Trade and Services

Information on online voting

The State Committee for Standardization of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as the State Committee for Standardization) in accordance with the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated March 29, 2024 No. 224 "On the procedure for awarding the State Quality Mark" informs that work is currently underway to award the State Quality Mark to products.

From June 1, 2026, products will be evaluated based on quality indicators: safety, environmental friendliness, innovation, technological sophistication, and aesthetics. The evaluation of the first four indicators is carried out by responsible bodies: the State Committee for Standardization, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the State Committee on Science and Technology, and sectoral bodies of state administration.

The "aesthetics" indicator is evaluated by consumers.

Access for online voting is organized on the portal "KACHESTVO.BEL" in the "State Quality Mark" section at the link vote.gskp.by. This option is available until July 26, 2026 (inclusive).

Information on local executive and administrative bodies, as well as authorized organizations, carrying out the accounting of outdoor advertising means in the Vitebsk region

Information on authorized persons for issuing passports of outdoor advertising means in the Vitebsk region

Information on outdoor advertising operators – business entities registered in the Vitebsk region
Information on acceptance of documents for wholesale trade licensing

Information on licensees and licenses for wholesale trade and storage of alcoholic, non-food alcohol-containing products, non-food ethyl alcohol and tobacco products issued by the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee

Law of the Republic of Belarus of October 14, 2023 No. 213-Z "On Licensing"

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of February 27, 2023 No. 154 "On Licensing"
Currently, according to the data of the state information resource "Register of Household Services of the Republic of Belarus", 3.8 thousand business entities provide household services to the population of the Vitebsk region, including 2.5 thousand individual entrepreneurs and 1.3 thousand legal entities.
In the household services market of the region, hairdressing services are most widely represented, provided by 16% of business entities. In second place are car service, repair and construction services (12% each), and in third place are sewing and repair of clothing services (10%), etc.
In the Vitebsk region, 14 communal household service enterprises and enterprises with a share of communal ownership operate:

Communal Unitary Enterprise "Braslav District Household Services Combine" (Braslav, Oktyabrya St., 15)

Open Joint Stock Company "Market of Services" (Orsha, Narodnaya St., 1)

Communal Unitary Enterprise "Postavy District Household Services Combine" (Postavy, Krasnoarmeyskaya St., 15)

Baugushevskoye Communal Unitary Enterprise of Household Services "Prestige" (Bogushevsk, Gorbunova St., 7)

Chashnikskoye State Communal Unitary Enterprise for Providing Household Services "Chashnichanka" (Chashniki, Sovetskaya St., 24)

Communal Unitary Enterprise of Household Services for the Population of Shumilino District (Shumilino, Vokzalnaya St., 17)

Open Joint Stock Company "Vitremsbyt" (Vitebsk, Tereshkovoy St., 3)

Open Joint Stock Company "Mir Usług Plus" (Vitebsk, Dimitrova St., 40 A)

Open Joint Stock Company "Association "Lotos"" (Vitebsk, P. Brovki St., 20a)

Open Joint Stock Company "Polotskbyt" (Polotsk, Oktyabrskaya St., 54)

Open Joint Stock Company "Novopolotskbyt" (Novopolotsk, Kirova St., 3)

Open Joint Stock Company "Vitraybyt" (Vitebsk, Leningradskaya St., 4)

Verkhnedvinsk Open Joint Stock Company "Verus" (Verkhnedvinsk, Sovetskaya St., 52)
Memos and Explanations

On free packaging

On indicating the price in Belarusian rubles

On the operation of intercom systems

On goods of inadequate quality

On payment for goods

On goods

On services

Consumer Memo

On the specifics of making purchases in an online store
On the purchase of food products
On the acquisition of mobile phones
On compliance with quality and safety requirements for light industry goods
Explanations of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties of the Republic of Belarus on the sale of floral products

Public opinion survey on the activities of public consumer associations

Procedure for filing claims and lawsuits

Samples of claims, complaints and applications for information from the Unified State Register

Samples of complaints, applications, claims

Information on consumer rights ombudsmen in the Vitebsk region

The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade informs that the Department of Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Veterinary Measures of the Eurasian Economic Commission, on the Commission's website https://potrebitel.eaeunion.org/potrebitel/ru/resources/poll/6a66fe77ce70d554920e5086 , is conducting a survey from July 27, 2026, to discuss proposals for the theme of the information campaign on consumer protection issues in 2027.

On the work of local executive and administrative bodies in the field of consumer protection

The main document regulating legal relations in the field of consumer protection is the Law of the Republic of Belarus of January 9, 2002 No. 90-Z "On Protection of Consumer Rights". The provisions of this Law apply to relations between consumers and manufacturers, sellers, suppliers, representatives, executors, repair organizations arising from retail sale agreements and other similar agreements.

In addition to this Law, consumer protection issues are regulated by the Civil Code of the Republic of Belarus, resolutions of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, and other documents adopted to develop the Law.

