STATE FOOD SAFETY AND VETERINARY INSPECTION REVEALS
VIOLATIONS AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS WELL
09-10-2008 18:00:00 | Armenia | Economy
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The State Food Safety and
Veterinary Inspection of the RA Ministry of Agriculture
consucted checks at 1,100 economic entities of Armenia in
January-September 2008. The inspection head Grisha Baghian said
at the October 9 press conference that as a result of the
checks, some economic entities were subjected to administrative
responsibility. The total amount of fines made 45 million drams
(about 150 thousand USD), exceeding by 12 million drams the
amount of fines imposed in the same period of 2007.
According to G. Baghian, among the most widespread
violations are the sale of old foodstuffs, as well as foodstuffs
without the required marking, certificates and the necessary
technological instructions. Following the checks, some shops
were closed down, and the sale of certain meat products was
banned. As a result of the checks, 27 tons of dairy products and
7 tons of meat products were disposed of, the same amount of
meat products was sent from the check point back to Georgia.
Besides, 6 tons of fish, 26 thousand bottles of beer and 12
thousand bottles of vodka were disposed of.
G. Baghian said that the inspection is conducting checks at
comprehensive schools and kindergartens as well. The checks
revealed that the food given to kindergarten babies and that
sold in school lunchrooms does not meet the food safety
standards. The inspection head announced that numerous
violations were disclosed within a week, and the directors of
these educational institutions and the food-selling companies
were warned to eliminate the shortcomings. The inspection will
continue checks in November. It was mentioned that no checks
were conducted in Armenia's schools and kindergartens in the
past 20-25 years.
In the words of G. Baghian, checks of the weight and
quality of bread on sale in shops are underway, while the
results will be announced in a month.