The Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AQTA) appealed to entrepreneurs regarding the Law "On Food Safety", which will come into force on January 1, 2023.

AQTA told APA that the adoption of the law will play an important role in preventing possible threats to people's lives and health in the country, and in strengthening state control over compliance with norms and rules related to safety and minimum quality requirements during the production and processing of food products.

As it is known, the new law provides for the simplification of some administrative procedures within the framework of the state support policy for entrepreneurs, in addition to forming the legal basis for many innovations in the food safety system.

AQTA urges every entrepreneur operating in the food sector to become familiar with the provisions of this law and to establish their activities in accordance with the requirements of the new law.

It is reported that according to the new law, a number of innovations await business entities from January 1, 2023.

From the new year, the import of products from foreign food facilities requiring approval will be allowed only after the facility is approved.

The recognition of the equivalence of the approval system of some countries will be done automatically, while in some countries it will be done through assessment.

After the state registration of biologically active food products, food and feed additives and natural mineral waters, their production, processing and circulation will be allowed.

It will not be allowed to write the word "medicinal" on food products, including mineral waters, and it will not be possible to import and manufacture such products.

In the absence of information in the Azerbaijani language in the labeling of food products,

the import and circulation of those products will not be allowed.

In the labeling of food products, it will not be allowed to indicate effects or properties that are not specific to food products, as well as to present the properties of each of similar food products as special properties.

For the import of some high-risk food products, the requirement to be accompanied by a document confirming the safety of those products will come into force.

All food and feed products will be put into circulation after notification before the product is imported, after document control, identity control and physical control, and after the import health act is issued.

Import health certificate issued by the Agency during the importation of materials and products in contact with food,

and in the case of local production, registration of objects will be required.

Registration of food objects related to low-risk products will be carried out automatically, and approval of objects related to high-risk products will be carried out by assessing compliance with requirements.

Registration of objects and subjects will be done without requiring a state fee, and approval will be free of charge for micro and small business subjects, and a single amount (150 manat) for medium and large subjects.

State registration of feed products will be replaced by control of the "feed chain".

In addition to accreditation, private laboratories will be accepted after passing the competency tests of AQTI.

the approval of objects related to high-risk products will be carried out by evaluating their compliance with the requirements.

Registration of objects and subjects will be done without requiring a state fee, and approval will be free of charge for micro and small business subjects, and a single amount (150 manat) for medium and large subjects.

State registration of feed products will be replaced by control of the "feed chain".

In addition to accreditation, private laboratories will be accepted after passing the competency tests of AQTI.

the approval of objects related to high-risk products will be carried out by assessing compliance with the requirements.

Registration of objects and subjects will be done without requiring a state fee, and approval will be free of charge for micro and small business subjects, and a single amount (150 manat) for medium and large subjects.

State registration of feed products will be replaced by control of the "feed chain".

In addition to accreditation, private laboratories will be accepted after passing the competency tests of AQTI.

Entrepreneurs have been informed that if they have any questions about the new law, they can call the "1003-Call Center" of the Agency and apply.

The full text of the Law "On Food Safety" and explanatory information can be found on the media resources of AQTA - afsa.gov.az website and social network accounts.