National Association of Consumers allows some Armenian companies to use its logo on their products as sign of quality

YEREVAN, February 7. / ARKA /. An Armenian non-governmental organization, called the National Association of Consumers, has allowed some companies to use its logo on their products as sign of high quality. Speaking at a news conference, the organization’s head, Melita Hakobyan, said it gives the permission only to companies which have cooperated with the organization for years.

She said the permission is issued by a panel of 21 experts, including 3 academicians, four doctors and professors. The permission is preceded by a thorough study of products, monthly survey of consumers in shops selling these products.

Asked whether the companies pay for the permission she said the amount is symbolic, and some manufacturers do not even pay it.

The logo of the organization is used already by meat products companies Bari Samaratsi, Razmik 92, Father and Son Galstyan, Ar Delicacy, Chanakh dairy company and Elbat Armenian-German company manufacturing car batteries. The logo is to appear also soon on some chocolates of Grand Candy company

Ms. Hakobyan said many manufacturers had asked for the permission to use the organization’s logo on their products but after studies they were denied the right.

Babken Pipoyan, a press officer for State Food Safety Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, told ARKA that placing the organization’s logo on their products is the matter of the companies, and  the ministry does not regard it s a guarantee of quality. 

By the way, last December the State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) imposed the maximum penalty prescribed by law - 1% of annual revenue - against 21 meat companies, including Ar Delicacy and Father and Son Galstyan, which were allowed by the National Association of Consumers to use its logo on their meat products as sign of high quality.

According to the SCPEC chairman, Artak Shaboyan, the percentage of soy, semolina, starch, flour, nitrite, phosphorus and other substances were extremely high in their meat products apparently to increase the weight of the products, making them  more appetizing. He said meat percentage was below 16 percent in violation of standards.-0-