The Georgian government has approved a new resolution introducing unified rules for the production, processing, and market placement of coffee, coffee products, and coffee substitutes. The newly adopted technical regulation sets mandatory standards for both product quality and the operations of business operators across the supply chain.
The regulation applies to green (raw) coffee, roasted and ground coffee, coffee extracts, instant coffee, and coffee substitutes, including key commercial species such as Arabica and Robusta. It defines production and processing methods, quality classifications, and requirements for distribution and market placement, while also introducing clear definitions for decaffeinated coffee and substitutes.
Under the new rules, green coffee placed on the market must include detailed labeling and documentation, such as country of origin, batch number, net weight, processing method, harvest year, moisture level, impurity content, and bean size. Importers will also be required to provide conformity documents issued by the exporting country’s authorities, along with the botanical name of the product.
The regulation also introduces strict quality thresholds, including limits on moisture, defects, foreign matter, and contamination, as well as requirements ensuring the product is free from live insects or abnormal odors. The rules will take effect on September 1, 2026, with a transition period allowing non-compliant products already on the market to be sold until their expiration date, but no later than September 1, 2027.
