Armenian food safety authority denies hindering agricultural exports to Russia
The Armenian Food Safety Inspectorate refuted claims that it is obstructing the export of agricultural products to Russia
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YEREVAN, July 26. /ARKA/. The Armenian Food Safety Inspectorate refuted claims that it is obstructing the export of agricultural products to Russia in a statement released on Friday.
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The assertion that the Armenian side is hindering the exports of agricultural products to the Russian Federation is complete disinformation and does not reflect reality, the statement said.
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The Inspectorate continuously monitors the exports of fruits and vegetables, taking samples from each batch of exported products and submitting them for laboratory testing to check for harmful quarantine organisms.
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Considering the peak season, the Inspectorate has extended its operations to include weekends to minimize the downtime of export shipments and expedite the testing process.
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Addressing concerns about why agricultural products not meeting export standards are sold in the Armenian market, the authority explained that harmful quarantine organisms do not pose a risk to human health or life but can threaten the agriculture of the importing country.
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The authority also emphasized that the same stringent controls are applied to imported agricultural products to protect Armenia's agriculture from plant diseases. Internal market controls have been similarly tightened.
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Ultimately, after undergoing border control by the inspection authority, batches of agricultural products receive a bio sanitary certificate. Hundreds of trucks cross the Armenian border and the Georgian-Russian border without any obstacles, the statement mentioned.
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The authority noted that only shipments containing harmful quarantine organisms are prohibited from export, and such cases are rare. The few trucks held at the border contain products already deemed substandard from an agricultural standpoint, so delays do not cause additional damage.
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As a result of these rigorous controls, the number of bio sanitary non-compliance issues in exports from Armenia has decreased significantly in the first half of 2024 compared to 2023. This has facilitated a smooth export process to Russia and other countries, contributing to an increase in export volumes.
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