Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

A delegation of the Russian Federal Service on Customers' Rights Protection and Human Well-being Surveillance (Rospotrebnadzor) is satisfied with quality of Georgian alcoholic and mineral beverages, Deputy Chairman of the Commission for the control of quality and safety of alcoholic beverages at Rospotrebnadzor said at a briefing in Tbilisi.

Russian experts checked about 39 Georgian enterprises for the production of alcoholic and mineral beverages during the week.

According to Katukov, Georgian wine in Moscow is number three in the list of most demanded wines after Italian and French.

"I can't say about the whole Russia, because Georgian beverages are not spread everywhere, but there is a demand for Georgian wine in Moscow and its suburbs," Katukov said.

Both Rospotrebnadzor and the Russian government are interested in the return of Georgian alcoholic beverages to Russian markets. This is evident by the fact that the highest-level experts were sent to monitor Georgia's local enterprises.

Katukov emphasized that the Russian specialists were pleasantly surprised with the high quality of Georgian wine.

"We are pleasantly surprised with how much has been done by the Georgian producers during a short timeframe," Katukov said.

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 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.