Giorgi Liparteliani, founder of "Georgian Dairy Products," comments on the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture's new plan for stimulating raw milk production and market regulation to be effective, on the condition of strict control over counterfeit goods across the country.
He emphasizes that restricting the production of powdered milk is unacceptable, because this will cause a shortage and lead to the market being flooded with non-natural products claiming to be raw milk. He believes the most effective strategy for promoting raw milk is to tackle the issue of counterfeit products, especially in the restaurant sector where products that do not meet standards are often used. Enhanced monitoring of businesses will lead to a rise in demand for natural products.
Liparteliani positively assesses the plan from a consumer perspective, noting the need for clear product differentiation and informing buyers, including through improved annotations. He also expresses concern about the labeling changes, which will require additional financial costs and time resources from companies, but hopes that government authorities will take these complexities into account.
The Ministry's reform envisages a voluntary quality mark for products manufactured from 100% Georgian raw milk. Apart from that, mandatory clear labeling will be introduced for products containing vegetable fats, with a requirement for their separate placement in retail outlets. The National Food Agency will enhance state control in the HoReCa sector, markets, and distribution networks.
LLC "Georgian Dairy Products" has been operating in the market since 2024.
