ArmInfo. The State Food Safety Service of Armenia has withdrawn licenses from 16 importers of chicken meat on the basis of studies conducted after the receipt of a signal about violations by the Armenian edition of investigative journalism Hetq. Head of the Directorate of the State Food Security Service of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia Ishkhan Karapetyan told a press conference on December 25. "At the moment, more extensive research is being carried out, the results of which will be made public," he said.
At the same time, Karapetyan noted that some of the imported products fall on the markets of the EAEU countries. In this regard, he explained that the imported goods from the EAEU, which have a declaration and the corresponding certificate, are imported into the country without any laboratory expertise, but only on the basis of the documentation provided.
However, the head of the State Service assured that in 2018 qualitative changes are expected due to the launch of programs aimed at improving the safety of life and health of consumers. In particular, in this regard, he noted the reforms in the field of animal husbandry, the introduction of a risk assessment and management system, the implementation of monitoring programs, the introduction of safety and quality control systems for food products among economic entities and a number of other programs.
At the same time, Karapetyan stressed that on the eve of the New Year holidays, as well as, after taking into account the increased likelihood of violations, the SSFS will strengthen control in the country's outlets.