Thursday, April 6 2017 16:57

ArmInfo. Armenia confirmed list of  international companies for certification of organic production. The  correspondent decision was adopted during Government session on April  6.

As Agriculture Minister Ignatiy Arakelyan explained the list involves  companies which will receive the right to accredit local productions,  wanted to certificate their organic production. The list includes 18  companies from Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy,  Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Great  Britain, Spain, Greece, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

In 2016 during the conversation with the journalists, Armen  Harutyunyan stated that within the framework of the first stage of  organic agriculture support project, which was launched in 2015 and  is financed by EU and Austrian Development Fund, 18 processors of  organic products were  selected. They will be supported in respect to  issues of organics certification in the field of wine processing,  organic vegetable oil and honey processing.  Based on results of the  2nd stage of grant 190 bids were submitted. Currently, the bids are  under evaluation.There will be selected up to 40 farm holdings. The  total value of the project is EUR 3,3 mln, 1,4 mln of which is  allocated for grants. Ccording the Deputy Minister,  within the  framework of this Project Armenia plans to improve also the  regulatory framework, to rule out any misappropriations at the  organic products market."The market is represented by foreign  companies also. The Deputy Minister called out for all those who will  see any products at supermarkets marked with "bio", "eco" or  "organic" labels, to look also for certifying body reference. " If it  is not there, than the product is false," Deputy Minister mentioned.   To note, the first project on Organic Argiculture support was  launched at 2015, its duration forms 3 years and the budget is EUR   25 mln. The duration of the second Project is 37 months with a budget  at EUR 3,3 mln, 2,8 mln  rendered by European Community and 0,5 by  Austrian Development Agency. The Project comprises four components:  regulatory framework improvement, financial aid to farmers (grants),  market exit securing and the public aware on organic agriculture  priorities.