Georgian wineries wait for excise stamps to start exports to Russia

The "Rospotrebnadzor" (Russian Federal Agency for Consumer Supervision) has not yet provided the Georgian wine companies, who have successfully passed inspections, with the excise stamps required for trading their alcoholic beverages in Russia. According to Levan Davitashvili, the head of the Georgian National Agency for Vine and Wine (Samtrest), the excise stamps are the only obstacle for wineries to start exports of Georgian wines to Russia.

"Unfortunately, we haven't received stamps yet; although, as far as we know, they should arrive any day now," David Machavariani, an oenologist of the company "Dugladze Wines", told in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He said that his company has already signed contracts with Russian companies-importers on supplies of products to the Russian Federation.

The company "Teliani Veli" has also reported that contracts for wine deliveries have been concluded.

According to the above Levan Davitashvili, today Georgia produces 10 million litres of wine, of which 1.488 million litres are exported. "Every year the exports grow by 20 percent. Given this situation, the Russian market is of course a priority," said Davitashvili.

On May 21, Gennady Onischenko, the head of the "Rospotrebnadzor", said that nine Georgian wineries had been allowed to ship products to the Russian market; and excise stamps for their wine products had been made. In total, 90 species of Georgian alcoholic beverages have been allowed for imports into Russia.