This Law regulates relations in the field of food security assurance in the Republic of Armenia and establishes the principal directions of state policy in this area. It defines the concepts used for food security regulation, including food security, food crisis, food independence, physical and economic access to food, essential food products and the state food reserve. The Law identifies the main directions of state policy for food security assurance, including the promotion of domestic production of essential food products, compliance with food quality requirements, improvement of the population’s purchasing capacity, accumulation and use of food reserves, regulation of the food market, and preparation of balances relating to the domestic production and import of essential food products. It further provides that the objective of state policy is to ensure access to adequate food and protect the population from food shortages and food crises. The Law establishes the foundations for ensuring food security and food independence. It provides for the creation, maintenance and replenishment of state food reserves and authorizes the Government to introduce special food security regimes, including rationing measures, in the event of a food crisis or threat thereof. The Law further sets out the conditions under which food independence is considered ensured and assigns responsibility for implementing related measures to the Government. The Law defines the powers of the Government in the field of food security, including the implementation of state policy, development of food security programs, management of state food reserves, collection and analysis of information, forecasting of food security conditions, and prevention of food crises. It also establishes requirements relating to food security information systems, annual balances of food production levels, state supervision of the food market, and liability for violations of the Law.
Армения · 2002-05-07