JOINT STATEMENT

of the Azerbaijan Food and Beverage Industry Association and the Retail Networks Development Union

The Azerbaijan Food and Beverage Industry Association and the Retail Networks Development Union consider it important to ensure the participation of sectoral associations in the preparation and discussion of laws and other regulatory legal acts affecting the food and beverage industry, retail trade and related sectors.

The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Public Participation” identifies public discussion, public hearings, public discussion of draft legal acts and written consultation as forms of public participation. The Law also provides for legal entities and civil society institutions to initiate and participate in such discussions.

On the basis of these legal provisions, we appeal to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the relevant state authorities, public councils and other bodies involved in the preparation of regulatory legal acts to ensure that our organisations are informed in advance, involved in working groups and consultations, invited to public hearings and discussions, and given an appropriate opportunity to submit their views and proposals during the preparation and discussion of draft acts affecting the food and beverage industry, retail trade, food safety, the consumer market, competition, taxation, customs, labour relations, logistics and other related areas.

Our objective is not to interfere with the powers of decision-making authorities, but to share the practical experience of our members, identify potential implementation challenges in advance, and contribute to the development of clearer, more effective and practically applicable regulations.

We believe that sustained and institutional dialogue between state authorities, the legislature and sectoral associations will improve the quality of decisions adopted, strengthen public–business cooperation and make an additional contribution to the country’s economic development.

Azerbaijan Food and Beverage Industry Association

and

Retail Networks Development Union

Date: 3 August 2026
Place: Baku