Peach Harvest at Risk as Spayka's Trucks Stand Still at Upper Lars Checkpoint

For two days now, trucks loaded with Armenian peaches belonging to the Spayka company have been stalled at the Upper Lars checkpoint, putting the peach harvest at risk. This information has been reported by the company's press service.

The announcement states: “For two days now, trucks loaded with Armenian peaches belonging to the Spayka company have been stalled at the Upper Lars checkpoint. The trucks have been selected for customs inspection, but the area of the Upper Lars customs checkpoint where the trucks are to undergo inspection does not provide the necessary conditions for the preservation of perishable goods, particularly the temperature regime established for the preservation of perishable products (fruits, vegetables, food items). Under such conditions, during customs inspection, the agricultural goods lose their quality before reaching the consumer, inflicting significant losses on exporters.”

To prevent the export of Armenian peaches from facing risks in the current situation, Spayka has signed a contract with a warehouse capable of providing the necessary temperature regime for perishable goods, located in Vladikavkaz city, and has appealed to the customs authorities of North Ossetia to allow the inspection to take place there.

Although the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union requires that all customs procedures for perishable goods, including customs inspections, be prioritized, the customs authorities have yet to make any decisions. As a result, the company’s trucks loaded with approximately 200 tons of peaches remain in an uncertain situation at the Upper Lars checkpoint. August 24 and 25 are non-working days, leading to concerns that no processes will take place during that time.

The company expresses concern that prolonging the customs inspection of agricultural products at the Upper Lars checkpoint and failing to ensure the necessary thermal regime will lead to a loss of quality in agricultural goods, which will consequently affect the volumes of agricultural exports from Armenia.