OREANDA-NEWS. November 20, 2012. “RBK” RIA organized a Round Table “Who Whips Up “Bread” Inflation”. FAS was represented by Deputy Head of the FAS Department for Control over Chemical Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex, Irina Yepifanova, reported the press-centre of FAS.

The leading industry exerts - representatives of the Russian Union of Milling and Grain Enterprises, the Russian Bakers’ Union, and Union of Bread Producers of the Moscow Region - discussed what bread prices can be expected in Russia and what is the “cost” of controlling price growth; are accusations of retail sellers by suppliers and producers justified; why bread-making plants in Russia are unprofitable; how the growth of grain prices can push up bread prices; and where the rumours about possible interruptions of bread supply come from, and some other issues.

The Round Table discussed the reasons for recent growth of bread prices and the measures for preventing sharp price fluctuations. In a unanimous opinion, the main reason for increased bread prices is upsurge in flour price, which in its turn is related to the sharp rise in grain prices. Regional offices of FAS Russia monitor prices for the main socially important food products along the whole chain – from producers to retail.

As pointed out by Irina Yepifanova, “bread is the main socially important product; therefore control over the situation on the bread market is one of FAS priorities. If signs of antimonopoly violations are revealed, FAS undertakes the measures to suppress them”.

Irina Yepifanova also warned the attendees of the Round Table and the listeners of the Internet-conference not to make public forecasts regarding an expected growth of bread prices. She described the actions of government bodies in such situation.

“In its turn FAS undertakes all measures to prevent unreasonable growth of prices for bread and other socially important food products”, pointed out Irina Yepifanova.