S. Nikolaev

President Dmitry Medvedev has approved a food security doctrine, the Kremlin press service reported on Monday. The doctrine should ensure uninterrupted food supplies to the population, as well as the development of the country's agro-industrial and fisheries complexes, the decree says. The doctrine defines criteria for assessing the country's food security.

The document establishes the shares of basic products produced in Russia on the domestic market: grain - no less than 95%, sugar - no less than 80%, vegetable oil - no less than 80%, meat and meat products - no less than 85%, milk and dairy products - no less than 90%, fish products - no less than 80%, potatoes - no less than 95%, edible salt - no less than 85%. To meet these requirements, it will be necessary to reduce the import of some products. For example, in 2009, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the share of imported meat in Russia was 25%, milk - 17%.

Among other things, the doctrine also mentions products made from genetically modified plants: it is intended to prevent their uncontrolled distribution.

The presidential doctrine identifies risks that could significantly weaken the country's food security. Among the most significant threats are macroeconomic risks. This implies a decrease in the investment attractiveness of the domestic real sector of the economy and the competitiveness of Russian products. In addition to market risks, technological risks, i.e., the lag of Russian production from developed countries, could seriously affect domestic producers.

Food security of Russia is the state of the country's economy, which ensures food independence, guarantees the availability for every citizen of the country of food products that meet the requirements of technical regulations, in quantities no less than rational standards of food consumption necessary for an active and healthy lifestyle.

Medvedev restricted food imports