Thursday, March 28 2024 17:54

ArmInfo. The food safety inspection body of the Republic of Armenia will carry out supervisory  measures at the Ararat Brandy Factory LLC, in connection with a letter received from the Ministry of Health of Belarus, which states that violations of the requirements of the EAEU technical regulations  have been identified in the products produced by the enterprise.

The Ministry of Health of Belarus reported that as a result of a  laboratory study, the dye azarubine (E122) was found in the  composition of "Ayrum" pomegranate wine, which is produced at the  Ararat Brandy Factory.  In this regard, the state temporarily stopped  the import and circulation of Ayrum wine on its market.  However,  according to the Supervisory Authority of Armenia, the Belarusian  side did not indicate in which batch of "Ayrum" pomegranate wine a  discrepancy was found, whether studies of other batches of these  products and other details were checked. In this regard, the Food  Safety Inspection Authority of Armenia intends to contact the  authorized body of Belarus to obtain clarifying information about  violations and restrictions.

The Ararat Brandy Factory is located in the Ararat region of Armenia.  The Factory produces brandy, wine, vodka, whiskey and flavored  alcoholic drinks. "Ararat Brandy Factory" LLC produces products under  the trademarks "Terra Armenia", "Armenian Brandy", "MARE", "Amaras",  "Karot", "Anmar", "Ameny".  In December last year, exports and the  supply of Armenian brandy to Russia were temporarily blocked by a  decision of Rosselkhoznadzor. The agency has identified many  low-quality products. 

Earlier,Avag Harutyunyan, Chairman of Union of Winemakers of Armenia  (UWA), in the conversation with ArmInfo, said that what is happening  is a consequence of the wrong policy of the Republic of Armenia  during the last 15-20 years. "Instead of stimulating high-quality  production of alcoholic products, the government constantly makes  decisions to subsidize producers, including the purchase of grapes,  which allows these producers to produce inexpensive low-quality  products, which are sold on export markets, often at a price below  cost",  he noted.

Independent experts believe that the 15-20% annual growth in the  production of alcoholic beverages in Armenia is in no way supported  by an increase in the production of grapes and other local raw  materials, and Armenian producers often use cheap imported spirits in  the production of alcoholic beverages, w which determines the low  cost and poor quality of products.