RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called a consultative meeting to
review the outcome of the August 2-9 mission sent to the Republic of
India for familiarization with local meat processing enterprises.

Wednesday, 19 August 2009

A keynote report was delivered by Head of the State and Legal Affairs
Department of the Government Staff Ashot Vahanyan. He advised in
particular that the delegation visited a number of meat processing
enterprises which lacked for elementary hygienic conditions. The
speaker noted that meat was on sale at uncontrolled outlets.

Meat products were transported on motor vehicles which fell short of
basic sanitary standards. Buffalo meat is the staple product imported
from India, which is used in the manufacture of sausages in Armenia.
The head of the delegation further mentioned that the group had also
visited such enterprises where all the necessary conditions were
available and added that domestic imports should be organized from such
enterprises as are exposed to stringent State control.

As a result, the Prime Minister pointed out that meat products have to
be imported from those companies with at least 5-year operational
experience, which own high-standard slaughterhouses and have the needed
quality certificates.

While there are 17 such entities which provide 85 % of the market
demand, only 21% of imported products come from these enterprises.

According20to the Prime Minister, the State Revenue Committee has
ascertained that the bulk of imports are coming from sub-standard
enterprises, while they are stated as products manufactured in duly
certified entities. `Our purpose is to expose and minimize risks in
this area. Many countries have banned Indian meat exports for quality
considerations. We should be exacting and must be consistent to the
last in this matter. Only properly certified meat has to be imported so
as we can safeguard domestic consumers against unnecessary risks,’
Tigran Sargsyan said during the meeting.

The Ministry of Agriculture was told to tighten the control over meat
imports and, in cooperation with the State Revenue Committee, take such
preventive action as seems to be necessary at this point of time.