Delegates to a June 24 conference of small and medium-sized business owners voted for launching a campaign for Belarus` exit from the Customs Union, Anatol Shumchanka, leader of the "Perspektyva" small business association, told reporters after the event held in Minsk.
The activist explained that market vendors were up in arms against the coming introduction of the Customs Union`s stringent certification rules for clothing and footwear.
The rules, which are to take effect for some vendors in Belarus on July 1, prohibit the sale of clothes and footwear without a special label confirming their compliance with the Customs Union`s safety standards.
Many vendors fear that they will not be able to have their goods confirmed as compliant with the standards because of high costs and the lack of a clear procedure.
"Ordinary vendors believe that the Customs Union is a threat to Belarus` private business,"Mr. Shumchanka said.
He noted that activists would start collecting signatures to a petition for Belarus` withdrawal from the economic union.