An important element of state policy in the sphere of consumer protection is informational and educational work. To date, thematic issues of programs are periodically broadcast on republican and regional channels, and print media systematically cover issues related to consumer protection.

In the Republic of Belarus, state bodies exercise consumer protection within their competence. The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of the Republic of Belarus coordinates activities in this area.

Within the region, state protection of consumer rights and control over compliance with consumer protection legislation is carried out by authorized consumer rights protectors of regional, city, and district executive committees.

Authorized protectors constantly provide advisory assistance to increase consumer literacy, organize appearances in print media, on television and radio, and ensure the placement of relevant information on stands and official websites, etc.

In addition, authorized consumer rights protectors consider citizens' appeals, conduct inspections (monitoring) of compliance with legislation, issue orders to eliminate violations, and provide assistance in drafting lawsuits to court.

For 2025, structural divisions of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, city and district executive committees considered 412 citizens' appeals on consumer protection issues, of which 191 (46.4%) were in the sphere of trade, 102 (24.8%) in housing and communal services, and 56 (13.6%) in consumer services.

Based on the results of the consideration, 7 orders to eliminate legislative violations were issued, 3 administrative offense reports were drawn up, and 3 warnings were issued. Out-of-court compensation for material damage in the amount of 14.06 thousand rubles was made.

Public catering

Service sector

Implementation of Decree No. 345 in the field of trade and services

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 345 of 22.09.2017 "On the Development of Trade, Public Catering and Consumer Services" has been amended by Decree No. 42 of 02.02.2024.

For individual entrepreneurs and business entities engaged in retail trade, public catering, and provision of consumer services in rural areas and small towns, the validity of certain tax benefits is renewed from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2028.

This includes a 50% reduction in profit tax rates on the sale of goods (works, services) obtained from activities in the specified territories, and personal income tax for individuals (if the beneficiaries of the benefits are taxpayers of this tax), compared to the rates established by the Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus. Legal entities are also exempted from property tax, land tax, and rent for land plots owned by the state.

The Decree also provides for the introduction of a separate electricity tariff for trade and public catering facilities located in rural areas (not lower than the level established for the tariff group "Agricultural Consumer Production Needs").

The possibility is granted to acquire, use, or possess real estate located in rural areas for the purpose of conducting retail trade, public catering, and providing consumer services without obtaining consent from the antimonopoly authority.

Furthermore, other preferences provided for by the legislative act continue to be in effect.

In particular, legal entities whose share in the volume of retail turnover of food products within the boundaries of districts where their retail facilities are located exceeds 20 percent in the previous financial year retain the right to acquire or lease additional retail space in rural areas within these districts for retail trade or to take other actions aimed at increasing such space.

The effect of the specified norm, as well as tax benefits, applies to territories defined by the Resolution of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies of May 22, 2024 No. 26 "On Defining Lists".

For legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, the possibility of selling alcoholic beverages in stores and pavilions located in rural areas with a retail space of less than 50 square meters is preserved, and for legal entities – also using mobile shops, regardless of whether this entity has a store and (or) pavilion where retail trade in alcoholic beverages is carried out (provided that the route of such mobile shop and the range of goods are agreed with the local executive and administrative body).

Approaches regarding the acquisition of real estate by economic entities continue to be in effect, with some additional conditions.

Capital structures and isolated premises in state ownership can still be alienated to subjects on a compensatory basis without bidding at market value for the purpose of carrying out trade, public catering, and consumer services in rural areas and small urban settlements.

At the same time, the new version of the Decree provides that such activities must be carried out for at least three years after the acquisition of real estate. In case of non-fulfillment of these obligations, buildings and premises are subject to return to state ownership without compensation for the cost of inseparable improvements. Alienation of the real estate object to third parties is prohibited until the sale conditions are met.

Information for entrepreneurs

Attention to trade entities

Attention to the heads of retail outlets!

According to the Committee of State Control of the Republic of Belarus, employees of some public associations and other organizations conduct activities aimed at finding clients for paid training courses and seminars.

To this end, employees of such organizations purposefully monitor retail outlets and, in case of detection of goods with expired shelf life, instead of concealing information about the identified violations and transferring it to the authorized bodies, they compel employees of retail outlets to sign contracts for participation in paid seminars conducted by them.

In some cases, this activity is carried out using illegal methods. In particular, according to representatives of retail outlets, as well as information posted on the global Internet, in some cases, expired goods were "planted" or deliberately removed from shelves before their sales period expired, and presented to sellers after its expiration.

In some cases, such organizations conduct their activities under the guise of inspections and pose as inspectors.

For example, when visiting retail outlets, employees of "Amerta Garant" LLC, "Consumer Information and Education Center" LLC, "Consumer Literacy" LLC, "Consumer" Public Association, "Consumer Basket" LLC entered information about conducting "unscheduled inspections" into the inspection record books.

The named organizations are not controlling (supervisory) bodies. Conducting inspections and monitoring by them is unlawful.

