Food prices: Minister announces tough measures

Tengrinews.kz – Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev announced additional measures to stabilize prices in the country, according to the ministry's press service.

According to the statement, the ministry is strengthening control over the compliance with trade markups on socially significant food products. A large meeting was held under the chairmanship of Arman Shakkaliyev , with the participation of more than 80 representatives of retail chains from all regions of the country. The minister reminded participants of the government-established 15 percent markup limit on socially significant goods and warned of strict measures in case of violations. According to the ministry, since the beginning of the year, regional departments have issued 2,562 administrative rulings, including 1,360 fines totaling over 56.5 million tenge and 1,202 warnings.

“Special attention is being paid to monitoring compliance with the established markup on the meat market. For exceeding the allowable markup on social-grade beef, 45 rulings were issued, including 33 fines. The Ministry of Trade, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, is additionally creating monitoring groups to oversee compliance with trade markups during meat deliveries to retail outlets. Legislative changes are also being prepared to eliminate hidden pricing schemes and the imposition of retro bonuses when selling socially significant food products,” the ministry said.