Estonian food products signed in national colours

The Estonian Food Industry Association together with producers and retail chains will launch a campaign for the popularisation of Estonian food in which domestic food products will get a sign in national colours.
Sirje Potisepp, head of the Estonian Food Association, said the aim of the campaign was to raise consumer loyalty concerning Estonian goods.
Potisepp said the popularity of local food items was falling. “The share is falling in the assortment and so its competitiveness is contracting,” she said at a press conference on Thursday. The average percentage of Estonian food in stores was 63 in 2008; the year before it was 64%.
The aim of the national colours campaign is to help consumers find Estonian products in stores. According to the Estonian Institute of Economic Research (EKI) it is difficult for consumers to establish the origin of goods in stores because the product information is in too small print on packages and the origin country of the raw material, the producer country or the producer cannot be established from product information.
According to an EKI study, 70% of the people preferred Estonian products in 2008, while in 2007 the figure was 73% and in the best years, 2002 and 2007, 87%.
According to present plans the campaign will last until July 1010, but it could be extended indefinitely.

Source: Estonian Review

Estonia joined International Renewable Energy Agency

Estonian Ambassador to Germany Mart Laanemäe signed the statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Berlin this week, which signifies Estonia’s joining IRENA.
Ambassador Mart Laanemäe stated that Estonia has been deeply involved in the creation of the agency from the beginning. “We live in a world where energy consumption grows from year to year while energy resources are steadily depleting. In the long run, we can’t continue to rely on fossil fuels. We must increase the use of renewable energy and promote energy conservation,” said Ambassador Laanemäe. “Estonia has set the goal to increase the use of renewable energy from the current 18% to 25% by the year 2010. With IRENA’s help, we can do this as effectively as possible and share our experiences in wind energy and biomass in order to promote the use of renewable energy all over the world,” stated Ambassador Laanemäe.
IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation whose goal is to draw together and analyse activities and research in the field of renewable energy, guide the development of renewable energy, and promote its widespread use across the world. One of the agency’s primary responsibilities is to consult with members on energy sources, technology, business models, choosing an organisational and regulating framework, and adjusting to changes.
On 29 January of this year the statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency was approved in Berlin and opened to the signatures of those who wished to join. Today 96 nations have signed the statute. IRENA will officially enter into force once 25 nations have submitted their instruments of ratification. Currently IRENA has not yet officially come into force as an agency.

Source: Estonian Review

Retailer: no-one can replace 180,000 price labels in six days

Estonian department store group Tallinna Kaubamaja said that it would have to replace 180,000 price labels because of 2 percent VAT rate raise from July 1, reports ERR. ”No-one can replace 180,000 price labels in just six days,” said Enn Parel, sales and marketing manager of Tallinna Kaubamaja.

Parel said that tehy are now considering whether to put up signs warning buyers that actual prices will differ from those shown on the labels. 

The company has already contacted the consumer protection authority for advise on how to inform the customers about new prices in the situation where some price labels still show the old prices.

Parel said that the department store has not yet decided how much its prices will increase. “But increase they will,” he added.

Source: BBN

Producer price indices decreased in May

According to Statistics Estonia, in May 2009 the producer price index decreased 0.5% compared to April and 2.1% compared to May 2008.

In May compared to the previous month the producer price index was more than average influenced by the decrease in prices in mining and in energy supply and by the increase in prices of the manufacture of wearing apparel. Compared to May 2008 the prices increased most in energy supply and in mining.Change in the producer price index by economic activity, May 2009

Economic activity	April 2009 - May 2009, %	May 2008 - May 2009, %
TOTAL	-0.5	-2.1
Energy supply	-0.8	12.1
Mining	-1.3	7.1
Manufacturing	-0.5	-3.8

In May 2009 the export price index decreased 0.2% compared to April 2009 and 4.1% compared to May 2008.

In May compared to the previous month, the export price index was more than average influenced by the decrease in prices in forestry, in the manufacture of building materials and in the manufacture of metals and metal products.

In May 2009 the import price index decreased 0.6% compared to April 2009 and 7.6% compared to May 2008.

In May compared to the previous month, the import price index was more than average influenced by the decrease in prices of mineral fuels, metals and metal products and food products and beverages and by the increase in prices of electrical machinery and chemical products.

Source: Statistics Estonia