The head of the Department of International Cooperation and Application of Non-Tariff Regulation Measures of the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, Maxim Prudnikov, commented on the Council of Ministers' resolution on licensing apple imports for six months, reports BELTA correspondent.

"In order to protect the domestic market and, accordingly, ensure our consumers have access to quality Belarusian products at affordable prices, the government has adopted a resolution providing for the introduction of a temporary non-tariff regulation measure for six months in the form of licensing apple imports," said Maxim Prudnikov.

Licenses will be issued by the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. "The grounds for refusal by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to issue such a license will be the possibility of using or purchasing, on the date the application is submitted, Belarusian-produced apples similar to those being imported," added a representative of the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade.

According to Maxim Prudnikov, the non-tariff regulation measure does not apply to goods transported through Belarus' territory in the framework of international transit shipments, to goods originating from EAEU member states subject to confirmation by the appropriate certificate, nor to goods imported within the framework of foreign aid.