Retail chains and electronics manufacturers disagree on the need for labeling
[ad_1]
The Association of Trading Companies and Manufacturers of Electrical and Computer Equipment RATEK proposes that the Ministry of Industry and Trade abandon the idea of labeling consumer electronics. The association believes that the Russian electronics market is “sufficiently legal” not to take additional measures against counterfeit goods. But the marking is supported by Russian electronics manufacturers, who see it as an additional opportunity to control imported equipment. Experts agree that in the case of electronics, it is not primarily about protection against counterfeiting, but about market control.
Kommersant got acquainted with the letter from RATEK (it includes Huawei, LG, Philips, M.Video-Eldorado, Honor, re:store – 40 companies in total) dated February 13 to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The association insists that it is inappropriate to include smartphones, laptops and telephones in the list of radio-electronic products subject to labeling. RATEK writes in its review that the Russian market of laptops, smartphones and phones “is quite legal”; about 70% of goods are sold through federal and regional retail chains. Therefore, “countering the illicit trafficking of these products cannot be a basis for introducing labeling.” The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that they have not yet received the letter.
In January, the ministry published on regulation.gov.ru a draft resolution proposing amendments to government decree No. 1993 (regulating the conduct of an experiment on labeling radio electronics). The current document involves conducting from December 1, 2023 to February 28, 2025 an experiment on marking a narrow list of components – lighting equipment, plugs, etc., about 30 positions in total. The amendments include smartphones, laptops, mobile phones (their labeling will begin from February 29, 2024) and printed circuit boards (from June 1, 2024). In the explanatory note to the document, labeling is called “a tool for combating illegal trafficking in industrial products.”
40 companies are participating in the experiment on marking radio electronics, TsRPT (the operator of the marking system) explained to Kommersant. According to a representative of the CRPT, it is being introduced “to eliminate gray schemes for the supply of equipment on which taxes and fees are not paid and which does not meet quality and safety requirements.”
Russian electronics manufacturers support labeling. “It creates the opportunity to control and combat counterfeiting. Not to mention the fact that end-to-end analytics in the production of IT solutions is an effective tool for building trust and confirming security for consumers,” says Aquarius President Vladimir Stepnov. Fplus says the labeling will ensure import transparency, which “facilitates compliance with the requirements applicable to products of Russian origin.”
Kommersant’s interlocutor, familiar with the discussion of the initiative, clarifies that at the discussion stage, retail chains spoke out against the labeling – primarily M.Video-Eldorado and DNS. A source who took part in meetings at the Ministry of Industry and Trade claims that “one of the largest networks, through RATEK, has long been trying to counteract initiatives to monitor the market for smartphones and laptops.” According to him, such active opposition may indicate “the possible presence of gray supply schemes and the fear that they will be revealed.” M.Video-Eldorado declined to comment; re:store and DNS did not respond to requests.
The founder of the Telegram channel “Surkov on Marketing” Alexander Surkov believes that the estimate of sales of 70% of electronics through large retail chains is correct, taking into account their online sales. Mr. Surkov considers the share of marketplaces in electronics sales to be small: “Citizens prefer to buy equipment where they can receive warranty service.” The expert also agrees that there is not too much counterfeit on the consumer electronics market now. In his opinion, the purpose of introducing markings in the segment is, first of all, to find out “which equipment is actually produced in the Russian Federation, and which is only disguised as domestic.”
[ad_2]
Source link
