In 2026, a law on mandatory flour labeling is expected to be passed in Russia. However, experts believe this is unlikely to impact prices.
Russia is gradually adding new product categories to the list of those required to undergo mandatory labeling before reaching store shelves.
This initiative has several goals: for example, to allow regulatory authorities to track the path of each batch from production to the end consumer and to prevent the sale of products with expired expiration dates.
Labeling already exists, for example, on dairy products and a number of other products. As for flour, experts expect its labeling to become mandatory by the end of 2026.
A voluntary labeling experiment is already underway, from November 2025 to February 2026, on flour, as well as cereals, pasta, and honey.
Participation in this experiment is currently optional, but it is clear that this is one of the final stages of the mandatory labeling process. The market expects this to become the norm before the end of this year.
To comply with the new requirements, flour mills will need to purchase specialized marking equipment and hire specialists to configure and operate it.
Obviously, this increases the cost of producing each kilogram of flour, which could theoretically impact its retail price for the end consumer.
However, some analysts are confident that even if such an effect does occur, the price increase is unlikely to be significant.
First, according to the Ministry of Finance, marking costs account for only 1% of the final product cost. Even if the price of flour rises by 1%, it will be a very insignificant increase that is unlikely to be noticed by consumers.
Furthermore, the government is prepared to provide millers with preferential loans for two years at a rate of only 5%, so they can afford to purchase and install the necessary marking equipment.
Such a low rate means that purchasing such equipment shouldn’t become a heavy burden for them, driving up prices for the final product.
At the same time, experts note, any additional burden on millers is currently dangerous, as the current profitability of their operations for many companies is only 1%.
However, the government is confident that labeling is a necessary step to ensure additional market transparency, and therefore it will soon become mandatory.
