Monopolization of the milk procurement market in Volyn region has resulted in a situation, when the price per liter of product is almost the lowest in Ukraine. This was stated by the MP from UKROP Iryna Konstankevych, commenting on to the journalists.
In particular, the MP has emphasized that residents of the countryside have often appealed to her on this issue. That is why last year Iryna Konstankevich addressed to the Antimonopoly Committee.
“The problem is especially acute in summer. When monopolists make arrangements between themselves and reduce prices. Now I have restarted holding correspondence with the Antimonopoly Committee. Besides in order to resolve this issue it is necessary to adopt a special law,” stressed Iryna Konstankevich.
According to the MP, the draft law № 2089 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on State Regulation of Procurement Prices for Milk and Support of the Village” has already passed the first reading in Parliament. It provides that the price of milk of the second grade (exactly that which the villagers bring) cannot be lower than a certain fixed level. This will allow to avoid speculation.
“Unfortunately, milk monopolists have a lobby in the Verkhovna Rada, which hinders this bill to be advanced, because it had to be put to vote in February. Therefore, I have prepared a deputy’s inquiry with the request to include the bill to the agenda of the VIII session. This law should be put into effect, as most villagers particularly make their living off of the households,” said the representative of UKROP.
Reference. Typically, second grade milk is used for production of dried milk that is exported. In May, traders significantly increased prices at the Ukrainian market of dried milk. Thus, the price per tonne of skimmed milk powder increased by 20% compared to the last year. And production of dried milk increased by 13%. At the same time, the purchasing price for milk for the population has decreased by almost 35% (from 6 UAH to 4 UAH per liter) from the beginning of the year. Partly this may be explained by seasonality, but according to the State Statistics and Economic Research, this index does not exceed 10% annually.
