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Belarus’ light industry suggests revision of market rules due to COVID-19 outbreak

MINSK, 1 April (BelTA) – Light industry producers suggested revising market rules due to the novel coronavirus pandemic during a regular meeting of the Expert Community project “Light Industry of Belarus: Challenges and Risks” in BelTA’s press center on 1 April.

Ivan Turchak, Director General of the Baranovichi Cotton Production Association (Blakit), did not rule out that in the current situation Belarusian producers might get more opportunities for occupying new niches. 

He added, however, that the world light industry market, because of its specifics, “will fall very quickly and will be recovering very slowly”. “It is clear that in this situation it would be reasonable to revise the rules of the market during this period,” he said. Today, according to the director general of the Baranovichi Cotton Production Association, the need for this is felt first of all by manufacturers and partly by retailers. “If in this situation we will treat our own market as we have treated it before, including in terms of second-hand, counterfeit goods, it will probably be very difficult for many conscientious manufacturers in the period of reduced demand,” he said.

Even before the COVID-19 situation, the Belarusian market faced quite a lot of counterfeit products, including those from Central Asian countries. These goods do not comply with the technical regulations of the Customs Union and usually come to Belarus from Russia. As for the second-hand goods, clothing manufacturers call for a level playing field both in terms of compliance with safety standards (for example, disinfection of such products has become a recommendation) and in terms of customs duties. Some second-hand shops, taking advantage of the legal gap, sell not worn, but in fact, new things, experts said.

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