On 21 May 2012, the EU Advisory Group to Armenia, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Service for Food Safety of the Republic of Armenia, conducted a key awareness seminar on the Food Safety Strategy and related Action Plan that were adopted by the Government of Armenia on 17 November 2011. The seminar aimed to: - Present the newly approved Food Safety Strategy and the related Action Plan. - Clarify the EU’s approach to Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards and Food Safety. - Analyze the impact the new Strategy will have on food production, food processing, domestic consumption and exports to third markets, including the EU. The new Food Safety Strategy and its Action Plan seek to bring Armenia’s food system in line with relevant EU legislative and institutional requirements. The aim of the Strategy is to minimize the administrative burden on Armenia’s farming community and agro-business operators by updating regulations and scrapping obsolete standards. The seminar afforded participants the opportunity to explain the thinking behind recent legislative amendments in Sanitary and Phytosanitary fields and their implications for food safety. In order to discuss actions and measures on Food Safety, participants were split into three analytical groups: animal health and welfare, approximation of RA legislation to EU legislation and Food Safety regulation and control. According to a press release by the EU Advisory Group to the Republic of Armenia, the Seminar was held in Erebuni Plaza Conference Hall, with opening remarks made by Mr Sergo Karapetyan, Minister of Agriculture, and Ambassador Traian Hristea, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia. The Seminar attracted a number of Government officials, representatives of international organizations, food industry representatives and key stakeholders with an interest in the safety and quality of food production and supply. The EU Advisory Group to the Republic of Armenia (EU Advisory Group) was set up in April 2009 to support the political and economic reform process initiated by the government of the Republic of Armenia. In line with the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan, the EU Advisory Group provides tailor-made policy advice on issues ranging from human rights and public administration reform to trade. For more information, see www.euadvisorygroup.eu

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