Media: Nearly 90% of Armenian cognacs deemed unsafe

Almost 90% of Armenian cognacs sold in Russian stores turned out to be unsafe, while almost half of the products contain non-grape spirits, according to a joint study by the international association "Anti-counterfeit" and the Union of Producers of Cognac, Spirits and Alcoholic Products of the Russian Federation, Report informs referring to TASS.

It is specified that 200 samples of cognac of more than 20 brands from ten of the largest Armenian producers were purchased for the study.

The samples were purchased in stores of most Russian federal retail chains and were sent for analysis to an independent laboratory of the All-Russian Research Institute of Brewing, Soft Drinks and Wine Industry.

"In 177 of them, or 89% - 9 out of 10 samples, violations were found, and in almost half of them, non-grape spirits were found. Grape spirits are what actually make a drink cognac. Only 23 samples were found to be fully compliant with GOSTs and the legislation of the Russian Federation," the study says.