Armenia introduces tax allocation reforms and EU export training

The Armenian government has approved a draft law to amend the Tax Code, allowing individuals to direct a portion of their paid income tax toward non-profit organizations, media entities, and political parties. These contributions will be classified as social expenses, similar to existing deductions for healthcare and education.

Under the new proposal, taxpayers can make these allocations after the end of each tax year when filing their income tax declarations. The amendment introduces the concept of 'allocation' to the Tax Code, specifying that these social expenses will be compensated or allocated from the calculated or paid income tax according to government-defined procedures.

In a separate development, the Food Safety Inspection Body and the Ministry of Economy have launched the second phase of a training program under the European Commission’s TAIEX program. The training focuses on managing perishable goods and products requiring specific preservation regimes to enhance Armenia’s ability to export to the European Union market.

The program specifically targets the export of plant products and fish, covering EU phytosanitary requirements, food safety, packaging, labeling, and traceability. It also includes practical training on export documentation and the TRACES system to help Armenian specialists meet EU market standards.