Baku, Azerbaijan, May 18
By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend:
Azerbaijan and the European Union have great potential to develop the trade in agricultural products, Head of Operations Section at the EU Mission in Baku Jeroen Willems said at the First Baku International Conference on Food Security on May 18.
He said it is necessary to continue work on bringing the quality of Azerbaijani products in line with the EU standards.
Today, only 5 percent of Azerbaijan's food exports accounts for the EU markets, he said, noting that only 10-20 countries can export certain food products to the EU.
Today, according to Willems, compliance with the food safety standards alone is not enough for exporting to European countries.
Many large retailers also require certificates that production is carried out in accordance with environmental and ethical standards, he said.
The 1st Baku International Conference on Food Security has today kicked off in Azerbaijan's capital. The event is organized jointly with the World Bank.
During the conference, foreign and local experts discuss issues of supervision and certification of food products, combating low-quality products, safety issues and compliance with standards in factories and enterprises producing food products, and other issues.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev