The Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed to start an experiment on the labeling of soft drinks from May 15

The Ministry of Industry and Trade proposes to conduct an experiment on the labeling of some soft drinks, in particular juices. It is planned to be held from May 15, 2023 to February 1, 2024. The relevant draft resolution published on the portal of normative legal acts.

The experiment will affect:

• waters, including mineral and carbonated waters, containing added sugar or other sweetening or flavoring substances;
• juices (fruit, nut, vegetable), unfermented and not containing alcohol, with or without added sugar or other sweeteners;
• fruit and berry compotes, fruit drinks;
• soy-based drinks with a protein content of 2.8% by weight or more;
• soy-based drinks with less than 2.8% protein; drinks based on certain nuts, grains and seeds;
• other soft drinks containing added sugar or other sweetening or flavoring substances;
• instant drinks containing added sugar or other sweetening or flavoring substances.

It is proposed to make the company “Operator TsRPT” the marking operator. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Federal Tax Service, the Federal Customs Service, Rospotrebnadzor and the FSB can become authorized to conduct the experiment. The Ministry of Industry and Trade with the Ministry of Agriculture will have to approve methodological recommendations for the experiment and its schedule.

The press service of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said TASSthat participation in the experiment will be voluntary. “It is worth noting that most non-alcoholic beverage producers already have experience with labeling: they are often participants in the circulation of packaged water, dairy products, and beer, for which mandatory labeling has already been introduced,” the ministry explained.

Revaz Yusupov, Deputy General Director of the CRPT, noted that more than 62% of producers of soft drinks are already familiar with the labeling.

From April 1 in Russia will take effect rules for mandatory labeling of keg-packed beer, including non-alcoholic beer. From October 1, labeling standards will apply to beer in glass and polymer packaging. In March, the State Duma also accepted the law on the creation of a register of brewers.