Author: Pavel Gospodarik | Chief Editor: Vitaly Kisterny07.09.2026 20:20:00

In Belarus, a new resolution of MART No. 48 has been in effect since August 20, 2026. The document adjusts the approach to forming the mandatory assortment in stores.

This was reported by the First Deputy Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, Natalia Vasilyevskaya.

The innovations are designed to increase the share of domestic products in retail without displacing foreign brands, writes the agency "Minsk-News".

Photo: © Belnovosti / goods in a store. Author Vitaly KisternyThe figures speak for themselves: in the first half of 2026, the share of domestic goods in retail turnover increased by only 0.1 percentage points and amounted to 54.6%. This is insufficient to achieve the target indicators outlined in the trade development plans.

The food security doctrine, in fact, even in an optimistic scenario, assumes reaching a level of 80–85% of own production. This is precisely why the regulator took up the instrument of mandatory assortment lists.

Natalia Vasilyevskaya explained the essence of the mechanism simply: it is a minimum set of products that must be on the shelf depending on the size and type of the store.

Clarifying the approaches will increase the representation of domestic products and ensure its wider presence, she stated.

The official emphasized that there is no talk of limiting choice or displacing import. Sellers are free to import and display as many foreign goods as demand requires. However, the Belarusian producer should be guaranteed a place.

Belarusian products should receive priority, but at the same time imported goods will also be presented on the shelf, Vasilyevskaya explained.

The requirements are ranked depending on the size of the trading point: from a rural shop to a capital hypermarket. The logic here is simple: the larger the area, the wider the mandatory list. For example, in a huge store of over 8 thousand sq. m, about 80 varieties of Belarusian chocolate must be presented. In a compact point of 200 "squares" - only from 10 to 20.

At the same time, MART interprets the concept of "variety" as broadly as possible: not only the name is taken into account, but also the packaging. The same chocolate in bars of 50, 100 and 200 grams immediately covers three positions in the list.

An important nuance: the new rules do not apply to all types of trade without exception. The agency did not impose obligations on brand stores, which already sell products of a specific manufacturer, as well as on pharmacies and stock centers.

MART is confident that consumers will not have less choice.