Ready-made meals to undergo GOST certification in Russia
Russia Developing State Standards for Ready-to-Eat Food to Boost Safety and Market Growth
Russia is taking strides to establish a state standard for ready-to-eat (RTE) food, with the aim of enhancing food safety and reducing cases of food poisoning. The new standards, being developed in collaboration with Minpromtorg of Russia, Roskachestvo, and major food retailers such as Magnit, X5, Vkusvill, Lenta, Yandex Lavka, and others, are expected to follow international best practices like HACCP models to control risks in RTE foods.
This move towards stricter regulations comes in response to incidents of food poisoning and outbreaks, such as the botulism outbreak in the European part of Russia last year. The outbreak was linked to salads produced by "Kuhnya na rayon" and purchased from the online retailer "Samokat" (OOO "Umnyi ritail").
The development of state standards for RTE products is part of a broader effort to improve food safety and quality in Russia. Although the specific details of the standard for RTE food are not yet explicitly stated, it is likely to adapt mandatory requirements of the food production management system (HACCP) for RTE food producers.
The introduction of such standards is expected to have a positive impact on the market. The growing demand for convenient, healthy processed meals is driving the global prepared meals market, which is projected to grow from USD 190.71 billion in 2025 to USD 291.27 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 6.24%. In Russia, retail sales growth including food products shows steady but moderate increases, reflecting underlying consumer demand and market potential.
The segment of RTE food in the retail sales of Russian retailers was 3.7% (5.8 trillion rubles) in 2024. This figure is predicted to increase significantly, with the segment predicted to reach 9 trillion rubles in the next three years. The market size for RTE food already increased by 40% compared to 2023.
The new standards are also expected to support the growth of the RTE food segment in networks, which is predicted to increase by 7 p.p. from the current 16% to 25% by the beginning of 2026. However, it's important to note that there have been reports of mass poisonings in the catering business in Russia, indicating that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of RTE food across the board.
In conclusion, Russia's development of state standards for RTE food is a significant step towards enhancing food safety, reducing food poisoning risks, and boosting the market growth of RTE meals. The new standards are expected to align with international best practices like HACCP models and adapt mandatory requirements of the food production management system (HACCP) for RTE food producers. While more needs to be done to ensure the safety of RTE food across the board, the move towards stricter regulations is a positive step forward for Russia's food sector.
- The new state standards for ready-to-eat (RTE) food in Russia, developed in collaboration with various entities, are expected to impact the finance sector as the RTE market is projected to grow significantly, reaching 9 trillion rubles in the next three years.
- As part of an effort to improve lifestyle choices, Russia is developing state standards for RTE food, which could potentially impact the food-and-drink industry and contribute to business growth, given the increasing global demand for convenient, healthy processed meals.
