YUGOSLAVIA ISSUES NEW DECREES OF AVAILABILITY, PURCHASE OF FOOD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600400611-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 611
• Publication Date: August 3, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/25: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600400611-8
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INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
COUNTRY Yugoslavia DATE OF
INFORMATION 1951
HOW
PUBLISHED Daily newspapers
WHERE
PUBLISHED Belgrade; Zurich
DATE
PUBLISHED 5, 7 May 1951
LANGUAGE
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF ESPIONAGE ACT SO
U. S. C.. SI AND SS. AS ANEROID. ITS TRANSMIS SIOM OR THE NIN ELAnoN
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANT MAMNRR TO ANISUNAUTHORIIED PERSON IS PROW
HIIITED ST LAW. NEFRODUCTION OF TH FOR. IS PROHIBITED.
DATE DIST. 3 Aug 1951
NO. OF PAGES 3
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
YUGOSLAVIA ISSUES NEW DECREES
ON AVAILABILIfiYL PPURCHASE OF FOOD
EASE CONTROL OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS -.W Zurich, Neee Zuericher Zeitung,
7 May 51
On 5 May the Yugoslav government decreed the abolition of government
control of meat, lean pigs, milk, potatoes, legumes, and fodder, to become
effective 1 July 1951.
Heretofore, farmers were obliged to deliver their quota of these products
to the state at ridiculously low prices. The state, in turns sold the goods
to urban consumers against ration coupons. As of 1 July 1951, farmers will
be permitted to sell on the free market not only their surplus but their entire
output of the above-mentioned products. For months these had been unattainable
without ration cards in Belgrade. Prices for meat on the free market were
four times as high as the price for rationed meat. So-called cash coupons will
be issued to enable the consumer to buy at a price reduction of 80 percent.
However, these coupons,which are also valid for the purchase of textiles and
other consumers' goods at reduced prices, are not readily obtainable.
Under existing regulations farmers are still required to turn over to the
state grain, including corn and rice, fats such as lard, wool, tobacco, and
other agricultural products for industrial conversion. The delivery quotas for
grain and lard have imposed special. hardships on the farmers, and it is there-
fore doubtful whether the nesily decreed reform will appease them. The govern-
ment is not in a position to lift its levies on these principal food items
completely, in view of the poor supply situation. Production of government
quotas will be possible only if American fats shipments continue. addif the
government consents to reduce grain exports. However, the new regulations
represent great progress. It is expected that the measure will lead to an
increase of livestock. Under the old regulations the majority of farmers kept
their livestock to a minimum because they felt that the cattle were raised not
for their benefit but for the state.
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Go !'T ILI 'c I "T' 11I
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The new regulations follow the trend of the cu:_rert Yugoslav economic
policy: a toning down, within the total planned economy, of the Soviet
pattern, and a re-establishment of free trade..
YUGOSLAV DECREE PRESCRIBES TYPES, QUAPTITIES OF FOOD IN GUARANTEED SUPPLY --
Belgrade, Borba, 5 May 51
The new Yugoslav decree on the types and quantities of food in guaranteed
supply C.e., rationing7 prescribes the following:
1. Consumers eligible under the rationing system are guaranteed bread,
fats, sugar, and soap, in quantities based on pertinent regulations. In
addition, children are guaranteed cocoa products and rice.
Eligible consumers will purchase normal quantities of the foods men-
tioned above with ration coupons at lower uniform retail selling prices.
All other foods, including those mentioned above Lover normal quanti-
tie7, which are not purchased with ration coupons will be purchased at freely
formed retail selling prices, by consumers in the rationing system as well as
other consumers, or they will be purchased with cash coupons at a prescribed
discount or these prices.
The President of the Federal Council for Commerce prescribes which
consumers in the rationing system are eligible to receive cash coupons. The
quota of cash coupons for individual. categories cf consumers and the amount
of discount are determined by the President of the Federal Council for Com-
merce in agreement with the Federal Minister of Finance.
2. Consumers in the rationing system are also guaranteed fuel in the
same quantities and in the same manner as teretcfore. Detailed regulations
concerning this will be issued by the President of the Federal Council for
Commerce.
3. The President of the Federal Council for Commerce is authorized to
prescribe conditions under which those who are not 'workers, such as artisans,
professionals, and similar people, and members of their families, can be ac-
cepted into the rationing system, and prescribes the foods which they can be
guaranteed.
The President of the Federal Council for Commerce may prescribe that
individual categories of consumers be issued prescribed quotas of cash coupons
in individual months, in addition to the cash coupons which are issued reg-
ularly each month, to take care of needs that have not been anticipated.
4. Detailed instruction for implementing this decree will be issued
by the President of the Federal Council for Coumarce.
CASH COUPONS TO BE OBTAINED FOR PURCHASING FOOD ? Eelgrade, Borba, 5 May 51
The new Yugoslav decree on the issuance and manner of using cash coupons
for purchasing food at discount is as follows:
1. Consumers who, according to regulations, would have the right to a
guaranteed meat supply are entitled to receive cash coupons for purchasing
food at a discount.
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CONFIDENTIAL
2 . Consumers in the rationing system are divided into reta2orlea and 1
receive cash coupons according to their respective categories
Consumers in, the Rla category will receive 240 cash coupons monthly,
Rs 240, Rla 175, Rlb 175, Rzl 175, R1 and Rol 85, R2a 85,'Rz2 85, R2 and
Rs2 70, R3 and Rs3 55, Po, Sol, and So2 50, Dl 60, D2 70, D3 95, RU 40, MD
(nursing mothers) 10, B 40, and T 40.
3. Consumers in the rationing system may purchase food with cash coupons
at a discount of 80 percent of the freely formed retail selling price.
Consumers will pay 20 percent of the retail selling price in cash and
the remainder in cash coupons.
4. The form of the cash coupons is determined by the Yugoslav People's
5. Cash coupons are valid for purchasing food in the state commercial
retail netvor$,in the state farm stores, and in cooperatives throughout
Yugoslavia.
6. Commercial enterprises selling food at a discount are entitled to
reimbursement for the difference in the price of goods scld at a discount
for cash coupons.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/25: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600400611-8