Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Experts of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor, who are on visit in Georgia to resume talks on deliveries of the Georgian agricultural production to Russia, arrived in Batumi on August 19.

According to Head of the Department of Public Relations of the Georgian National Food Agency Giga Kurdovanidze, in the next two days Rosselkhoznadzor's representatives will be acquainted with the current pest control system of the citrus and other farm products in the territory of Adjara.

Kurdovanidze said that the Russian experts spent all Saturday in Kakheti, the largest agricultural region in eastern Georgia, where they visited a number of processing plants and greenhouses to grow fruit and vegetables, as well as have examined the refrigeration sector with high pest risk.

Rosselkhoznadzor's delegation arrived in Georgia to review the food safety system, as well as mechanism to issue certificates for products of the plant origin. During the visit of the Russian delegation, which will run until August 21, the main emphasis will be made on the work of accredited laboratories. It is planned to visit facilities for the primary processing of plant products, facilities for the processing of vegetables and grapes, greenhouses in different regions of Georgia, as well as facilities for processing of citrus and nuts.

Russia banned imports of Georgian wines and two popular brands of mineral water in 2006, citing poor quality of the products, in a move widely condemned in Georgia.

After government changed in the Georgia, the new government started talks with Russia to get Georgian product back to the Russian market. After the negotiations, both sides stated that the embargo on the Georgian products could be lifted in spring. This process is in progress now.