ARMENIAN PM DENIES LINKS WITH BUFFALO MEAT IMPORTERS
/ARKA/
September 27, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, September 27. / ARKA /. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian denied today any connection with imports of Indian buffalo
meat and called on political parties to stop linking his name to
this business.
"Well-known political forces are trying to discredit me, linking
my name to the import of buffalo meat from India. I do not have any
connection with buffalo meat importing companies. I have no friends
in them, neither relatives nor other people connected with me,
" the prime minister said at a Cabinet session.
The prime minister asked Abram Bakhchagulian, head of Food Safety
Service, to pr vide information about the companies importing buffalo
meat. According to Bakhchagulian, in 2011 six companies brought in
10,300 tons of buffalo meat. The largest importer was Alex Group
accounting for over 61 percent.
In the first nine months of this year 5000 tons were imported. The
largest importer was Parkev Company accounting for 34.23%.
Bakhchagulian said meat imports are handled by companies with at
least 10 year experience in running meat factories. Bakhchagulian
said no violations were detected over the last two years.
In 2010 the government of Armenia approved a special procedure for
import of buffalo meat from India. A year earlier a working group was
set up by the prime minister to address the issue and several Armenian
delegations visited meat factories in India to be dissatisfied with
their sanitary conditions. The delegations came to the conclusion
that Armenia should purchase meat only from five Indian companies.
In order to ensure full control over this process, the government has
appointed a specialist to work in India in collaboration with these
companies and give permissions to Armenian companies to buy meat.
Buffalo meat from India is used in Armenia for production of sausages.
In line with the government decision, only those Indian companies which
have at least ten years experience, have their own slaughterhouse,
processing plants and freezing facilities meeting world standards
can export meat to Armenia.
/ARKA/
September 27, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, September 27. / ARKA /. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian denied today any connection with imports of Indian buffalo
meat and called on political parties to stop linking his name to
this business.
"Well-known political forces are trying to discredit me, linking
my name to the import of buffalo meat from India. I do not have any
connection with buffalo meat importing companies. I have no friends
in them, neither relatives nor other people connected with me,
" the prime minister said at a Cabinet session.
The prime minister asked Abram Bakhchagulian, head of Food Safety
Service, to pr vide information about the companies importing buffalo
meat. According to Bakhchagulian, in 2011 six companies brought in
10,300 tons of buffalo meat. The largest importer was Alex Group
accounting for over 61 percent.
In the first nine months of this year 5000 tons were imported. The
largest importer was Parkev Company accounting for 34.23%.
Bakhchagulian said meat imports are handled by companies with at
least 10 year experience in running meat factories. Bakhchagulian
said no violations were detected over the last two years.
In 2010 the government of Armenia approved a special procedure for
import of buffalo meat from India. A year earlier a working group was
set up by the prime minister to address the issue and several Armenian
delegations visited meat factories in India to be dissatisfied with
their sanitary conditions. The delegations came to the conclusion
that Armenia should purchase meat only from five Indian companies.
In order to ensure full control over this process, the government has
appointed a specialist to work in India in collaboration with these
companies and give permissions to Armenian companies to buy meat.
Buffalo meat from India is used in Armenia for production of sausages.
In line with the government decision, only those Indian companies which
have at least ten years experience, have their own slaughterhouse,
processing plants and freezing facilities meeting world standards
can export meat to Armenia.