OREANDA-NEWS. On 20 January 2009 was announced, that the early January devaluation of the Belarusian ruble by around 20% is not reason enough to increase prices for imported commodities, the Economy Ministry said in a statement.

Under instruction #183 on price-formation, passed in 2008, when forming selling prices for imported goods, contract prices are translated into Belarusian rubles at the official exchange rate of the central bank as of the date they are formed, so importers are entitled to form new prices for goods that are already in stock only if goods are registered at acquisition prices. However, if goods in stock are registered at their selling/retail prices, prices may not be revised.

The remainder of earlier imported goods may be sold at selling prices set as of the date of sale on condition that wholesale markup limits are met.

The ministry recommends using resolution #375 of the government on revision of retail prices to coordinate changes in selling prices of consumer goods. The document reads that prices for imported goods already in stock may be adjusted upwards to the level of newly received analogous goods acquired on the domestic market.

Selling prices for medical goods are to be formed on the basis of ordinance #366, adopted in 2005.