Mandatory wine certification for the Georgian domestic market creates additional costs for the industry, but is not a major burden for medium and large wineries, Shilda Winery Director Irakli Uglava said.
According to Uglava, the requirement adds bureaucracy and requires extra staff and resources, particularly affecting small wineries that mainly sell locally. However, he noted that certification increases consumer confidence by ensuring each wine batch undergoes quality control.
He added that certification and other state quality-control measures can also be used as marketing tools when working with partners and importers. For larger wineries, the burden is limited because they already obtain similar certificates for exports.
A GEL 10 certification fee for wine sold on the domestic market took effect on September 1. The National Wine Agency later abolished the fee for small wineries, while keeping the certification requirement in place.
