Among other signatories to the letter is Igor Yefremov, chairman of the board of Dubki, one of the largest sausage producers in Russia.
“We have all become hostages to this problem, as local pork producers cannot meet the need [for raw materials] from domestic processing plants. To curb the demand, they raise prices as much as possible, realising the hopelessness of the situation for us and our inability to sufficiently meet the market’s needs. Deliveries are made in limited quantities, and do not even cover a third of the required volume. As a result, prices of local raw materials have jumped by almost 70% in the past two weeks in the absence of import supplies,” said the letter.
“Please deal with this situation and return the market for raw meat into the mainstream of normal competition, as this will allow the natural growth of pork production and the pork processing industry. In addition, it will avoid the whole meat processing industry becoming bankrupt,” added the meat processors.
Putin’s administration has not yet replied to the letter.