The delegation of the Azerbaijan Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (APJCCI) held a detailed meeting with the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AFSA) at its headquarters in Baku. The discussion provided a comprehensive understanding of Azerbaijan’s regulatory framework for food safety and the practical requirements for exporters wishing to access its market.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Zakiyya Mustafayeva, Deputy Chairperson of AFSA provided a detailed overview of AFSA’s establishment, mandate, and scope of work. She explained that AFSA is the national authority responsible for ensuring food safety across the entire supply chain, encompassing plant protection, animal health, food inspection, laboratory testing, certification, and risk assessment. She noted that the agency’s primary objective is to safeguard consumer health, enhance the quality of food production, and align Azerbaijan’s food standards with international practices.
Ms. Mustafayeva informed the delegation that relevant agreements on food safety and trade have already been signed between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, laying the groundwork for closer institutional collaboration. She explained that for products to be imported into Azerbaijan, exporting organizations must follow prescribed registration and certification procedures to ensure compliance with national standards. While halal certification is not mandatory for food imports. She further stated that AFSA oversees the registration and monitoring of food supplements and processed food products, which, after approval, can be exported to other markets under regional conformity arrangements.
During the meeting, Ms. Mustafayeva highlighted that AFSA is already working in cooperation with the Pakistan Institute for Quality Control and Accreditation (PIQCA) to promote harmonization of food standards, mutual recognition of testing results, and technical knowledge sharing.
Mr. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Patron-in-Chief of APJCCI, thanked AFSA for its warm hospitality and the detailed briefing on Azerbaijan’s regulatory framework. He stated that Pakistan possesses a strong agri-based economy and has the potential to export a wide range of food and agricultural products to Azerbaijan, including tropical fruits, potatoes, vegetables, rice, seafood, and processed foods, in addition to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical items.
Mr. Bakhtawari emphasized that APJCCI would serve as the focal body for disseminating AFSA’s procedural and regulatory requirements among Pakistani exporters to help them meet the necessary compliance standards. He proposed organizing an online technical session for Pakistani exporters to provide practical guidance on registration requirements, laboratory testing standards, and documentation procedures. Such engagement, he noted, would help minimize non-tariff barriers and strengthen bilateral trade in agri-food and related products. Both sides exchanged views on promoting cooperation in food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and certification systems to create greater awareness and facilitate smoother trade flows.
It was also discussed that to ensure sustained coordination between the two institutions by nominating the focal persons.