ARMENIA BANS TURKISH FOODSTUFFS IMPORTS
Regnum, Russia
Dec 20 2006
Foodstuffs imported into Armenia should be subjected to obligatory
marking in Armenia, head of the Standardization and Compliance of
the Trade and Economic Development Ministry Robert Dayan announced
at a news conference on December 21.
According to him, since January 1, 44 groups of foodstuffs are
subjected to obligatory marking in Armenian, the rest types of
foodstuffs will undergo such procedure since July 1. The country
producer, date of produce and ingredients should be typed on
the package or labels of goods. Robert Dayan noted that traders
were informed about the obligatory marking and goods, particularly,
seed-oil from Greece, eggs from Iran are already being imported with
necessary marking. The goods that have been already imported and have
no marking in Armenian will be sold freely until their expiration date.
The official noted that many foodstuffs imported from Turkey do
not meet Armenian standards and, taking into consideration that the
question cannot be settled because of absence of diplomatic relations
with the country, Turkish foodstuffs imports were banned. All imported
goods should be certified, but Turkish foodstuffs are not.
"Turkish food sold in Armenian markets are smuggled," Robert Dayan
said.