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David Songulashvili: “We Have Decided to Waive Certification Service Fees for Small Wineries”
Small wineries will be exempt from the service fee for obtaining certificates of conformity for alcoholic beverages intended for sale on the domestic market. The relevant amendment will take effect once the required procedures have been completed.
According to Minister Songulashvili, the decision to waive certification fees for small wineries was made following consultations with representatives of the wine sector.
“Supporting small wineries is one of our priorities. Accordingly, in consultation with them, we addressed the challenges they currently face and decided that certification service fees should not apply to small wineries. At the same time, certification will remain a mandatory requirement, as ensuring product quality and consumer safety is our primary objective. We believe this approach will support the development of small wineries, while further enhancing the quality of Georgian wine and strengthening its competitiveness,” stated Mr David Songulashvili.
Certification is mandatory for alcoholic beverages produced in Georgia and intended for sale on the domestic market. As of September 1, the service for issuing certificates of conformity is subject to a fee; however, the required service will be provided free of charge to small wineries.
The certification requirement for small wineries remains in force. They will still be required to complete the relevant procedures and obtain the necessary documentation for their products.
“Every decision we make in the field of viticulture and winemaking serves one purpose: to ensure that Georgian wine is of the highest quality, competitive, and increasingly established in international markets,” noted Mr David Songulashvili.