Belarus' ban on export of flour, buckwheat designed to protect domestic market

"This measure was taken in order to prevent shortages and to ensure food security of the country. Now the stocks of these products are enough, the ban is a preventive measure. There is no cause for concern, MART is keeping the situation under control. We are working with retail chains in order to prevent the shortages of goods on the shelves," Evgeny Belov noted.

As it has been reported, the government issued Resolution No. 137 on 13 March to ban the export of certain types of goods for a period of three months. The list includes flour from soft wheat and spelt, coarsely ground cereals from buckwheat, collapsed buckwheat grain, ready-made food products from buckwheat, regardless of the country of origin. The temporary ban on export also applies to goods that have been placed under customs procedures prior to the entry of this regulation into force and whose actual export from the territory of Belarus is carried out in line with the customs procedures after the document takes effect.

The temporary ban will not apply when these products are exported as international humanitarian aid on the basis of government decisions and as food reserves. The exception also applies to international transit when the starting point and the destination are outside the EAEU customs territory. The exception also applies to the movement of goods between the EAEU member states through third countries. The temporary ban does not apply when these goods are placed under customs procedures in other members of the EAEU and go in transit through the territory of Belarus.