Georgia toughens inspection of agrarian markets, food facilities

Georgia’s National Food Agency is tightening control over food facilities popular among tourists.

The National Food Agency and the National Tourism Administration signed a memorandum of cooperation, which envisages officers from the National Food Agency intensifying their inspection of facilities that offer food and are known to be frequently visited by tourists.

Inspection of food facilities countrywide involves both dining areas of restaurants and cafes and their kitchens. Officers check the conditions of food that is cooked, kept and sold.

Tourists or locals that feel like the food they are being served does not meet high standards are encouraged to call the National Food Agency hotline: 15-01. Photo source: National Food Agency.

In the five months from January to May this year, a total of 3,687 inspections were carried out all over Georgia.

Of these, a majority were places where food is only sold while 810 were checked where food is served on site. The National Food Agency said that 46 public food facilities were banned from operating due to not meeting food safety standards.

The Agency also said that only in Tbilisi, up to one tonne of meat of "uncertain origin” was found in agrarian markets or small shops. This meat, which did not have a certificate of veterinarian test, was confiscated and is being destroyed under the supervision of officers from the Agency.

Tourists or locals that feel like the food they are being served does not meet high standards are encouraged to call the National Food Agency hotline: 15-01.