Deputies proposed obliging stores to stock shelves with free products

Deputies of the faction “A Just Russia – For Truth” (SRZP) propose to oblige retail chains and grocery stores to create shelves with products that have an expiration date. Pensioners and socially vulnerable categories of citizens will be able to take them free of charge. To do this, they will need to present documents confirming their status (pension certificates, certificates, etc.), they report “News”. The corresponding draft amendments to the law “On the Fundamentals of State Regulation of Trade Activities in the Russian Federation” are planned to be submitted to the State Duma today, January 10.

The explanatory note states that in Russia “the problem of irrational use of surplus products continues,” and more than a third of all products “turn into waste.” The document cites Rosstat data, according to which the largest volume of food waste comes from essential goods – grain products, dairy products and vegetables. The authors of the initiative also refer to a study by the National Research University Higher School of Economics that the volume of food waste in the country annually amounts to 17 million tons, and their cost is estimated at 1.6 trillion rubles.

“60.4% of citizens pay about half of their monthly income for food, almost all of their earnings go to food for 16%. According to TIAR Center estimates, if all the products thrown away in Russia were sent to people, this would feed about 30 million people,” the explanatory note notes.

It is also proposed to submit to the State Duma a bill amending the Tax Code, providing for support for businesses that agree to install shelves with free products. As part of this initiative, it is planned to increase the limits on expenses that can be directed to charity from 1 to 5% of revenue.

“Without paying taxes, goods worth no more than 1% of the company’s revenue can be sent to charitable purposes, and everything else is subject to VAT of 20% of the cost of the products donated to charity,” explained one of the authors of the bill, leader of the SRZP Sergei Mironov.

Back in 2022, State Duma deputies offered exempt from income tax and VAT the transactions of legal entities donating food products to charity, mainly those with an expiring sale date. The Vkusville, X5 Group and Magnit networks have already give away some products with expiring dates are donated to charitable foundations; all three initiatives were launched in a pilot format. In particular, in December 2022, two Magnit darkstores in St. Petersburg started distribute food to those in need.

Laura Keffer