OREANDA-NEWS. On 12 May 2009 was announced, that the Economy Ministry of Belarus had signed resolution #60 on procedures to form prices and tariffs [adopted by resolution #183 in 2008]. The document is registered in the national register of legal information on April 24 and comes into effect 10 days after the official publication.

Under the resolution, the wholesale markup on transit commodities [sales are not subject to storage and transport expenses, since they bypass the warehouse of the intermediary], irrespective of the number of intermediaries, must not exceed 5% of the selling price of the producer/importer.

Free price formation, that is, with no wholesale markup caps, will apply to hardware products, including locks, brushes, vegetable seeds, pet shop goods, furniture fittings, electrical fittings, grooming products, plant treatment agents, frozen foods (vegetables and fruit), etc.

Rice, buckwheat and millet, as well as sugar substitutes, have been included in the list of products whose prices are restrained by the state.

The ministry allowed the wholesale discount offered by the producer to be split between subsidiary selling companies and enterprises, in which the producer controls over 50%.

The Economy Ministry also attempted to divide pricing rules for industrial and consumer services. From now on the cost of materials, spare parts, components and fittings used to render consumer services will be included in tariffs or paid for at acquisition prices.