Agenda: improving customer rights protection, supporting investment projects in agriculture, subsidising reduced-fare tickets for flights from remote and difficult-of-access places.
Mikhail Mushistin’s opening remarks:
Good afternoon, colleagues.
Government meeting
Mikhail Mushistin’s opening remarks at Government meeting
Government meeting
Today, we will discuss an extremely serious question at our Government meeting – imposition of goods or services.
As the President pointed out, the main goal of consumer rights protection is to maintain the material and moral well-being and health of the people. It is also a good impetus for improving business and enhancing competitiveness.
A number of steps towards this goal have already been taken. Last year, the Government prohibited lending organisations from imposing insurance services as a matter of priority. This autumn, the President signed an executive order on amending the Code of Administrative Offences to introduce fines for making people buy ancillaries.
However, people continue to report the violation of their rights to the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor), for example, when they are forced to sign a voluntary insurance policy when buying air or rail tickets. Tenants of apartment houses have complained about this trick when paying their utility fees, and visitors to many car dealerships have similar complaints. Also, attempts have been made to impose paid services instead of free services under mandatory medical insurance.
This soliciting practice is well-structured, with a single click online increasing the sum people ultimately pay. Moreover, people do not immediately realise that this automatic assent implies that they agree to pay more. When they refuse to do so, they are told that the agreement cannot be signed, or that there would be no discount, or even that they would have to pay the forfeit or a fine.
Therefore, the Government has drafted new amendments to the legislation. Buyers will be obliged to sign a written consent to getting ancillaries, and a click on the relevant box will not be considered as such. People will also have the right to refuse to pay for them. If after all they are forced to remit the payment, they will be entitled to demand that the seller reimburse the whole sum.
We hope that these amendments will help us strengthen the protection of consumer rights and of bona fide businesspeople who refrain from using such tricks in their operations.
And now, let us discuss the development of agriculture.
In his Address to the Federal Assembly, the President set the task of boosting the share of investment in key sectors to 70 percent by 2030.
Heeding the President’s instructions, the Government continues to create comfortable conditions for businesses to channel substantial investment into the agro-industrial sector. Its expanding output ensures food security and enhances the competitiveness of enterprises in the domestic and international markets, which is very important.
In 2024, the federal budget has allocated over 8 billion roubles to reimburse borrowers for part of their interest payments on loans taken out for investment. Everyone investing in the construction, reconstruction or renovation of facilities within the agro-industrial sector can expect this state support. The same applies to those purchasing equipment and machinery, processing additional agricultural produce and engaging in various other projects envisaged by the relevant state programme.
Today, we will set aside over 500 million roubles for these purposes. Twelve entities, including the Kamchatka Territory as well as the Belgorod, Vladimir, Volgograd, Kaluga, Kursk, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Orenburg, Smolensk, Tver, and Tula regions, will receive these funds.
We hope that our decision will allow for completing the work on time. New facilities in the agro-industrial sector will increase the availability of high-quality domestically produced foods.
Another issue is the assistance for air carriers. First of all, it is necessary to expand the network of interregional routes and flights to remote areas, which means affordable airfare. For this purpose, a programme to reimburse companies for part of their priority expenses was launched a few years ago.
The President has noted the importance of supporting our air carriers to facilitate their stable operation, retain specialists, and provide affordable flights for our citizens.
Despite the current sanctions imposed on this sector, it has been possible to retain unique staff and the air fleet, and to continue steady operations. Last year, passenger traffic rose by nearly 11 percent. This trend persisted in the first six months of 2024, when 8 percent growth was recorded.
Today, we will review the allocation of 3.5 billion roubles to air transport organisations, including those operating low-cost flights to remote areas.
These support measures will help aviation companies to develop and ensure the country’s transport connectivity, so that people, no matter where they are, can access convenient routes.
We will also continue to provide assistance next year; our federal budget allocates the necessary funding for this.
