28 organizations received the right to import fish into Belarus in May-December

May 19, Minsk /BELTA/. 28 organizations have received the right to import fish into Belarus in May-December of the current year. This decision was made at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for holding a competition to identify legal entities ensuring the state's right to import fish and seafood, as well as their processed products. This was reported to BELTA by the Information and Public Relations Service of the Directorate of the President of the Republic of Belarus. The competition to identify importer enterprises received applications from 42 organizations ready to engage in foreign supplies of fish, seafood, and their products. After reviewing all proposals, the interdepartmental commission granted the right to import these products to companies such as Private Unitary Enterprise "Pinsk Fur Farm of Belkoopsoyuz", Gomel Fish Complex, LLC "Suzorye", Foreign Private Trade and Production Unitary Enterprise "Vkus Ryby Plus", Private Trade Unitary Enterprise "Belkoopvneshtorg", State Trade and Industrial Enterprise "Belryba", LLC "Vitalur", Foreign Private Unitary Trade and Production Enterprise "McDonald's Restaurants" of McDonald's Systems of Belarus Inc., Mogilev Fish Complex, OJSC "Grodnoryba", Belarusian-German Joint Venture "Santa Bremor", Agricultural Production Cooperative "Progress-Vertelishki", Belarusian-German Joint Venture "Santa Impex Brest", Private Trade and Production Unitary Enterprise "Prosperity", LLC "Belvneshrybtorg", LLC "Vitebskryba", Private Trade Unitary Enterprise "Belkoopttorg", LLC "Restoratsiya", Private Unitary Enterprise "Gomel Universal Base", Production Unitary Enterprise "Minskrybprom", Private Unitary Enterprise "Kalinkovichi Fur Farm of Belkoopsoyuz", LLC "Aquapromremresurs", LLC "Fauna", Gomel Communal Wholesale and Retail Unitary Enterprise "Obltorgsoyuz", Private Trade Unitary Enterprise "Baltexpress", LLC "Agro", Private Trade Unitary Enterprise "Milogradfish", and LLC "Evrotorg". The interdepartmental commission obliged the competition winners to ensure the monthly import of fish and seafood, as well as their processed products, in accordance with the declared assortment. At the same time, they are required to increase supply volumes by 15% or more compared to the previous year. Before considering new applications received for the fish importer competition, the commission thoroughly analyzed the activities of those involved in supplying seafood to the country. In January-April of the current year, 49 thousand tons less fish were imported into the republic compared to the same period in 2008. The vast majority of suppliers allowed an unjustified decrease in product supply volumes. The lowest performance among all importers was recorded by Private Trade Unitary Enterprise "Freelysexim". The enterprise failed to provide reports on the fulfillment of obligations for the import of fish and seafood, and their processed products, according to the assortment and prices declared at the competition. Its raw material processing workshops did not meet sanitary norms and rules. As a result, the interdepartmental commission deprived this enterprise of the right to export fish and seafood, as well as their products, to the country from May 11, 2009. Furthermore, after analyzing the contract prices of importers, the interdepartmental commission concluded that contract prices for the same products varied significantly among different importers and were considerably higher than those declared at the competition. For example, LLC "Fauna" marked up the price of herring by 68%, and LLC "Suzorye" by more than 31%. "Fauna" increased the price of frozen saithe compared to the declared price at the competition by 72.5%, frozen sprat by 65.5%, and frozen capelin by 25%. "Suzorye" offered the same frozen capelin to the retail network 57% more expensive. As a result, "Suzorye" and "Fauna" lost the right to import fresh-frozen herring, capelin, saithe, and sprat in the future. "The Directorate of the President has issued a serious warning to LLC "Aquapromresource", LLC "Belvneshrybtorg", ODO "Vitalur", ODO "Vitebskryba", and LLC "Evrotorg" regarding the need to comply with the requirements of the interdepartmental commission for fulfilling supply volumes and adhering to previously declared prices for imported products," the information service noted. In addition, OJSC "Rybny Ryad" from Bobruisk came under the scrutiny of law enforcement agencies. The Department of the KGB for the Mogilev Region has initiated a criminal case against Evgeny Valko, deputy commercial director and son of the OJSC's director. Inspectors discovered fish products unfit for consumption worth Br90 million at the enterprise's warehouse, including 24,000 unaccounted cans of cod liver of dubious origin. The father and son imported products with expired or soon-to-expire use-by dates into Bobruisk and sold them. At the same time, they were in no hurry to repay the Br600 million borrowed from the Directorate, allegedly for business development. The accounts payable for this enterprise currently exceed Br3 billion. In the first quarter, OJSC "Rybny Ryad" reduced sales of fish products by 36% compared to the same period last year and practically failed to meet its fish import obligations. The enterprise's director, Leonid Valko, was timely warned that if he did not rectify the situation, the enterprise would be deprived of the right to import fish and seafood. However, the management of "Rybny Ryad" took no measures to improve the situation. As a result, the interdepartmental commission, from May 1, deprived 16 organizations, including the Bobruisk-based OJSC "Rybny Ryad", of the right to import fish, seafood, and their products. Moreover, for gross violations and oversights in work, the head of this enterprise, Leonid Valko, was dismissed from his position, and the materials of the financial audit were handed over to law enforcement agencies. -0-