What will happen to imported goods in Belarusian stores? MART issued a statement

Author: Pavel Gospodarik | Editor-in-Chief: Vitaliy Kisterny 07.09.2026 20:20:00

In Belarus, since August 20, 2026, a new MART decree No. 48 is in force. The document adjusts the approach to forming mandatory assortments in stores.

This was reported by First Deputy Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Natalia Vasilevskaya.

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

Photo: © Belnovosti / goods in store. Author Vitaliy Kisterny. The numbers speak for themselves: in the first half of 2026, the share of domestic goods in retail turnover increased by only 0.1 percentage point to 54.6%. This is insufficient to reach the target indicators set in the trade development plans.

The food‑security doctrine even envisions, in an optimistic scenario, reaching a level of 80–85 % of domestic production. That is why the regulator turned to the tool of mandatory assortment lists.

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

Refining the approach will increase the presence of domestic products and ensure their wider presence, she said.

The official emphasized that this is not about limiting choice or displacing imports. Sellers are free to bring in and display as many foreign goods as demand requires

An important nuance: the new rules do not apply to all types of retail without exception. The ministry did not impose obligations on branded stores, where products of a specific manufacturer are already sold, as well as pharmacies and stock centers.

MART is confident that consumers will not have fewer choices. The only scenario in which imports would disappear from the shelves is a conscious decision by the consumer to choose Belarusian goods if they prove to be tastier or of higher quality.

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