Foreign media: coffee or selected food with social significance in Russia

Foreign media said that the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade believes that it is logical to include coffee in the list of socially meaningful food.

Viktor Yevtukhov, Russia's vice minister of industry and trade, told Izvestia that if the price of the product rises, its inclusion in the list will help fix government prices.

According to the report, the newspaper reminded that there is no coffee but black tea in the 24 socially significant product lists approved by the government. If the price of these goods increases by more than 30% within 30 days in a certain area, the government has the right to set a ceiling on its retail price. The effect of freezing prices will not exceed 90 days. The newspaper warned that the law was passed in 2009 after the crisis.

The newspaper explained that the value-added tax on the items in the list was reduced from 18 per cent to 10 per cent. At present, this list includes meat and meat products (except delicacies), egg milk, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, bread and bread products, rice, flour, macaroni products, a variety of fish, vegetables, children's food and nutritional foods.