Under a new 2-year program of the European Union (EU) Armenia is to receive assistance in resolving food safety and international trade development problems.

The Animal Source Foods and Fodder Safety Control Program has been launched in Yerevan today, Wednesday. Attending the launch were EU program representatives, officials of Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture, and partners from Holland, Denmark and Latvia.

Ambassador Traian Hristea, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, who attended the ceremony, noted that the EU continues developing relations with Armenia by launching a number of programs. The Twinning program is aimed at enhancing food safety in Armenia, he said.

Food safety is most important. The program first of all envisages improved food safety for consumers, Ambassador Hristea said. Since food safety is a priority task for Armenia, the program is supposed to ensure serious progress in the field.

Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Armen Poghosyan said the program is an important component of food safety. He presented the program components, planned legal and structural reforms and the task of raising public awareness.

Armenia will introduce an international veterinary and food safety control system, he said.

The EU allocated €1m to finance the program. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority will act as senior partner in implementing the program, with its Danish and Latvian counterparts to act as junior partners.