Domestic goods will become more plentiful on store shelves, but imported items will also sell equally well. This was stated to journalists by First Deputy Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Natalia Vasilevskaya, commenting on the introduction of a new norm in trade.

The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade has decided to temporarily introduce a norm regarding the presence of Belarusian products in the trade assortment. This is codified in the MART resolution dated August 20, 2026, No. 48. The document will come into force 15 days after its official publication, i.e., from September 10.

“In my view, there will be no major changes for retail outlets. I am confident that even today the mandatory assortment list that has been brought to our retail outlets is largely supplied by Belarusian products. Especially regarding food. All of us enter a store and see an abundance of domestic cheese, dairy, sausage, confectionery products. The mandatory list contains a minimum number of product items that must be provided on the shelf. After that, the retail chain and small rural shop determine their own assortment policy. If foreign-made goods are in demand, they will be placed next to Belarusian goods and sold on equal terms. Therefore, no problems should arise for retail chains,” said Natalia Vasilevskaya.

She pointed out that when forming the list it was also taken into account whether domestic producers could supply the necessary number of varieties. “If these are critical import goods that are produced in Belarus in insufficient quantities, there is a note that this list may also be complied with using foreign-made goods,” she noted.

Natalia Vasilevskaya noted that there is administrative liability, but the fines are small. And if a violation of the assortment list is found for the first time, the business entity will be limited to a warning. “There is no point in aiming to fine or punish someone. The goal is to showcase our Belarusian products on the shelves. I hope the share of domestic goods will increase this year,” she emphasized.

The first deputy minister assured that there is no need to fear a narrowing of the assortment. “The mandatory assortment list is the minimum range of goods that must be on the shelf in a store, according to its format and sales area. This will result in a greater presence of domestic goods for our consumers. At the same time, no one today limits a seller from offering a broader range of foreign goods when there is demand for them. In short, Belarusian products will be displayed on the shelves not instead of, but alongside imports,” she said, adding that the assortment lists do not apply to pharmacies, branded and discount stores.