BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 11
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
The technical regulation on frozen chicken meat that has come into force in Georgia could lead to an increase in the price of poultry meat by 20 percent, Trend reports citing Georgian media.
According to this regulation of the Georgian government, over the next five years, the sale of frozen chickens in Georgia will be carried out in accordance with the new standard, which requires that the products that contain more than five percent water will no longer be available on the market.
The Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia reported that the introduction of the technical regulation on poultry meat is a directive of the European Union, the introduction of which will protect consumers.
As reported, the content in poultry meat of five percent of the water will be acceptable until 2025. After 2025, it will become mandatory to adhere to the international standards. According to this standard, the permissible water content in frozen poultry meat will be reduced even more and will be from 0 percent to 3.5 percent.
According to individual entrepreneur Gigla Natenadze, who has been importing frozen chickens from Ukraine and Russia for more than 10 years, the new regulation will entail an increase in the cost of chicken meat. In his opinion, the Georgian economy is too small, and it has a small market in order to withstand the financial or economic blow caused by such a restriction.
Unlike importers, local farmers approve the new regulation, the report said. In their opinion, the new standard will help local products compete with those imported. According to farmers, the water content in poultry meat increases its weight, which is why it is profitable for importers to sell such products relatively cheaply.
As the Georgian National Statistical Service (Geostat) said, in 2019, Georgia acquired poultry meat worth more than $65 million.
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