"Zhoghovurd" daily writes:
"As of March 31, 2023, there were negotiations between the veterinary services of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia, this was reported by "Rosselkhoznadzor", the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control Service of the Russian Federation. The service asked the Veterinary Service of Armenia to suspend the certificate issued for the export of dairy products to Russia starting from April 5, 2023.
The publication stated that the possibility of resumption of supplies will be further discussed based on the results of efforts to eliminate violations found by Armenia. The editors of ArmLur.am regularly receive alerts that under the name of local production, butter or other dairy products based on Persian cream enter the market, a part of which remains here and, most likely, reaches the consumer's table in the form of milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter or other products.
It is premature to claim that the imported milk cream from Iran endangers the health of consumers, but some analysis of open sources suggests that there is a problem in any case. Regarding this issue, ArmLur.am addressed several times orally and in writing to the Ministry of Economy, the Food Safety Inspection Authority and the State Revenue Committee. Of these structures, it was perhaps the State Revenue Committee that transmitted certain digital data.
However, the SATM did not like the question posed to Pashinyan by the journalist of "Zhoghovurd" daily. During a briefing in the National Assembly, a reporter from the daily newspaper "Zhoghovurd" asked Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan if he is aware of the complaints of the Russian side regarding the Iranian cream, and is it possible that the latter will eventually urge him to thoroughly study the source and method of origin of the cream?
Pashinyan promised to deal with the raised issue, and also inquired whether we sent them (SATM - ed.) a request. The journalist of "Zhoghovurd" gave a positive answer. "Yes, a question was asked through the Facebook "Messenger" application, and we received an unsatisfactory answer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications." "The Food Safety Inspection Body, within the framework of state border control, supervises food imported from third countries, including dairy products imported from Iran, particularly cream. Control is carried out taking into account the risk factor (high, medium and low) of the load. First, the documents accompanying the food are checked, if they are incomplete, the product cannot enter the country due to several factors.
For example, if there is no document certifying the quality and safety management system, the cargo is considered high risk and samples of the batch are submitted for laboratory examination. In case of detection of inconsistencies, the import of the cargo to Armenia is suspended. You can familiarize yourself with the risk criteria in the RA Government's 2013. In the decision 218-N," said the response of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Tigran Petrosyan, the head of the food safety inspection body, hastened to "insure" himself and made a big announcement that "Zhoghovurd" daily did not send us a survey, so that the prime minister would not demand it later. However, the oral request is also a request sent through the press secretary. Iranian cream is now also imported to Armenia, but the Russian side has chosen 9 Armenian companies whose dairy products are not blocked from entering the Russian Federation, but they must use the licensed cream produced by 5 Iranian companies.
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications tries to cover up his own inaction with the story of one survey, while the fact that the Armenian society uses an unknown origin and dangerous cream imported from Iran, and the local producer is deceived by the cheap price, does not seem to bother Petrosyan. The important thing is that everything is clean with the papers. quality is irrelevant. We will reach the official answers of the quality examination.
Details in today's issue of "Zhoghovurd" daily.
