The member companies of the employers' association got acquainted with the new rules of food labeling and import regulation.

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Employers' association member companies received information about the planned changes in food labeling and product import rules at the event held today. At a meeting organized by the Association of Georgian Employers, the representatives of the National Food Agency of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia discussed with the private sector about the planned changes and new obligations in the rules of food labeling, food additives and import regulation, which will be imposed on business operators from January 1, 2019. The new regulations also include financial penalties for business operators in certain cases. The representatives of the National Food Agency state that the establishment of new regulations based on the requirements of the European Union has become necessary. "According to the new regulations, the origin of the food, manufacturer, characteristics, ingredients, any type of food additive, new expiration dates, etc. will be explained at the level of detail. It is about providing consumers with comprehensive information about food and its impact on health" - says Kakha Sokhadze, head of the quality management and recognition division of the Food Safety Department. Representatives of the business sector say that the implementation of the planned regulations will cause certain difficulties in their activities. "Companies will now have to meet new requirements within tighter deadlines. Some of the products that are currently available for sale will need to be removed from stores and relabeled before the law comes into effect. We hope that in such cases, the state will set some reasonable deadlines for correcting the deficiencies", says the Executive Director of the Association of Georgian Employers, Lasha Labadze. The meeting was held in the conference hall of the Association of Georgian Employers and was attended by representatives of more than 60 companies.