Shalva Kurdadze, founder of “Papris Valley” winery, says the removal of certification fees for small wineries has not reduced the sector’s bureaucratic burden. While certification remains mandatory, the government said the fee was removed following consultations with small wineries.
Kurdadze told BM.GE that he was not consulted and learned about the decision from the media. He said wineries still have to complete the same procedures, including submitting wine for tasting and filling out certification documents, meaning the administrative workload remains unchanged.
He also criticized the requirement to obtain separate certificates for wines sold on the domestic market. According to Kurdadze, “Papris Valley” has around 30 individual Qvevri, each producing different wines, and separate certification is required for each batch intended for local sales, even though only some wines are exported.
The winemaker said small producers would benefit from rules based on free-market principles and closer alignment with EU regulations. Since September 1, service fees at the National Wine Agency have increased, including the cost of export/import certificates from GEL 450 to GEL 650, while certification for products sold on the domestic market was introduced at GEL 10.
