EU-COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS

Azerbaijan is setting up a new system of food safety control throughout the entire production chain "from fields to table". As announced by the Chairman of the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan (FSAA) Goshgar Tahmazli at the 1^st Baku International Food Safety Conference, the new control system will be effective from July 1, 2018.

What is the difference between the new and existing food safety systems? First, there will be a single agency to control the compliance of food products to phytosanitary and veterinary safety standards.

FSAA will be responsible for the registration and issuance of necessary certificates for all individuals and entities involved in food production. From now on, entrepreneurs will only need to go through the “single-window” registration system at one of the ASAN service centres to include the range of their products on the register. Following the necessary procedures, each manufacturer of food products will receive a special identification card.

According to Mr. Tahmazli, proposals on the amount of state duties required for obtaining certificates have already been submitted to the Tariff Council for review.

Compliance with the EU standards

Azerbaijan is improving its food safety system to make it compatible with the ones operating in the EU countries. Strict European requirements to food quality have significantly limited the potential of third countries and the volume of food supplies to the EU market. Today, only 10-20 countries have the right to export food products to the EU.

According to Aaron Williams, the Head of the Cooperation Department of the EU Delegation to Baku, the steps taken in Azerbaijan to ensure food safety, in particular the establishment of FSAA, are similar to those that were implemented earlier in the European Union.

Mr. Williams noted that only 5% of food products exported from Azerbaijan reach the EU markets. Thus, it is necessary to implement the EU regulatory acts on food safety in Azerbaijan as much as possible. Sometimes it becomes necessary that the supplied goods be accompanied by additional certificates including information on compliance organic fertilisers and pesticides used in the production with the EU nutrition standards.

Indeed, it is necessary to ensure that the population of Azerbaijan has access to the healthiest food and the risks of poor-quality products are minimised. It is possible to accomplish this task only by establishing control over the entire food production chain, which will make it possible to find the source of poor quality products in the shortest possible time and minimise negative consequences in cases of emergency.

To achieve these goals, it is planned to apply a wide range of modern digital technologies. For example, the safety of food products in the most risky sector, livestock farming, will be achieved through identification thanks to electronic chips or tags for large and small cattle.

Certification of exporters and importers of food products will enable the controlling agency to have complete information about the product and its supplier. These measures significantly reduce the risks in the food market and ensure the identification of the causes of hazardous production as soon as possible.

Zero tolerance

Since October 2015, Azerbaijan has suspended inspections (expect for taxation purposes) of business entities by regulatory bodies for two years. By presidential decree of October 3, 2017, this moratorium was extended until the beginning of 2021.

However, according to changes in the law, the moratorium does not apply to quality control of medicines, as well as the control of compliance of food products with safety rules and standards. The Ministry of Health is responsible for monitoring the quality of medicines and compliance with safety rules. Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan is responsible for the control of food quality.

According to Mr. Tahmazli, FSAA will conduct inspections and audit of all business entities engaged in food production. But these inspections will not impede any business activity. The goal is to ensure the implementation of international food standards to avoid risks to public health.

Since Mr. Tahmazli was engaged in business before his appointment, he promises to do his best not to create any barriers to fellow businessmen. So, instead of guessing the future relations between FSAA and the businesses, let’s just acknowledge that for us as consumers it is important that FSAA is the body to ask for the quality of food in the local market.

FSAA to improve the image of Baku?

The establishment of a new agency can also help to solve the problem of slaughtering cattle on the streets of our cities. We hope that FSAA will make its input in removing the puddles of animal blood on the number of streets.

From now on, entrepreneurs will have to apply to FSAA to open slaughterhouses in the designated areas. In other words, slaughterhouses in each district will operate in accordance with the accepted standards, which precisely determine the minimum area required for such premises, necessary equipment, and the availability of a laboratory for determining the quality of meat.

Certainly, FSAA will have to work hard with the business community to achieve compliance with the EU food safety standards. But as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. As far as the health of the nation is concerned, any speculation on strengthening state control over business is needless.