Considerable preparatory work has already been done - Aiming to protect consumers
Mechanisms to contain prices and remove the possibility of obscenity in the grain marketing and distribution sector, is being examined by the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (MoETI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Legal Service of the Republic of Cyprus.
As is well known, the problem of grain disposal is pan-European and lies in the "freezing" of shipments from Europe's two main grain supplying countries, Russia and Ukraine, and, consequently, the resulting price increases.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs started trying to find mechanisms to contain prices immediately after the decisions of the Council of Ministers of 15 February, which, due to the emergency situation in Ukraine, determined the types of raw materials for animal feed and cereals for human consumption and extended the period of time for which the quantities held as strategic stocks cover the needs of the Republic of Cyprus. It is noted that considerable preparatory work has already been carried out to this end.
As the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry, Mrs Natasa Pileidou, stated before the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture on 8 March, the Government is intensifying its efforts to find the appropriate mechanisms to protect consumers and some businesses from excessively high prices for food and animal feed, using cereals and their by-products as raw material, which may occur under the pretext of price increases.
The first concern of the Ministry and the Government is the protection of the consumer and the survival of businesses by limiting the consequences caused internationally by the war in Ukraine. Practical proof of this is the recent reduction of the excise tax on fuel, as well as the measures taken to purchase new grain stocks.
(GA)
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