"JERMUK" INTENDS TO APPEAL TO COURT TO RESTORE ITS PRESTIGE
Noyan Tapan
Mar 21 2007
YEREVAN, MARCH 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The statement of the US National
Drug Administration has caused panic among buyers, as a result of
which sales of "Jermik" have declined by 10% in Armenia. At the same
time, as NT correspondent was informed by commercial director of
the company Samvel Arsenian, export to Russia has grown: previously
23-30 containers of mineral water were exported to Russia a month,
whereas starting from April 1, 78 containers will be exported.
According to S. Arsenian, the statement, according to which "Jermuk"
mineral water contains arsenic exceeding the permissible norm, pursues
some political and economic goals and has no relation to the quality
of this water and its content. He said that since 2000, the company
has exported its production to the US, and each shipment undergoes
laboratory examination on the border and is given a respective
certificate, after which it is allowed to be imported into the country.
In the words of S. Arsenian, an attempt is being made to force Armenian
"Jermuk" out of the international market. "This statement is made at
the moment when wagons of Georgian "Borzhomi" mineral water (banned
in Russia) are brought into the US," he noted.
He said that it is not ruled out that the company will try to restore
its prestige in court: the respective documents are being prepared
for this purpose.