Amid growing public discussion over rising meat prices in Azerbaijan, the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Agrarian Policy, Tahir Rzayev, has denied any shortage of beef or mutton in the country, emphasizing that local production largely meets domestic demand.
Speaking to Iqtisadiyyat.az, Rzayev said that according to official statistics, Azerbaijan can supply its population with both beef and lamb without relying on imports. “Most of the meat consumed in the country – whether beef or lamb – is produced domestically, and the population benefits from it,” he noted.
“Still, to meet overall demand, especially from restaurants and catering businesses, certain volumes are imported. Trade links are expanding, and along with meat, other food products are also brought in from abroad.”
Addressing claims that meat used in doner shops is fully imported, Rzayev said the issue should be evaluated by relevant authorities: “Yes, some meat from foreign suppliers is cheaper and often used in such establishments. But the real question is its quality. Some food poisoning incidents are wrongly attributed to imported meat – all imported products are inspected under official supervision. In many cases, contamination stems from locally made, non-standard products such as homemade pickles or fish.”
The MP stressed that imports are part of normal market activity, not a sign of scarcity. “In a market economy, imports and exports are driven by agreements and demand, not by shortages. Azerbaijan has built large livestock complexes and continues expanding its meat and dairy production,” he said.
“Despite some challenges, domestic livestock output is steadily increasing.”
