“products & Ingredients”, №87. Recently, much has been said about the problems of the quality of Ukrainian food. Ukrainian officials often see an opportunity to solve these problems through administrative methods.
In our opinion, the basic functions of the state in this area should be kept to a clear regulation of the safety of nutritional products and compliance with the rules of informing consumers about the ingredients, which are part of the food.
Association Interview "Ukrkondprom" magazine "Products & Ingredients"
- Alexander, how would you describe 2011 year?
For Ukrainian confectioners is a very difficult year, there has been some decline in production. But first I would like to note the following. The Ukrainian food industry confectionery industry occupies a significant position. Over the past few years it has undergone full modernization. Leading enterprises of Ukraine carried out the almost complete retooling of their production, established confectionery line the world's best equipment manufacturers. embedded technology, which allow the most modern confectionery. Confectioners are among the sectors, which form the basis of Ukrainian export of processed agricultural products. Displacement confectionery export value reaches the equivalent of about 1 billion dollars. Per year.
But this year, the industry development was accompanied by negative factors. It remains a difficult situation with the export VAT refund. Export-oriented industry, Ukrainian confectioners substantial part of the products sold abroad, do everything possible, to increase its expansion into foreign markets, stand there it is difficult to compete, and delays in VAT refunds complicate their work. Sometimes this leads to situations, when some companies can not fulfill export contracts for the reason, that there is no working capital, to buy raw materials.
In the holidays comes almost to the ridiculous: enterprises to increase exports, after the New Year holidays - it is the peak season sales of confectionery products, but rent the necessary number of cars for the transportation of products obtained is not at all. And if you miss the season, this will affect the income of the enterprise, and therefore, and on the country's budget.
Confectionery Ukraine has a great combination of two factors, to be competitive in the domestic and foreign market: technological upgrading of enterprises and preserve the old confectionery tradition of quality. Fierce competitive environment, in which the Ukrainian confectioners work, forcing them to constantly update the recipe, follow the latest developments in the field of technology, introduce advanced management technology.
Thanks to this confectionery industry of Ukraine won the competition from foreign competitors in the domestic market and successfully compete in foreign markets.
Interesting, In some countries we are fighting anti-competitive measures. Russia imposed safeguard measures against Ukrainian caramel. These measures of the Russian insistence have been extended to the entire Customs Union. Kazakhstan has taken similar action in September, essentially having prohibitive, but not only in respect of caramel, and a group of chocolate. In these countries the delivery of our products will be reduced significantly. You can talk about the threat of actual displacement of Ukrainian products to these markets.
true, during the November visit of Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov in Kazakhstan held negotiations, on which the parties have agreed on the definition of the size of the quotas for our products, which will be delivered at a zero rate of import. We welcome this decision,, but, certainly, We do not consider it completely acceptable. Ukraine needs to achieve complete removal of the unfair and inadequate trade Kazakh side barriers.
We have high hopes for the liberalization of trade relations with the European Union.
- Is it a real?
Basically, Ukraine and the EU have coordinated their positions. If there is an agreement on a free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU, Bilateral trade will be significantly liberalized, including. and confectionery trade. But it is only the prospect of, opportunity, you want to turn into reality. European pastry - a very strong competitor. Removing trade barriers does not guarantee us a strong presence in the European market.
- How competitive our products in EU markets?
At the current level of EU tariff protection effective against Ukrainian confectionery products in the range 35-45% of their value. On the part of Ukraine for European kondizdely valid customs tariff 5-10%. That is now the trade relations between Ukraine and the EU are unequal.
It provided for a change in this situation in the draft agreement on an FTA. In this way, increase the competitiveness of our products.
As for the quality, here we do not see any problems. All the leading companies within the industry have been a difficult process of certification for compliance with international standards of management system in the field of food safety and food products ISO 22000, the quality management system of production according to ISO standards 9000. Ukrainian confectionery products quality and safety meet European standards. by the way, our chocolate is made according to DSTU, wherein not permitted adding cocoa substitutes, which is not the European chocolate.
