Tbilisi, Georgia, Nov.14
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
The Revenue Service of Georgia's Finance Ministry accused Armenia of exporting infected potatoes to the country. According to the statement of the Ministry's Revenue Service published on Nov.14, the infected potatoes were exported to Georgia from Armenia and this was confirmed by laboratory tests.
'The batches of infected potatoes were detected at Sadakhlo, Geguti and Ninotsminda customs checkpoints. We emphasise the potatoes are not imported from other countries through these checkpoints. Therefore the statement by the Armenian side that infected potatoes were not exported from their country is untrue', the statement said.
Head of Phyto-Sanitary Inspection of Armenia's State Food Safety Service Arthur Nikoyan said earlier that the potatoes exported from Armenia to Georgia were not infected as laboratory tests conducted in Armenia showed that the potatoes exported to Georgia were actually healthy.
In early November, the Georgian side once again returned 50 tons of potatoes to Armenia due to the fact that the tubers were infected with brown rot and potato cancer. Armenian experts deny the existence of a cancer in potatoes exported from Armenia.