The proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation to reduce the import of whey for baby food from countries covered by the Russian food embargo to 1.5 thousand tons in 2023 does not pose risks for the industry. This volume is sufficient to meet the needs of the domestic market, head of the National Union of Milk Producers (Soyuzmoloko) Artem Belov told TASS on Monday on the sidelines of the Tatagroexpo exhibition.
“This is not about reducing the volume of all ingredients. We are talking about one specific ingredient – whey D90, which is used in the manufacture of breast milk substitutes for children. <...> In principle, the volume we are talking about now – 1.5 thousand tons – in the current conditions it is more than enough to supply the domestic market. <…> At the moment, the main components that we import are the so-called basis for the production of breast milk substitute, which already includes D90 whey,” Belov said.
He stressed that at the moment there are several projects in Russia where the D90 is used directly. “Those volumes that are determined are more than enough for current projects. In addition, over the past 3 years, several manufacturing companies have appeared within Russia, which may well produce the D90 for those projects that are in Russia, ”Belov added.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation proposes in 2023 to more than halve the import of whey for baby food from countries covered by the Russian food embargo, to 1.5 thousand tons. The draft of the relevant order was posted on the official website for the preparation of regulatory legal acts. In 2022, the volume of products of this type allowed for import into Russia amounted to 3,661 tons, in 2021 – 2 thousand tons.
At the end of February, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree extending to 2023 the possibility of importing whey for baby food into Russia from countries subject to the Russian food embargo, which has been in force since August 2014.
Full version on the Soyuzmoloko website: reduction in the volume of whey imports from sanctions countries does not threaten with a shortage
