The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade object to the basic rates of eco-fees and increasing coefficients for them

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade object to the basic rates of environmental fees prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and increasing coefficients for them, which should start working on January 1. The main concern is that an increase in business payments will lead to an increase in prices for packaging and food products, which it is already difficult for the government to keep within inflation limits.

As Kommersant learned, the Ministry of Agriculture proposed to finalize the draft government resolution prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources, establishing environmental tax rates for packaging from January 1, 2024. The document was developed within the framework of the updated extended producer responsibility (EPR) mechanism, which involves a gradual increase in the mandatory packaging recycling standard for manufacturers and importers from 55% in 2025 to 100% by 2027.

As noted in the review of the Ministry of Agriculture sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 6, the approval of the proposed basic collection rates and coefficients for them will lead to an increase in the cost of packaging for food products and initiate an increase in the cost of food products. Thus, pasteurized milk may rise in price in 2024 by 1.3% (1.18 rubles), in 2027 – by 2.8% (2.6 rubles). The Ministry of Agriculture proposes to revise rates, primarily for PET bottles and combined cardboard, which, for example, in the dairy industry account for about 10% and 19% of the total number of packages. In soft drinks, the share of PET bottles is about 50%, and combined packaging in the juice industry is about 80%. Taking into account the coefficients, the amount of eco-fee, for example, for combined cardboard packaging will increase, according to calculations by the Ministry of Agriculture, from 475.6 rubles. per ton in 2023 (with the current recycling standard of 20%) to 87.2 thousand rubles. per ton in 2027 after achieving 100% recycling standards.

Soyuznapitki points out that the approval of environmental fee rates and coefficients in their current form could lead to an increase in the cost of soft drinks, juices and water by 4.4–8.3%, depending on the category. For confectionery manufacturers, packaging costs may increase by 7 billion rubles by 2027. relative to 2023, with a total market turnover of approximately 700 billion rubles. per year, according to the Askond Association. The Association of Beer Manufacturers estimates a possible increase in the cost of packaging for beer by 2027 to 12% for certain types, warning of the risks of a reduction in production volumes of up to 4% and losses of up to 9 billion rubles. excise taxes to regional budgets.

On December 8, the heads of 30 associations of producers of food, drinks and other goods sent their calculations to Deputy Prime Ministers Victoria Abramchenko and Dmitry Grigorenko. The authors of the appeal ask to maintain the current values ​​of the basic rates of environmental fees for 2024, to take into account the cost of secondary raw materials in the calculation formula, and also to hold an open discussion of the topic with business. The government press service did not promptly answer Kommersant’s questions. A Kommersant source among food manufacturers notes that the proposed increase in environmental tax rates will not allow food inflation to be kept within the government’s desired limits, and therefore is not supported by the relevant ministries. Previously, the Union of Plastic Processors sent a similar letter criticizing the draft resolution to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (see Kommersant, December 1).

Kommersant sources familiar with the situation reported that the Ministry of Industry and Trade also sided with the packaging manufacturers and proposed to finalize the project. The ministry itself told Kommersant that “all industries whose products fall under the EPR have contacted the developer of the act (the Ministry of Natural Resources) and ours, indicating possible risks at the proposed rates.” The Ministry of Natural Resources told Kommersant that the draft resolution is still undergoing the discussion procedure established by law; it has not been completed, so it is premature to comment.

Kommersant’s sources expect that the large-scale resistance of the industry lobby will allow the document to be adjusted and at least move forward the date of its entry into force, which is currently set for January 1, 2024.

Olga Mordyushenko, Anatoly Kostyrev