The last few weeks have seen a number of sensational exposures involving Armenia’s food market. At first, the RA State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition released the information that some dairy products on sale contained ingredients, particularly soda.

Then Melita Hakobyan, Chairwoman of the Association of Consumers, stated that sour creams contained soy and sweets, chemical coloring agents. Moreover, 40 to 45 per cent of confectionery is dangerous for health.

However, the problem is that relevant government agencies are supposed to deal with violations. For example, the State Veterinary and Food Safety Inspection, RA Ministry of Agriculture, is hardly informed of the situation.

RA Prime Minister’s Advisor Aram Gharibyan told journalists Dec. 10 that the Commission for Protection of Economic Competition acted within its terms of reference when it conducted inspections in the dairy market. As regards the Food Safety Inspection, Gharibyan said that “it is their everyday work, and they work as much as their technical and human resources enable them to.”