Producer of bottled mineral water IDS Borjomi International has asked Russia's chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko to allow sales of the Georgian company's famous Borjomi mineral water in Russia.
Borjomi's return to the Russian market had been discussed since last December, when Russia's consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor invited the company to perform "several formal requests" and provide additional information to facilitate the brand's registration in Russian, the company said in a statement Thursday.
Finally, Rospotrebnadzor officially accepted the request to register the Borjomi brand, and now the company expects Russian officials to inspect its production facilities to remove the final hurdles preventing it from returning to Russian shelves.
"IDS Borjomi International is ready to facilitate the inspection of the company's production by Russian experts," company head Vladimir Ashurov said in the statement.
IDS Borjomi International is one of three leading producers of bottled mineral water in the former Soviet Union.
Rospotrebnadzor in 2006 banned sales of Borjomi mineral water in Russia, which then constituted about half of its overall sales, citing noncompliance with Russian sanitary and quality standards. But the ban was also seen as a sign of deteriorating relations between Moscow and Tbilisi following Georgia's Rose Revolution in 2003.
In the years since, IDS Borjomi International has continued exporting Borjomi water abroad and has establishing itself as a leading producer of bottled water in the former Soviet Union. The company also produces water brands Svyatoi Istochnik, Edelveis and Likani, among others.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.