EU continues supporting Georgia in strengthening food safety for better consumer protection and export opportunities in Agriculture
At the event, state institutions responsible for the food safety in Georgia together with the project partners from Latvia, Estonia and Sweden presented the progress of the European Union funded Twinning project “Ensuring further progress of SPS and food safety system in Georgia” to the stakeholders in the sector and discussed the key aspects of access to the European Union market for Georgian agricultural products.
When addressing the meeting participants, Giorgi Khanishvili, First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia expressed his appreciation for the EU’s support to strengthening the food safety system in Georgia. “Georgia is going through a new important phase of implementing modern food safety standards and approximating with the EU legislation in this area; therefore, sharing the experiences of the EU Member States involved in this project is essential”- he noted.
“The Government of Georgia has committed to approximate and implement 271 agri-food sector related EU legal acts by 2027, in the framework of the EU-Georgia DCFTA. At mid-way through this process, we are very pleased to note that the legal approximation plan has been respected and all signs are that it will remain so until the end. This success is to be attributed to the commitment and hard work of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and other mandated Government Agencies. The EU and its Member States (Team Europe) have supported this process through a series of different initiatives, with this twinning programme being a perfect and very effective example of it. We are now looking forward to see this legal approximation effort transformed into the development of high quality Georgian food products that will offer more protection to Georgian consumer’s health and increase their potential on the world market.” said Sigrid Brettel, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Georgia
"The main benefit of the Twinning project is that it will boost the competitiveness of Georgian products in the European Union market and strengthen consumer confidence in the food control system. The results of the first year of the project have been successfully achieved and now it is time to take further steps to implement it”, said the project leader, Director General of Latvian Food and Veterinary Service Māris Balodis.
"The approximation process with the European Union legislation in the field of food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary is proceeding according to the plan. In 2015-2020, up to 150 legal acts were approximated within the framework of the DCFTA agreement. As a result of the support provided by the European Union, we already have tangible results in protecting the interests of consumers, introducing modern standards in production and raising awareness in the business sector. However, challenges remain as we move forward. We have ambition to make Georgian products competitive on the EU market. In this regard, it is important to share the experience of other successful countries and this opportunity is being offered by the Twinning project”, stated Zurab Chekurashvili, Head of the National Food Agency.
This project (EUR 1 450 000) commenced its activities in October 2020 and will continue until November 2022. The involved European food safety institutions will share their knowledge and practical experience with the Georgian colleagues in legal approximation as well as to align national rules and procedures with EU standards and build capacities.
Contacts:
Mr. Raivis Grosbardis, Resident Twinning Adviser
E-mail: Raivis.grosbardis@vaad.gov.lv
Delegation of the European Union to Georgia
Tamriko Mikadze, Press and Information Officer
E-mail: Tamriko.Mikadze@eeas.europa.eu