- How would you describe the objectives of the Association?
Not always the state is able to recognize and predict the risks and threats for the industry, since the market often develops faster, than changing management philosophy State. Association task - to facilitate the timely informing of the state of the threats and respond to them.
We also support the weakening of excessive state regulation of agro-industrial complex.
Recently, much has been said about the problems of the quality of Ukrainian food. Ukrainian officials often see an opportunity to solve these problems through administrative methods.
In our opinion, the basic functions of the state in this area should be kept to a clear regulation of the safety of nutritional products and compliance with the rules of informing consumers about the ingredients, which are part of the food.
However, quality issues, relating to consumer properties, They should be placed outside of state control. This market category. In countries with a market economy, to which we are among them, increasingly, These issues are regulated market, because it is impossible to determine the evaluation indicators, what quality.
In the Soviet Union there was a planned economy, there was no market control. Therefore, special bodies existed, who decided, what kind of products you need to produce, and whether it will be in demand. And the buyer had no choice, he was forced to acquire the, which lies on the counter. The modern consumer has the right and opportunity to choose. the main thing, that he was informed about the composition of selected products.
Just on this issue - that proper labeling, of what really is the product, - the government should implement the strictest controls.
Also, the state should monitor the safety of products. But for this should be clearly defined safety performance. And we still use the MBT (Medical and biological requirements), which were made in the Soviet Union. It is amazing to see the documents in the Ukrainian language abbreviation, composed of Russian words.
Meanwhile, the technology in the past 20 years, stepped far forward. Pity, that during this time the state does not find an opportunity to refine the security requirements and present them in the appropriate technical regulations.
We support the abolition of multikontrolnoy system in the field of food safety. Carry out safety checks should be a single body. Now, according to some, a particular competence in this matter have about 30 various public authorities. You should be simplified control procedures. it is very important for us to work in a transparent and clear conditions, because otherwise the conditions are created for forgery and unfair competition. This contributes to the deterioration of the conditions for the production of safe food.
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This is one of the urgent problems of the sector. large enterprises, that transparently work and pay taxes, can not afford to violate the safety requirements, buy raw materials, not examined. But in the market, they have to compete with companies, working semi-legal way. Production of such enterprises around 200-300 thousand. tons per year. it is about 20% total confectionery market in Ukraine.
Such products may be sold, eg, in urban markets. Its price is often very attractive. But this attraction is achieved by reduced requirements for sanitary process conditions, quality and safety ingredients.
Unfortunately, because of systemic corruption in Ukraine, State control in such places often implementation, in fact, is a formal. As a result,, conscientious manufacturers fall into a situation of unequal competition with semi-legal market participants, a consumer buys a product dangerous for health.
- Does the development of national standards?
technical Committee 152 "Confectionery Products & FOOD CONCENTRATE" developed several important industry DSTU, in particular, biscuit production, sweets, mealy products for special purposes, who have passed the necessary examinations and have been transferred to the relevant state authority - in this case Derzhspozhivstandard, for approval. But there lay a neighborhood îíè 3 years old. Derzhspozhyvstandart has ceased to exist, DSTU but have not been approved so far. Our repeated requests always perceived with greater understanding, but on the understanding did not get. But all the dirty work on the development of the standard has already been performed, text fully discharged and agreed. Everything, what do you need, - issue an appropriate order. The state itself creates a situation, When companies are forced to develop specifications (specifications) and work on them.
However, in Europe there is no analogue of the Ukrainian standards on finished food products. Statement of the samples on the production does not require procedures, similar to Ukrainian, such, as the passage of the state branch of tasting commissions. All of this lengthens the path from idea, design to consumer.
The most important: in Ukraine there is no presumption of innocence producer. He must prove, that its products are made in accordance with the regulations. In the EU, the producer himself checks the safety record and is responsible for their implementation. Observing safety requirements, he can make any product, which it sees fit, and that, in his opinion, will be sold. Abroad formulation of any product is proprietary and sensitive commercial information.
- For a positive note, you would end our conversation?
Ukrainian sweets and there is this positive note. ■
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