Government to Provide 14 Million Drams in Compensation to 'Zuyunik Refrigerator'

The Armenian government has proposed to reimburse 14 million drams for the expenses incurred by 'Zuyunik Refrigerator' LLC related to the transportation and destruction of hazardous food products following a fire that broke out on its premises. This proposal was presented for written voting and is available on the official website of the Armenian government. The final decision will be made after the voting concludes and will be posted on e-gov.am as a government decree.

According to the justification, due to the fire that erupted in the refrigerated area belonging to 'Zuyunik Refrigerator' LLC on August 19, 2019, an interagency commission was established by the head of the State Food Safety Inspection Body to assess the situation through a study (visual inspection) conducted on August 27, 2019.

The findings indicated that the fire-affected area contained completely or partially burnt food products, primarily of animal origin. The identified food did not meet the safety and hygiene requirements established by legal acts in the field of food safety, thus the commission considered it hazardous and subject to destruction.

To coordinate the transportation and destruction of the hazardous food products from 'Zuyunik Refrigerator' LLC's premises, a working group was formed according to the order of the head of the Inspection Body dated August 28, 2019. The process of transporting and destroying hazardous food began on the same day. Officials from other state bodies participated in the operations.

A total of 1,015 tons (142 truckloads) of hazardous food products were removed from the area, around 170 tons of which fell under customs control.

Expenses for the transportation, disinfection, and destruction of hazardous food products from the refrigerator premises amounted to 14 million 961 thousand drams, with the cost per kilogram being 14.74 drams.

Additionally, according to a letter from the director of 'Erebuni Cleanliness' LLC, the organization will not request reimbursement for the expenses related to the destruction and detoxification of burnt products unloaded at the Nubarashen No. 4 city landfill.

In the created situation, to ensure the sanitary and epidemiological safety of the population, it was imperative to carry out the immediate transportation and destruction of hazardous food products, which was thus executed at the expense of 'Zuyunik Refrigerator' LLC.