We Must Put an End to the Story of Meat Being Slaughtered on the Streets: The Government Has a New Decision Regarding Slaughterhouses

During its meeting today, on July 2, the government made a change to the conditions of the state support program for financial leasing of agro-food sector equipment in Armenia. The issue was presented by Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan, who noted, “This leasing program can facilitate the financing of modular and mobile slaughterhouses. We are conducting a monitoring of the accessibility of existing slaughterhouses in Armenia and have mapped out how slaughterhouses should be located in the territory of Armenia, ensuring that the distance from each settlement is logical and reasonable. We have selected a distance criterion of 30 km. Slaughterhouses have reported that they can transport their livestock free of charge within that distance.”

The minister added that there are currently 23 operational slaughterhouses, with another 36 set to begin operations soon. However, it turns out that there will be regional communities that are not sufficiently close to slaughterhouses. “Our proposal is as follows: in areas where there are no accessible slaughterhouses, if any operator in that region expresses a desire to construct a slaughterhouse, we will allocate a grant covering 15% of the required 20% advance payment for leasing, but not exceeding 4.8 million dram. Currently, there is a need to build slaughterhouses in an additional 14 locations,” the minister stated.

He listed the 14 preferred locations for constructing slaughterhouses: three in Syunik, one in Gegharkunik, two each in Ararat, Lori, and Aragatsotn, and four in Shirak.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also added, “We are facing an epidemic today, and challenges from epidemics will be present in the near future; we must put an end today to the story of meat being slaughtered, sold, and purchased on the asphalt or, in general, food products.”