(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 1 . The Law on Food
Safety, adopted by the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) last
year and signed by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on June
24, 2022, comes into force on January 1, 2023, trend reports.
Every entrepreneur working in the field of food production must
get acquainted with the provisions of the new law and organize his
activities in accordance with its requirements.
The new law will strengthen the legal framework of the food
safety system and play an important role in protecting the life and
health of citizens. At the same time, the law will ensure the
support provided to entrepreneurs in accordance with the political
line of the country.
According to the new law, from January 1, 2023, the import of
products from catering facilities abroad will be allowed only after
the approval of the facility.
After the state registration of biologically active food
products, food and feed additives, natural mineral waters, their
production, processing and circulation will be allowed. It is
forbidden to write the word 'medicinal' on food products, including
mineral waters, and the import and production of such products will
be impossible.
Moreover, information in the Azerbaijani language on the
labeling of food products will be required for its import and
circulation to be allowed.
One of the innovations is that the labeling of food products is
not allowed to indicate the effects or properties that are not
specific to food, and also to present the properties of similar
foods with the same properties as special properties. For the
importation of certain food products of increased danger, the
requirement to accompany such products with a document confirming
their safety has come into force. All food and feed products will
be released into circulation after notification is sent before the
product is imported and after it has passed documentary control,
authentication control and physical control, and an import health
certificate has been issued. When importing materials and articles
in contact with food, an import health certificate issued by the
Food Safety Agency will be required, and in the case of domestic
production, registration of facilities will be required.
Registration of low-risk food production facilities will be carried
out automatically, and approval of high-risk production facilities
will be carried out by evaluating compliance with the requirements.
Registration of objects and legal entities will be paid without
charging a state fee, and approval will be free for micro and small
businesses, for medium and large entities a single payment amount
will be set (150 manats).
The state registration of feed products will be replaced by the
control of the 'feed chain'. In addition to accreditation, the
results of private laboratories will be accepted after passing the
certification tests of the Food Safety Institute.
Any having questions about the new law, can contact the Food
Safety Agency on 1003. The full text of the law 'On Food Safety'
and explanatory information can be found on the media resources of
the Agency - at afsa.gov.az and social media.