From 8 February, increased safety requirements for trade will be applied and the availability of goods on site has been expanded

At the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers today, on 5 February, the government supported the model of safe trade proposed by the Ministry of Economics. On 8 February, a gradual transition to it will be started setting additional safety requirements for points of sale and strengthening their control, at the same time expanding the availability of goods on site.

Additional safety requirements, incl. reducing the maximum number of customers at points of sale, are determined:

• for points of sale (stores),
• for shopping centres (trade area 1500 m 2 with at least 5 merchants or service providers operating),
• for the markets indoors.

We invite the residents to carefully observe the instructions at the entrances to the points of sale, as well as to follow the instructions of the merchants when shopping! The safer trading provisions for the points of sale are based on the following guiding principles:

• more effective control of the flow of visitors and very strict requirements for physical distancing must be observed at all points of sale, incl. in trade halls (stores), at the entrances/exits of the points of sale and specific requirements in the shopping centres;
• responsibility and obligations of merchants for the control of the flow of visitors is increased by identifying the responsible person and introducing an internal control system for the implementation of epidemiological safety measures at points of sale or shopping centres;
• marketing activities that encourage people to gather at points of sale are banned;
• increased control and liability is determined for non-compliance with epidemiological safety measures.

At the same time, from the 8 February of this year the on-site sales with the full range of goods will also be possible:

• at the grocery stores, i.e. stores where food is sold comprising not less than 70% of the assortment of goods;
• hygiene goods stores, i.e. stores where hygiene goods are sold comprising not less than 70% of the assortment of goods;
• as well as bookstores.

We remind you that full-time sales are currently taking place in pharmacies, including veterinary pharmacies, opticians, and fuel stations; at other points of sale, the range of goods sold on site is limited in order to reduce crowding and shopping in shops, markets, etc.

The government also decided to expand the range of on-site merchandise at the points of sale that do not fall into the above-mentioned store categories. From 8 February, the range of goods to be purchased on site has been supplemented with:

• plants, seedlings, bulbs, tubers, and seeds;
• substrates, fertilizers, liming materials, and plant protection products;
• electrical accessories (wires, extension cords, chargers);
• disinsectisation and deratization agents.

We remind you that currently the following product groups can be purchased in person:
groceries;

• hygiene goods (list of goods);
• essential household goods (list of goods);
• mobile phone prepaid cards;
• tobacco products, herbal smoking products, electronic smoking devices and their liquids;
• animal feed and goods;
• press publications;
• public transport tickets;
• mouth and nose coverings and individual protective equipment;
• artisanal agricultural products;
• flowers.

The restriction of sales of goods also applies to street trade and trade in closed and open market areas. On the other hand, the organization of fairs (or organizing of street trade) is completely prohibited.

Distance selling and e-commerce continue to operate without restrictions - citizens will be able to purchase goods in distance selling (online, ordering by phone and e-mail), they will be delivered to homes and parcel machines, also it will be possible to hand them out and pick up at the stores on site. Also, the wholesale of any goods in wholesale trade bases, which are necessary for both retail stores and the operation of companies, production, etc. is not interrupted. At the same time, it is allowed to provide the goods necessary for the provision of existing services (for example, the provision of car parts in a car repair shop).