MINSK, 1 April (BelTA) – Work is in progress to adjust the operation of second-hand clothes shops in Belarus. These shops will be allowed to sell only second-hand clothes, BelTA learned from Mikhail Zhigalo, Head of the Trade and Public Catering Organization Office of the Belarusian Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Ministry, during a regular meeting of the Expert Community project. The meeting took place in BelTA's press center on 1 April to discuss the challenges and risks the Belarusian light industry faces.
Rules regulating the sale of individual products are in effect in Belarus. An entire chapter is dedicated to trade in second-hand goods. The Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Ministry representative said: “We are now working to adjust these rules, to clearly determine how these shops can operate. If a shop identifies itself as a second-hand clothes shop, it should sell such clothes instead of stock clothes. If it is a standard shop, it can very well sell stock clothes.” In his opinion, the enforcement of this rule will not be a restriction. “It will only introduce certain order, certain requirements for second-hand clothes shops,” Mikhail Zhigalo said.
The official reminded about the proposal of the Belarusian state light industry concern Bellegprom to remove second-hand clothes shops from oblast capitals, from major cities, and busy streets. According to Mikhail Zhigalo, the Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Ministry believes such measures would be excessive in current conditions. “These shops are popular with customers after all. But we believe their operation needs to be adjusted,” the official noted. Certain commercial entities exploit legislation loopholes in order to dodge customs duties. As a result, bona fide companies lose to their competitors, the ministry's representative stated.
Director General of OOO Mark Formelle Andrei Serikov mentioned some statistics as part of the discussion: the volume of second-hand clothes imported to Belarus has increased by five times in the last four years to 48.5 tonnes. In his words, the volume of imported second-hand clothes exceeds the amount of raw materials processed by all the clothes and textile manufacturers in Belarus combined by more than 100%. “In other words, we should probably set up a ministry to manage trade in second-hand clothes if we consider the volumes,” he joked.
