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Trade ministry said to be drafting presidential edict that would address “trade in shelves"

The trade ministry is drafting a presidential edict that would address “trade in shelves,” Artur Karpovich, a departmental head at the ministry, told reporters on July 20, as quoted by BelaPAN.

The so-called trade in shelves is a practice whereby supermarkets and other retailers charge suppliers fees for accepting goods for sale and displaying goods on prominent shelves in stores.

"This problem does exist and we can see it," Mr. Karpovich said. Such fees sometimes account for seven or eight percent of the sales proceeds, he said. The draft edict is currently under consideration by concerned governmental agencies, Mr. Karpovich said, adding that some amendments might be made to it.

"Competition should be fair," stressed Deputy Trade Minister Iryna Narkevich.

The draft edict would require supply contracts and contracts for marketing and advertising services to be concluded separately, Ms. Narkevich said. To make the trading system transparent, marketing agreements should clearly specify what suppliers are paying for, she said. "They would be paying for something and not for airspace," she explained.

The edict may also limit the profitability of retail sales, Ms. Narkevich said.