In the run up to the spring and the 8th of March, it will be touched upon basic food consumption in the Russian regions instead of traditional topic about demography of enterprises and main trends in the Russian economy. The share of food products essential for festive table in total caloric ration of households will also be examined.

It is not a stretch that our food and its components are key to health and impact the family, company, economy and the country’s well-being. The state’s ability to satisfy the demand on basic food first of all by means of domestic production determines the level of food security.

Russia is a country where bread and bread products take 35,8% of total food energy ration and traditionally lead in caloric ration (Caloric ration is caloric value (kcal) of products consumed, expressed in % to total sum of kcal consumed for the period. See Picture 1). Bread is a popular product with high calorie value and comparably low cost.

The share of meat and meat products is only 17,2%, and 12,2% falls for milk and dairy products.

Unfortunately fish and seafood, being wholesome food, have just 1,7% in the Russians’ ration. Fish, especially saltwater, is mostly imported, that is why its price is high and the product is difficult to buy. Despite Russia has developed river system and is washed by many seas, there is no common culture of fish consumption as in Japan or Norway. Fish is rarely eaten in national republics of Caucasus because of local cuisine traditions. In central Russia imported fish is very expensive, at the same time local is seasonally consumed and has low nutrition value.

Picture 1. Share of basic food in total caloric ration of households in Russia.

Analysis of basic food consumption is based upon data of the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). It should be noted that data doesn’t include domestic subsidiary crop production and cattle breeding of private household and farms, products of which are not supplied to retail chains and markets. As a result, consumption of fruits and vegetables in south region is statistically low than in some northern ones, and territories where cattle breeding is traditional are among the last by meat consumption.

According to Rosstat, bread and bread products are mostly consumed in the Republic of Ingushetia – 177 kg/annum per 1 consumer; this figure is amounted to 95 kg for the country in general. The largest share of bread in total caloric value is recorded in the Republic of Tyva – 52,1%. Bread there is a half of all products bought in retailers that can be explained by modest personal income, high cost of transportation to this distant Siberian region, as well as tradition to satisfy meat and dairy demand by means of private farm household.

Moscow and Saint-Petersburg citizens progressively refuse from bread for other products – vegetables, fruits and meat.

Meat consumption for the country in general is 95 kg/annum per 1 consumer. This figure is 92 kg in Moscow and 81 kg in Saint-Petersburg.

The Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria leads in consumption of milk and dairy products within the country – 347 in liter equivalent: goat milk and local cheese are favorite delicacy. Saint-Petersburg leads in maximum share of dairy products in total caloric ration – 14%.

The Republic of Marii El consumes the most of sugar and sugary confectioneries per 1 consumer – 42 kg, and the least accounts for the Republic of Kalmykia – 22 kg. This figure for the country in general is 31 kg. Saint-Petersburg in regional rating stands 64th with 29 kg and Moscow is on the last 85 rank with 21 kg. Maximum consumption of vegetable oil and other plant origin fats is recorded in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria – 15 kg/annum, and the least in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg – 8 kg/annum.

Belgorod region and Sevastopol lead in fruits and berries – 91 and 90 kg/annum, when consumption within the country is 71 kg at average.

Amur region leads in demand on potato: the region is on the top not only by total consumption – 97 kg/annum, but also by its share of 6% in the total caloric ration. On the contrary, potato is not among Moscow and the Republic of Tyva’s favorites – 41 and 39 kg/annum per 1 consumer respectively.

Speaking about vegetables and cucurbits crops, Astrakhan region leads in this position – 135 kg/annum. It should come as no surprise, because the climate of this region is favorable for growing melons and various vegetables. The least vegetables consumption is recorded for the Republic of Tyva – 41 kg/annum per 1 consumer. This figure for the country in general is 100 kg, in Saint-Petersburg – 114 kg and 110 kg in Moscow.

Expectedly, fish and fish products are more common in main regions of its harvesting and farming: Primorye territory, Magadan and Astrakhan region, where fish consumption is maximum – 34-35 kg/annum. The smallest figure is for the Republic of Tyva – 7 kg.

Most of eggs are consumed in Belgorod region – 266 pcs and fewest accounts for the Republic of Kalmykia – 120 pcs. For the country in general this figure is 218 pcs per 1 consumer.

The presented statistics speaks about differences among Russian regions not only by climate, fiscal capacity level, demographic, social and economic development, but also by volume of basic food consumption, their share in total caloric ration. Nowadays bread and bread products prevail on the table of common inhabitant; fish, fruits and berries are not so spread. As is recommended by the Ministry of Health, the rational norm for meat and meat products should be 73 kg/annum per capita, fish and fish products – 22 kg, milk and dairy products – 325 kg, vegetables and cucurbits crops (excluding potato) – 140 kg, fruits and vegetables – from 100 kg, bread and bread products – 96 kg, potato – 90 kg, sugar – 24 kg, eggs – 260 pcs, vegetable oil and other fats – 12 kg. Therefore, many regions are far from norm.

Low income, lack of own resource base especially for fruits and vegetables growing in protected ground, underdevelopment of spawning fisheries are deterrent for widening of ration and consumption volume. All these make Russia dependent on expensive import of certain commodity groups that is especially noticeable at rouble devaluation. The most important are reduction of the number of commercial agents and creation of logistic centers supported by the state and engaged in transportation of agricultural products among regions, as well as access for local producers to retail chains.

However there are positive changes in domestic agriculture in the recent years: ban on supplies of wide list of agricultural products from the EU countries, being a significant part in our market, resulted in almost complete substitution of imported dairy products and poultry for domestic ones. The share of foreign cattle meat has also reduced. Increase in real income of the population occurred at the beginning of the current year should have positive impact on growth in healthy food consumption day by day and of course at festive table.

In conclusion of our Newsletter, Information agency Credinform congratulates beautiful ladies with forthcoming the 8th of March and wishes health, well-being and sunny cheers to everybody!

Table 1. Consumption of basic food per 1 consumer of private household a year, kg. (Dark green shading stands for maximum consumption, dark red – for minimal. Data for 2015.)

Table 2. Share of basic food in total caloric ration, % (Dark green shading stands for maximum consumption, dark red – for minimal. Data for 2015.)

The amendments to the first and second parts of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation were introduced by the Federal law as of 03.07.2016 №244-FL “On introduction of amendments to the first and second parts of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”. According to them, starting from January 1st, 2017 foreign companies rendering electronic services and content are obliged to pay value-added tax (VAT).

The law classifies electronic services as granting of rights through Internet to use computer programs. Such programs include games, databases, advertising services and announcements, electronic resources support, electronic books, music and video content etc.

Foreign companies rendering such services are obliged to pay value-added tax on their own account no later than the 25th day of the month next to the reporting period. For this purpose they should cooperate with tax authorities in electronic format. There is an opportunity to register on the web-site of the Federal Tax Service by use of the special service. It is possible to file VAT declarations, exchange documents and letters in the online account.

According to the Federal Tax Service as of February 21^st , 2017, 59 foreign companies have already been registered in the tax authorities including such major companies as Apple, Google, Microsoft, Netflix, Samsung, Bloomberg, Amazon, eBay, Nintendo, Booking, Alibaba and many more. About 40 companies have filed corresponding applications.

According to experts, these amendments, considering the global experience, make the working conditions of the Russian and foreign Internet-companies equal and may promote the annual replenishment of the country’s budget amounting to about 10 billion RUB.