Let me try to briefly describe the state of the animal medication market of Armenia, which we must confess creates many issues.
Agriculture as well as cattle breeding is considered a strategic direction for any country, which provides the food safety of the population. That is the reason why in all countries the state subsidizes the milk and meat producers; major credit and loan programs are being implemented in that direction. There are serious issues in Armenia connected with cattle breeding. The poultry production may be considered somewhat developed but not ideal. However the pig breeding and cow breeding are in a horrible plight. Let us enumerate the main reasons and he possible ways of their solution. I think we are having the most terrible situation here. This is an issue, which requires an elementary solution. This is where we need the state approach. At present the company, which imports animal medication to Armenia has to register the medication and pay 900 thousand AMD for each brand. It is understandable that every businessman, who pays so much for the registration, must also take into account the factor of the benefit, that is who he/she is going to retrieve the money through the business. It is impossible fin Armenia because of the low volumes that we have. There were cases when we tried to involve the foreign medicine producers in this process, that is ask them to pay the registration fees. They are willing to do it only after ensuring they can retrieve the money through the circulation. After being informed about the amount of cattle in Armenia and the circulation rates they refuse to do so. They consider it an unproductive investment. This is what the Armenian state institutions must realize. Under the circumstances when the country has low development rates the demand of a $3000 USD fee for the registration of one brand is abnormal and may even completely destroy cattle breeding in Armenia. The cattle breeder cannot work without medications for animals. There are 24-25 medicine brands registered in Armenia, which are old and are not being used in the world any more. This in its turn originates serious problems. The animals attain resistance to these medications and as a consequence the use of the medicine becomes inefficient. This causes the decrease of the food production by the animals as well as the increase of the price of products. This situation also conduced to the illegal inflow of animal medicines. Maybe certain corrupt statesmen benefit from this situation as they are involved in this process and cover the illegal importers. I don’t think there is any country in the world, which has only 24-25 brands of medicine for animals. This is a terrible fact, which states that it is not efficient to legally register the brands by paying $3000 per each. During ten years no businessman has ever found it expedient to pay that much for the registration. On one hand the cattle breeders need to acquire new medications for the cattle, without which it won’t make any sense to be occupied by cattle breeding. On the hand it is obvious that no businessman pays that much for the registration. Thus the market is being paralyzed. I am really suspicious about the argument of the “Degh” agency, according to which the conduct of the analysis of the medications costs quite expensive. In that case what would we do if the actual cost of the analysis (examination) was 1.900.000 AMD instead of 900.000 AMD? Should we refuse using animal medications? The registration fees should not cause such catastrophic consequences. And I find the indifference of certain state entities to this process criminal. For over ten years the business proves that the registration is not affordable and profitable for businessmen and the authorized body keeps being indifferent. This indifference is like a provocation to ruin agriculture in the country. All this is done in conditions when the solutions are quite simple and possible. First:
a. This sector should be moved to the sector of the Ministry of Agriculture,
b. The state should subsidize all the expenses related to the registration of animal medications,
c. We must adopt a list of so-called trusted states, where the registered animal medication should be registered for Armenia as well. I don’t think there is need to inspect the animal medications, which already has been registered in such states as Holland, England, France, Germany, etc. It is ridiculous.
Tigran AZIZBEKYAN
Farmer