Russian milk: a focus on improving quality, transparency of production, and availability of products
At the beginning of next year, it is planned to make the punishment for counterfeiters of dairy products more severe. During a large-scale inspection of import and use of palm oil, the State Duma experts found out that a number of milk producers add palm oil and replace healthy fats in their products, but do not indicate this on the packaging. This information was provided by Yulia Ogloblina, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues, during the V International Conference "Food Quality Food Safety". This Conference is one of the world's leading food safety forums, and it started on 23 September at the National Centre RUSSIA.
"We have checked almost a thousand dairy products names, covered half of our country's regions, and surveyed 153 chain and non-chain stores. As a result, we discovered that natural dairy products with no milk fat substitutes added mainly prevail. Products containing substitute ingredients are found in no more than 10 goods items, but the problem is that it is very difficult for consumers to see and understand which product is natural and which contains substitutes, even if it is placed on a separate shelf," Yulia Ogloblina said.
During the analysis of the data obtained, it turned out that fines varying from 100 to 300 thousand rubles do not stop violators. They pay regularly, but they do not stop food counterfeiting. There is a proposal to increase the amount of fines by 10 times — up to 3 million rubles. Our proposals were sent to the relevant State Duma Control Committee and the Ministry of Economic Development. "Together with the National Dairy Producers Union, we have studied foreign experience and saw for ourselves that in a number of countries criminal liability has been introduced for food adulteration and mislabeling. We consider it necessary to introduce a similar measure in our country. We propose a step-by-step system: the first step is a warning, the second is a fine, and in case of repeated and systematic violation, criminal liability is imposed. This should make food counterfeiting economically unprofitable," Yulia Ogloblina explained.
A separate discussion addressed the use of palm oil in baby food. Palm oil is one of the most common vegetable fats, and it is actively used in infant formulas.
"We discussed this and collectively came to the conclusion that palm oil products should be excluded from the diet of children in schools and kindergartens. All necessary proposals have been prepared. The task is to submit relevant legislative initiatives to the State Duma by the end of the year. I hope that these initiatives will be adopted early next year. It is also necessary to work out the possibility of banning the use of milk fat substitutes in baby food, taking into account the provision of children with the necessary nutrients." Yulia Ogloblina said.
The third important issue discussed at the conference was how to make the farmers' work in the "Chestny Znak" system easier. This is a state system that has become mandatory for farming households and agricultural cooperatives since 1 September 2024. According to it, farmers are required to digitally mark goods that are sold in individual consumer packaging. That is, they are obliged to place special Data Matrix codes (two-dimensional matrix barcodes) on their products, and then transmit to the system information about the products’ entry into circulation.
"Now, if a farmer produces and sells products directly from a livestock farm located in a remote or inaccessible area, then he only needs to put a code on the products. At the same time, it is not necessary to provide information about the circulation or withdrawal of products from circulation. In addition, there are some relaxations of the rules in case of problems with the Internet connection in such areas. Farmers are given 30 calendar days to insert the information required. The list of such remote and hard-to-reach areas is approved by every subject of the Russian Federation," Yulia Ogloblina explained.
The International Conference "Food Quality Food Safety" will be held at the National Centre RUSSIA until 24 September, and will move to the Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University of Russia on 25 September.
Event photobank
The event started on 23 September at the National Centre RUSSIA.
During the meeting, the heads of the working groups and the leaders of the project teams presented reports on the work done.
