Armenia tests quality of Kazakh wheat imported via Azerbaijan

Armenian authorities have conducted quality tests on a shipment of wheat imported from Kazakhstan through Azerbaijan. 

The wheat, classified as 4th grade, was initially reported to be intended for use in animal feed rather than bread production, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

The Armenian newspaper Hraparak, referencing Kazakh sources, further claimed that this year’s Kazakh grain crop may have been contaminated with aflatoxins and mycotoxins. 

In response, Armenia’s Food Safety Inspectorate announced that preliminary laboratory tests found no evidence of pests, plant diseases, or toxic substances in the imported wheat. However, officials noted that testing for technical parameters such as nutrient content and quality standards is still ongoing.

The shipment of Kazakh grain to Armenia via Azerbaijani territory comes amid a gradual thaw in relations between Baku and Yerevan. In a major policy shift announced on 21 October in Astana, President Ilham Aliyev declared the lifting of all cargo transit restrictions to Armenia — measures that had been in place since the years of occupation. The announcement, made alongside Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, signalled Azerbaijan’s commitment to advancing the peace agenda and fostering regional connectivity.

By Sabina Mammadli