Some butters sold in Azerbaijan appear under foreign brand names but are in fact produced and packaged locally. For example, one product label states it was produced only four days ago and lists New Zealand as the country of origin. Yet, it is widely known that shipments from New Zealand to Azerbaijan travel by sea and take about two months to arrive. Similarly, another butter is labeled on the front as a New Zealand product, but on the back, in fine print, the information reveals that it was produced in Azerbaijan.
This raises pressing questions: are New Zealand butters genuinely imported from that country, or are they simply packaged domestically? Who determines the names and addresses displayed on the labels?
Speaking to Bizimyol.info, Eyyub Huseynov, chairman of the Free Consumers Union (AIB), explained that he had observed operations at a New Zealand factory supplying butter to Azerbaijan. “About eight years ago, with the support of our colleagues, I attended a conference of international consumer organizations in New Zealand. There, I visited a factory exporting butter to Azerbaijan. When I saw the Azerbaijani labeling and marking, I voiced my concerns. I also visited farms where cows live outdoors year-round, grazing on natural pasture with no winter feed. I even observed the milking process. It was clear that they produce genuine butter there. I also monitored the costs of transporting butter to Poti port and then to Azerbaijan. My conclusion was that these are indeed quality butters,” he said.
According to Huseynov, six firms import butter from several New Zealand plants. Some ship directly, while others purchase in bulk—50 kg or 25 kg blocks—and then divide them into smaller portions locally. “These firms cut the bulk butter into parts. It seems to be their business model, and apparently it is profitable for them. Such products then carry a local production label and an Azerbaijani barcode, even though the origin is New Zealand. It cannot be excluded that something might happen during this division process, but I must note that the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AQTA) strictly monitors these matters,” he emphasized.
Huseynov also pointed out that counterfeit New Zealand butter used to be brought in from Georgia: “For years, fake New Zealand butter entered Azerbaijan from Georgia. Over the past six to seven years, this practice has nearly stopped. Now, when you see a label mentioning New Zealand or Azerbaijan, in reality, these are large blocks imported into the country and then portioned out locally. The issue you describe arises from this practice.”
He further noted that butter of good quality also comes from France and Germany: “Labels and product composition are carefully checked by AQTA. People often call me asking about differences in New Zealand butters. This shows there is public concern. I personally examined only one firm, and despite the long distance, the butter arrived here at a reasonable price. Still, clean and genuine butter is imported in small quantities. For example, quality butter also arrives from France and Germany.”
Huseynov concluded that the butter market in Azerbaijan faces serious challenges: “There are ongoing problems, and consumers always have doubts. Doubt leads to truth, and such suspicion does not arise without reason. Clearly, there are issues in this area, and AQTA must deal with them seriously.”
Gunel Hasanova, Bizimyol.info
