization by the Belarusian government in late 2012.  // BelaPAN