Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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.
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.
The Prime Minister pointed out that 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 which should be predictable and . 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.
In conclusion, corresponding assignments were given to concerned State agencies (See the reference below).
