Missing grain not responsible for bread prices

After it transpired that 36,000 tonnes of state-owned grain was missing from Agricultural Market Agency (ARR) silos, some regions recorded a considerable growth in the prices of bread and flour. An investigation conducted by the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) showed that the increases did not stem from an increased market price for grain as they occurred in shops not in bakeries. Although the two ARR vice-presidents responsible for controlling grain quotas have been suspended, the Agriculture Ministry revealed no intention of dismissing ARR head Ryszard Pazura, on the grounds that he could not be blamed for the affair. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1, B3) K.Ż.