The National Fruit and Vegetable Union appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture with a request to limit the import of frozen French fries into Russia. The organization believes that they themselves can meet the country's needs for this product.
The letter that the National Fruit and Vegetable Union sent to the Director of the Department of Economics, Investments and Market Regulation of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia Anatoly Kutsenko contains a proposal to introduce restrictions on the import of frozen French fries under the bill "On measures to influence the hostile actions of the United States and other foreign countries."
The message (RBC has it), signed by the executive director of the union Mikhail Glushkov, states that the share of imported French fries is 94%. Manufacturers assure that they themselves can produce this product in sufficient quantities for the market.
At the same time, producers of vegetables and fruits indicate that import substitution "will increase the safety and quality of products manufactured and delivered to the final consumer."
At the end of April in Lipetsk, the Belaya Dacha group of companies, together with the Dutch-American agricultural holding Lamb Weston Meijer, opened the first French fries factory in Russia. A Russian McDonald's report on this subject indicated that the company "will fully cover Russia's need for french fries." It was noted that the plant will reach full capacity by the end of 2019.
The main suppliers of frozen French fries to Russia were the Netherlands and Poland.
The bill "On measures of influence (counteraction) on the unfriendly actions of the United States of America and (or) other foreign states" was introduced to the State Duma on April 13 by leaders of parliamentary factions in response to a new package of sanctions announced by the White House. The draft law provides for the restriction or imposition of a ban on the import of certain products, as well as a ban on cooperation with the United States and several other countries in some areas.
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