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FOOD SAFETY REPRESENTS ONE OF URGENT PROBLEMS FOR ARMENIAN CONSUMERS
Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2007
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Internation Day of Consumer Rights
Protection is celebrated on March 15. Abgar Eghoyan, Chairman of
Consumer Rights Protection NGO, told NT correspondent that former US
President John Kennedy was the first to speak about the coordinated
principles of consumer rights on March 15, 1962. It was the start
of the movement for consumer rights, which later was reflected in a
UN declaration.
According to A. Eghoyan, food safety is one of the urgent problems
that concern Armenian consumers. "Old and faked foodstuffs, as well
as those without certificates, with wrong marking can be found on
the domestic market," he said.
In the opinion of A. Eghoyan, this is conditioned by the fact that
the economic competition field is not equal for all economic entities
selling food.
Particularly, some foodstuffs "may be sold in streets or fairs without
cheques and tax paid, or may be sold in supermarkets with observation
of all rules."
As progress in the field of consumer rights protection, A. Eghoyan
pointed out the fact that in accordance with a decision of the
Armenian government, since early 2007, 40 foodstuffs have been sold
with marking in the Armenian language, while starting from July,
all foodstuffs sold must have such marking.
He said that it is also an instrument in fight against shadow economy
because shadow import is done by economic entities, which have no
agreements with producers and cannot ensure Armenian marking for
imported goods.
Another improvement is expected in mid 2007. A. Eghoyan said that
their organization has developed a draft order of confiscation and
utilization of dangerous food. It is envisaged that the Armenian
government will approve it in the second half of June 2007. Ii will
rule out sale of dangerous food by the respective structures. "It
is important that destruction of dangerous foodstuffs will be done
at the expense of unscrupulous sellers, as a result of which neither
budget nor consumers will suffer," he noted.
A. Eghoyan also considered important to protect rights of consumers
making use of public services. In his words, it is the most monopolized
sector, where in the recent years prices of gas supply, water supply
and sewerage, telecommunication services have grown without quality
improvement. The NGO considers important to cooperate with the RA
Public Services Regulatory Commission for development of rules of
service provision, as well as to organize works on information,
advice of consumers and protection of their rights at various
instances. Particularly, posters about existence of the Consumer
Rights Protection NGO's hot line for users of 4 public services are
at all 1,100 post-offices of Haypost.
Since August 2006, the organization has received about 500 alarm
calls, since early 2007 - over 200. 80-90% of problems raised as
a result of these calls have been solved. "We work with supplying
organizations, and if they do not solve problems or issues demand
coordinated approach, we cooperate with the RA Public Services
Regulatory Commission," A. Eghoyan noted.
There are other two Armenian organizations operating in the field of
consumer rights protection.
Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2007
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Internation Day of Consumer Rights
Protection is celebrated on March 15. Abgar Eghoyan, Chairman of
Consumer Rights Protection NGO, told NT correspondent that former US
President John Kennedy was the first to speak about the coordinated
principles of consumer rights on March 15, 1962. It was the start
of the movement for consumer rights, which later was reflected in a
UN declaration.
According to A. Eghoyan, food safety is one of the urgent problems
that concern Armenian consumers. "Old and faked foodstuffs, as well
as those without certificates, with wrong marking can be found on
the domestic market," he said.
In the opinion of A. Eghoyan, this is conditioned by the fact that
the economic competition field is not equal for all economic entities
selling food.
Particularly, some foodstuffs "may be sold in streets or fairs without
cheques and tax paid, or may be sold in supermarkets with observation
of all rules."
As progress in the field of consumer rights protection, A. Eghoyan
pointed out the fact that in accordance with a decision of the
Armenian government, since early 2007, 40 foodstuffs have been sold
with marking in the Armenian language, while starting from July,
all foodstuffs sold must have such marking.
He said that it is also an instrument in fight against shadow economy
because shadow import is done by economic entities, which have no
agreements with producers and cannot ensure Armenian marking for
imported goods.
Another improvement is expected in mid 2007. A. Eghoyan said that
their organization has developed a draft order of confiscation and
utilization of dangerous food. It is envisaged that the Armenian
government will approve it in the second half of June 2007. Ii will
rule out sale of dangerous food by the respective structures. "It
is important that destruction of dangerous foodstuffs will be done
at the expense of unscrupulous sellers, as a result of which neither
budget nor consumers will suffer," he noted.
A. Eghoyan also considered important to protect rights of consumers
making use of public services. In his words, it is the most monopolized
sector, where in the recent years prices of gas supply, water supply
and sewerage, telecommunication services have grown without quality
improvement. The NGO considers important to cooperate with the RA
Public Services Regulatory Commission for development of rules of
service provision, as well as to organize works on information,
advice of consumers and protection of their rights at various
instances. Particularly, posters about existence of the Consumer
Rights Protection NGO's hot line for users of 4 public services are
at all 1,100 post-offices of Haypost.
Since August 2006, the organization has received about 500 alarm
calls, since early 2007 - over 200. 80-90% of problems raised as
a result of these calls have been solved. "We work with supplying
organizations, and if they do not solve problems or issues demand
coordinated approach, we cooperate with the RA Public Services
Regulatory Commission," A. Eghoyan noted.
There are other two Armenian organizations operating in the field of
consumer rights protection.