The Government has sent draft amendments proposed to the country’s administrative code for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’ lower house of parliament).
The amendments, in particular, stipulate that import of low-quality food products will be punishable by a fine ranging from 25,000 somoni to 35,000 somoni for legal entities, an official source at the Majlisi Namoyandagon told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, repeated violation of the administrative code’s provisions regarding low-quality food imports will be punishable by a fine ranging from 35,000 somoni to 50,000 somoni for legal entities and a fine ranging from 25,000 somoni to 50,000 somoni for officials.
In both cases, the discovered low-quality or expired goods are liable to confiscation and destruction.
Currently, the discovered low-quality or expired goods are confiscated and destructed but no penalties are imposed.
Recall, former chief customs officer Abdufattoh Ghoib was retired because of problems related to import of low-quality poultry into the country.
Because of this problem heads of some government bodies have been sacked while some others have been reprimanded.
In a statement delivered at the government’s review meeting, President Emomali Rahmon on January 18 this year criticized improper work of the Customs Service, pointing out cases of corruption among customs officers and the failure to fulfill the customs duty collection target.
The head of state also expressed dissatisfaction with the level of control over the quality food products, in particular poultry, being imported into the country.
