Increase in Product Costs by 5-7% Due to QR Code Marking: Alert Raised

In Armenia, the system of product identification through QR code marking, presented as a measure to combat shadow economy and meet EAEU requirements, has become an additional burden for entrepreneurs. Business owners are complaining that the implementation of the system has led to one company profiting from providing QR codes, according to the newspaper 'Haykakan Jirair'.

In February 2025, the government approved an expanded list of products subject to mandatory marking, including 74 items such as dairy products, meat products, pharmaceuticals, and fuel. Previously, the financing of marking labels was covered by the state (with over 5.1 billion drams paid in 2024), but under the new system, this cost has been fully transferred to businesses. In 2025, the business sector has already purchased approximately 1.3 billion QR codes, paying 2.5 drams for each, totaling over 3.25 billion drams. According to business calculations, this adds 5-7% to the cost of products.

The system's