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It is proposed to specify the phases and actions of the food chain, during which physical and legal entities are obliged to ensure the mandatory requirement of animal products and raw materials of slaughterhouse origin. It is planned to define that in case of detection of raw materials and products of animal origin obtained as a result of non-slaughter, their sale will be suspended, confiscated and destroyed. The order of confiscation and destruction will be defined by the Government. This was stated by the Acting Head of the Coordination Bureau of Inspection Bodies of the RA Prime Minister’s Office Armen Danielyan at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment Protection presenting the legislative package on Making Amendments to the law on Veterinary Medicine and on Making Addenda to the law on State Control of Food Safety at the sitting convened on June 7 in the first reading.

The deputy of the NA Armenia Faction Arman Ghazaryan inquired how many slaughterhouses there are in the republic, in response to which Armen Danielyan stated that since 2020, 100 slaughterhouses had been established in the republic, but some of them stopped working due to inefficient administration. Many slaughterhouses do not operate because there are no applicants: many carry out slaughter in a different way.

“First, we have to solve the problem of the slaughterhouses, then bring people to the field of liability,” the deputy responded, inquiring about the ways to solve the problem. Armen Danielyan clarified that three months will be given after the law comes into force, during which they will try to find some alternative options on how to allow smaller slaughterhouses to operate, which will allow each community to have a slaughterhouse with less investment.

The MPs positively responded to the idea of building small slaughterhouses.

The Chair of the Committee Vahe Ghalumyan mentioned that slaughterhouses are becoming less and less, because they are not profitable. Inspection body toolkits and supervision are weak. “If their profitability increases, the number of slaughterhouses will increase, there will be competition. Slaughterhouses will have a vehicle that will go to the farmer. Our people are ready to pay 100-150 AMD more per kilogram, but to use slaughterhouse meat, which is not harmful,” he assured.

The Committee endorsed the legislative package.