Onischenko Intends to Send Specialists to Georgia to Test Wine Quality

• Friday, September 14, 12:01

Tbilisi. Rospotrebnadzor  is ready to open the Russian market for Georgian wines under guarantees and will send its specialists to examine Georgian wine producing enterprises, head of the department, Chief Sanitary Official of RF Gennadi Onischenko told on Wednesday, September 12.

If we get guarantees that 2-3 our specialists will visit enterprises (in Georgia) and we will open these markets.  Taking into consideration the current political relations and absence of diplomatic relations, I appealed twice to MFA to get a permission for visiting those enterprises. But at the present time MFA can not give such guarantees", he said at the press-conference in Moscow, RIA Novosti agency  reports.

At the same time Onischenko  noted that from the Georgian party    only "inarticulate shouts" are heard.  In his opinion, quality of alcohol products of Georgia and Moldova has improved.

                In spring 2006, after the escalation of tension between Georgia and Russia, Russian Rosportebnadzor (Russian federal supervisory agency for consumer goods) banned import of Georgian wine and mineral water due to alleged poor quality of the products.

Official Tbilisi stated that export of products to the Russian market was entrepreneurs' private right. "Georgian authorities had no any attitude to a ban for products import and a permission for resumption. Russian authorities initiated it. If Georgian products return to the Russian market, we will wish success to our entrepreneurs", deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Nikoloz Vashakidze stated earlier.

                President of the Investment Fund of Georgia, ex-premier Nikoloz Gilauri considers that opening of the Russian market for Georgian products is connected with a certain risk. Being the prime minister, he advised Georgian  entrepreneurs not to hurry as the Russian authorities' decision on products access to the market could be abolished at any time.