In accordance with footnote 1 to paragraph 1 of Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 510 of October 16, 2009 "On improving control (supervisory) activities in the Republic of Belarus" (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 510), controlling (supervisory) bodies are understood as state bodies (their structural divisions with the rights of a legal entity, territorial bodies, subordinate organizations) and other organizations authorized by legislative acts or regulatory legal acts of the Government of the Republic of Belarus to carry out control (supervision).

In accordance with part three of paragraph 1 of Decree No. 510, a controlling (supervisory) body has the right to conduct an inspection if this body is included in the list of controlling (supervisory) bodies authorized to conduct inspections, and the scope of their control (supervisory) activities, approved by this Decree.

In order to stop unlawful actions of the relevant organizations, prevent illegal interference in the activities of trade facilities, and exclude coercion to conclude contracts for paid services, we consider it advisable for the heads of trade facilities to bring the specified information to the attention of employees.

Pricing

Pricing Legislation

Explanations of the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of the Republic of Belarus on the application of the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of October 19, 2022 No. 713 (as amended on April 2, 2025) On changes in consumer prices in the Vitebsk region in July 2026

Tax Free System

The Tax Free System in Belarus has been available for over 3 years and is actively used by foreign citizens. More than 700 shops are connected to the Tax Free system, where you can purchase various goods - from jewelry, clothing, footwear to household appliances.

Memo for the TAX FREE buyer

Tax Free is a VAT refund system for foreign citizens. "Beltamozhservice" is the sole operator of the Tax Free system in our country.

In Belarus, the Tax Free system applies to all goods subject to a 20% tax. It provides for a refund of 15% of the purchase amount excluding VAT (or 12.5% of the amount indicated on the receipt).

The service is available when purchasing goods within one day from one shop operating under the Tax Free system, for an amount exceeding 80 Belarusian rubles (approximately 35 euros).

Rating Assessment Portal

The Rating Assessment Portal (качество-услуг.бел) has been created to improve the effectiveness of work with citizens, the quality of ensuring the population's livelihood, the openness of state bodies, further debureaucratization of the activities of state bodies and organizations, and the formation of a system for citizens' rating assessment of the effectiveness of assessment objects.

Assessment objects include state bodies and organizations that provide services ensuring the population's livelihood (including trade and consumer services), and (or) carry out administrative procedures based on citizens' applications, as well as other entities registered on the rating assessment portal on a voluntary basis.

Citizens can leave a comment on the portal about the effectiveness of the assessment object's activities, which is not an official request but will be taken into account to improve the quality of public services.

Control activities

Information on the results of the control activities of the Main Directorate of Trade and Services of the Regional Executive Committee for January-June 2026 Criteria for assessing the degree of risk for selecting entities to be inspected during a selective inspection in the field of control "Control in the field of trade, public catering, consumer services, consumer protection, advertising activities", approved by the decision of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee dated 21.12.2022 No. 716

The region's trade infrastructure is constantly developing, taking into account consumer demand. New retail outlets have appeared in the region in 2025.

On the eve of the New Year and Christmas holidays, the shopping center "INTERIUM" of LLC "DEPP hall" (in one of the former industrial buildings on Frunze Avenue) was opened in Vitebsk.

Today, this is the largest shopping center in the region. The area allocated for retail outlets is 16 thousand square meters.

The new shopping complex specializes in the sale of furniture, finishing and interior goods. At the same time, its administration considers working with domestic products to be a priority. According to the assessment of the shopping center's management, Belarusian products account for about 90 percent of the assortment offered to customers. In order to stimulate demand for these products, conditions have been created for issuing a consumer loan "For Native Goods" directly at the point of purchase (there is a workstation of a representative of OJSC "ASB Belarusbank" on the territory of the shopping center).

In addition to retail outlets, the new complex houses cafes and a recreation area. The opening of a restaurant, a fitness center, and a children's center is planned.

In 2025, other projects were implemented in the trade sector, not as large-scale, but significant for buyers. Stores of republican and regional trade enterprises were opened in the region – JSC "Vesta" (in the residential area on Truda Street in Vitebsk), "Detskiy" JSC "Dom Torgovli Novopolotska" (Novopolotsk, Molodezhnaya Street), "Mayak" and "Kopeeчка" CJSC "Dobronom" (in the cities of Dokshitsy, Tolochin, Miory, and Disna), "Dobrotsen" LLC "PV-Zapad" (in Shumilino), branded retail outlets of domestic producers – JSC "Elema" (Orsha), JSC "Svitanak" (Verkhnedvinsk), "Pole Tsvetak" RUPTP "Orshansky Lnokombinat" (Braslav).

The trade network developed not only within cities. Over the past year, 26 stores and pavilions were opened in rural settlements of the region. For their placement, both previously vacant store buildings and other premises were used (in new modular structures, in former educational, cultural, and local administration facilities). The commissioning of these retail outlets has significantly improved trade services for the rural population.

According to an operational assessment as of January 1, 2026, the provision of retail space to the population in the region was 823.6 sq. m per 1000 inhabitants. This is 35% higher than the normative value.