FBiH Government Expands List of Products with Capped Margins

(Patria) - The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at today's session in Mostar, upon the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Trade, adopted a new Decision which, as a measure of direct price control in the Federation, prescribes the determination of maximum margins in trade (calculated price) for certain basic foodstuffs and other products.

Compared to the earlier government decision adopted at the end of August this year, today's decision increases the number of products from nine to a total of 15, i.e., as explained, an additional six food products deemed necessary for meeting the basic needs of the population have been included.

The decision enters into force eight days after publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and will apply until December 31 this year.

The obligation from today's decision applies to the following products: wheat flour type 500, five and 25 kilograms (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), semi-white wheat bread 100 percent from 400 grams and more (wholesale margin five percent, retail margin six percent), then edible sunflower oil per liter (wholesale margin five percent, retail margin six percent), salt per kilogram (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), white crystal sugar per kilogram (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), macaroni 400 grams (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), long-grain rice 800 grams (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), and one liter of UHT cow's milk with 2.8 percent milk fat, packaging without cap (wholesale margin five percent, retail margin six percent) as well as yogurt per liter 2.8 percent milk fat (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent).

Among the products covered by this decision are also vegetable margarine 250 grams (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), fresh table eggs class M 30 pieces (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), then fresh whole chicken in a bag per kilogram (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), fresh beef ribs with bones per kilogram (wholesale margin six percent, retail margin eight percent), and laundry detergent powder three kilograms (wholesale margin eight percent, retail margin 12 percent) and liquid dish detergent per liter (wholesale margin eight percent, retail margin 12 percent).

As explained, the Federal Ministry of Trade held two meetings with representatives of the Employers' Association in the FBiH, at which certain provisions of the earlier Decision and its application in practice were discussed. At these meetings, it was concluded that it is necessary to revise the existing Decision with the aim of expanding the number of products to which the measures of direct price control apply by determining the maximum margin in trade.

It was also explained that in dialogue with representatives of traders, it was concluded that this way will help citizens, especially those with the lowest incomes and low purchasing power, and traders, through consistent application of the Decision, will show their commitment to accepting part of the burden of economic reality and demonstrate social responsibility.