OREANDA-NEWS. On 15 June 2009 was announced, that the Russian Agriculture Ministry is going to revise the common production and consumption balance of the Union State, the agriculture minister, Yelena Skrynnik, told reporters.

“We suggest revising the balance in order to import more products that we have in short supply now, for instance cheap high-quality cheese instead of powdered milk,” she said.

Belarus can export 2.8 million tonnes of dairy products to Russia annually, “but Belarusians tend to be overenthusiastic about their exports and supply some 30% in excess of the agreed balance,” the minister said.

Belarus supplies over 4 million tonnes of dairy products to Russia annually at prices standing 30%-50% below the Russian prices.

Skrynnik said the Belarusian government had issued an instruction allowing Belarusian producers to sell their products in Russia at prices below production costs.

According to her, “Belarusians have made it their objective to seize our dairy market.”