Sverdlovsk Region Duma deputies looked into the project on developing the region’s agriculture in 2007-2009 and voiced their concerns over the need to protect the local pork producers after both legal and illegal import of meat to Russia rose dramatically and made prices plummet. Regional producers have already complained about the hard time they are having trying to sell their pork on Sverdlovsk Region markets. Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture and Food has not made his position clear yet, and no effective measures aimed at protecting the local farmers and consumers from the foreign expansion have been taken so far.