Will soft drinks and juices be digitally labeled?
The government of the Russian Federation has announced the preparation of two more draft laws that will launch pilot programs in the field of voluntary digital labeling of goods.
Digital labeling program
We are talking about launching pilot projects for digital labeling of such product categories as:
- non-alcoholic drinks (carbonated and mineral, containing sugar and other sweetening or flavoring substances)
- beverages made from soybeans
- instant drinks
- kvass
- juices, as well as products containing juices.
Program for many groups of goods
The digital labeling of sparkling water, kvass, juices, fruit drinks, compotes and other beverages is scheduled to start on March 1 this year. The end date of this pilot program in the juice industry is scheduled for February 28, 2023, while for other non-alcoholic beverages (excluding juices and juice products), the pilot project will end on August 31, 2022.
Why is a digital labeling program being implemented?
Thanks to the digital labeling program, the authorities intend to obtain extended information on the turnover of certain products on the market. This system has been successively implemented since 2016. It allows to trace the entire route of the goods covered by the program - from the manufacturer or importer to the end customer, and thus significantly minimizes the risk that the purchased product has been replaced with a counterfeit product at any stage of production or delivery for sale. Thanks to it, the consumer has access to information about the legality of the product and its high quality.
