Russia Bans Borjomi Mineral Water Import

Russia has banned the import of the Georgian mineral water “Borjomi,” Russian chief sanitary inspector Genady Onishchenko said on May 4.

“The reason for this very difficult decision was the fact that an inspection carried out recently in the regions – especially in the Moscow region – showed that these waters, which are being advertised as ‘Borjomi’ water, do not, in reality, correspond to the specifications of this water,” Onishchenko said.

The decision to ban the import of Borjomi comes five weeks after Russia banned the import of Georgian wines and spirits.

80% of Georgia’s most prominent mineral water Borjomi is exported abroad. 60% of this is exported to Russia while the remaining 40% goes to 27 other countries around the world, according to the Georgian Glass & Mineral Waters Company, which produces “Borjomi.”