Through the support of the European Union (EU), under ENPARD IV, an International FAO Wine Production Expert, Silvia Burruezo Escobar, implemented a training programme on food safety in wine production in Tbilisi and Telavi. The technical staff of the Georgian wineries attended the training sessions, which export wine to the EU countries. The training focused on improving the Georgian wine industry representatives' capacities to comply with national and EU food safety regulations.

Representatives of nearly 40 small, medium, and large wineries attended the EU-supported FAO training programme. The educational modules included topics such as food safety in the Georgian traditional Kvevri wine-making traditions. The training programme was divided into six modules, covering food safety hazards, foodborne diseases, hygienic practices, handling of enological materials, quality control and the implementation of the HACCP system in the wine industry.

The objective of this food safety training for winemakers was to allow them to acquire knowledge for aligning their business activities with the food safety standards and regulations of the EU. By doing so, Georgia’s wine industry will have more possibilities to export its products to the EU member states. 

“Georgia, as the cradle of wine production, has one of the most diverse wine production in the world, including also traditional and unique practices in winemaking such as qvevri. Aligning business operations with the EU’s food safety standards is key in opening doors to more export possibilities for Georgia and, through the support of the EU, are glad to support the country seizing this important opportunity,” says Javier Sanz Alvarez, FAO Programme Coordinator. 

“The EU stands with Georgia’s private and public sectors in the process of approximation to EU’s Food Safety Legislation. The Georgian wine industry has the potential to strengthen the country’s position on the world map and help wine lovers all over the world discover its history, traditions, uniqueness, and diversity. Advancing food safety standards in wine production would be a great leap forward in realising this potential,” says Dr Ketevan Khutsishvili, Programme Manager for Emergency Management, Civil Protection, Rural Development, and Intellectual Property Delegation of the European Union to Georgia.

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The European Union supports rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Aiming to reduce rural poverty, ENPARD has been implemented since 2013. The Programme started by supporting the development of national agriculture potential. Afterwards, it concentrated also on creating economic opportunities for rural populations in Georgia. Since 2021, the Programme is also working on improving food safety in the country, with the support of FAO and the Czech Development Agency as the main implementers of this food safety component under ENPARD IV.