“Negotiations with the authorities in Russia and Georgia are led by the company’s head office. Since 2006, company representatives have been in contact with the Russian authorities on returning Borjomi to the Russian market. A few applications have been filed to the Russian Federal Consumer Right Protection Service. Borjomi mineral water fully corresponds to all the regulations and standards of the EU, Georgia and Russia,” the statement said.
The statement went on to say that the company “has all the necessary technological and legal possibilities to resume the Borjomi mineral water deliveries to Russia in the nearest future in case the Russian and Georgian authorities reach an agreement.”
There has been a ban on Borjomi mineral water in Russia since May 4, 2006, by order of the Russian Chief Sanitary Inspector Gennady Onishchenko. Georgia claims the ban is politically motivated, as Russia banned all other Georgian produce including wines and agricultural products from the Russian markets at the same time.
After the Georgian mineral water disappeared from the Russian market, its re-production began in the Russian region of Stavropol under the name “Russkiy Borjom” (Russian Borjomi), however, a court ruled in 2007 to forbid the sales of the mineral water named so closely after the original Georgian product.
Lately, Onishchenko has made several statements about the possibility of returning the Georgian wines and mineral waters to Russia against the background of the Georgian-Russian WTO talks.
IDS Borjomi International has daughter companies in five countries and exports its produce to 30 countries. Currently, IDS Borjomi International consists of IDS Group Ukraine, IDS Borjomi Russia, IDS Borjomi Europe (Latvia) and IDS Borjomi Azerbaijan.
Source: First Caucasus TV
