National Food Agency inspects facilities across Black Sea resorts

Georgia’s National Food Agency on Monday said it was carrying out planned inspections of public catering facilities in Black Sea resort locations of the country to ensure safety and quality of products and “safeguard the health and rights” of locals and tourists.

Inspectors have visited cafes, restaurants, hotel food facilities, bakeries and fast food establishments in Ureki, Shekvetili, Batumi, Kobuleti, Gonio, Kvariati, Sarpi and mountainous parts of the western Adjara region.

The body said about 150 business operators had been subject to inspections, with a focus on food expiration dates, labelling, storage conditions and adherence to sanitary and hygienic norms.

“Critical non-conformities” were identified at 10 facilities, resulting in fines for the operators and temporary suspension of production, the Agency added.

The body said it had been engaging with stakeholders, providing them with the latest information on food safety requirements and issuing recommendations to improve production practices in addition to enforcement actions.

It said the efforts had led to a “significant improvement” in the overall situation at public catering establishments compared to previous years.

The Agency has been implementing a rotational monitoring system to oversee public catering facilities during summer seasons since 2018.