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The issue of providing sanitation in the meat market can be tackled if the right approaches and offers are put in front of the state body. Head of “Informed and Protected Consumer” NGO Babken Pipoyan expressed such an opinion during the interview conducted by Panorama.am.

The State Food Security Service has called upon the citizens to buy meat only from the markets ensuring sanitary conditions, as well as to refrain from buying meat of unknown origin. But this announcement has surprised the Head of the NGO, as such calls can be made by citizens or NGOs, but the state bodies must ensure the meat safety in the markets.

“It is impossible to call on the consumers to purchase the product that does not exist,” Pipoyan noted.

Before meeting the butchers and discussing the issues with them, first of all we should figure out how the origin of the meat on sale.

“In 80-90 percent of cases the necessary conditions required for transporting meat are not provided. What can a butcher do?” he added.

In his words the issue of slaughterhouses are voiced when no data is provided on the number of slaughters made throughout the country on a daily basis.

“This issue hides serious risks. If we are not aware of the number of slaughters made in Armenia, no precise calculations are ever made and if we do not know whether the slaughterhouses have the capacity to carry out all the slaughters there, this means the whole process is based on corruption. Slaughterhouses will start selling certificates as it is the case with the technical inspection of vehicles,” Pipoyan voiced the possible consequences.

The expert does not think that the change of the head of State Food Security Service can lead to positive results. He says that the personnel changes are always disappointing.

“Even the advisers working in the system are not specialists. In my opinion the manager must recruit an expert for that post. If the adviser is manager at the same time, the situation will not change. It is also concerning that professionals gradually leave this sphere as well,” he noted.