Armenian food safety service will comply with European standards by end of 2013, incumbent president says

YEREVAN, February 12. /ARKA/. Armenia’s state food safety service should be in full compliance with European standards by the end of this year, incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan said at his meeting with voters in Erebuni.

“We are completely reforming the core (of the work) of this service, its quality and structure, and we hope to have a good quality service by the end of the year”, Sargsyan said.

The presidential candidate said that Armenia is currently negotiating over free trade zone under EU Western partnership and an agreement is expected to be signed after successful completion.

The incumbent president stressed that the agreement cannot be signed only if Armenia’s food safety service has no up-to-standard certified laboratories.

On February 29, 2012, the EU trade policy committee decided to start negotiations with Armenia over Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement 

(DCFTA). If signed, the agreement will enable the country diversifying its export structure and entering the European market under favorable conditions.

Armenian presidential elections are scheduled for February 18. Seven nominees are running for  president: incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and head of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisyan, famous Soviet dissident and leader of National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan and philologist Vardan Sedrakyan.  -0-