On 21 February 2014, at the plenary session of the Parliament of Georgia, Member of Parliament, Gogi Topadze, discussed the spreading of various diseases in Georgia and the grounds for this development. As he reported:  “Malignant diseases have increased tremendously and diseases have rejuvenated. This is official information. In addition, many other illnesses are being spread due to the uncontrolled quality of imported goods. Control over this issue has practically not been implemented over the last four-to-five years.”

FactCheck

took interest in the abovementioned statement and checked the accuracy of the given facts.

According to the latest official data of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health, by the end of 2012 a total of 22,448 persons were registered to have malignant tumours with 4,232 new cases having been reported in the same year. According to the data of 2011, a total of 25,143 persons were registered to have malignant tumours with 4,252 newly registered cases in 2011.

As the table above shows, in 2008-2010 the newly emerged cases of malignant tumours and the incidences per 100,000 population decreased slightly from year to year during this period. This indicator significantly diminished in 2011 as well as the overall indicator of the registered malignant tumour cases. Based upon the information displayed on the website of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health, the cessation of the system of oncological dispensaries and the transfer of oncological patients to the supervision of family doctors caused a distortion of the statistical data concerning malignant tumour cases. The decrease in the spread of malignant diseases in 2011, therefore, is a result of this system change. Of note, however, is the fact that if compared to 2011, the number of newly emerged cases of malignant tumours did not increase in 2012 or in the 2008-2010 period. Based upon the aforementioned data, an increase, tremendous or otherwise, of malignant diseases is not observed.

According to the official data of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health, a significant increase of malignant tumours in children was observed in 2012 as compared to 2011. In 2011, a total of 29 new cases of malignant tumours were reported in the age group of 0-19 years while the indicator of the same category equalled 123 in 2012. The abovementioned fact confirms the rejuvenation of malignant diseases.

As for the control mechanism for imported goods, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a new Customs Code of Georgia in 2006. According to the code, customs procedures have been reduced and facilitated. Importers having an ISO certificate (issued by the International Organisation for Standardisation and confirming food safety) could import goods without any obstacles.

Based upon Resolution No. 426 of the Government of Georgia, goods imported into the Georgian territory will be subject to the following checks starting from 10 June 2013:  document verification, identity check and sample taking for on-site inspection or laboratory analysis. If the goods are subject to phytosanitary or veterinary control, the respective certificate provided by the exporter country is also necessary. According to the code, all animals, meat and meat sub-products, cereals, animal food and chemical-pharmaceutical preparations for veterinary usage, etc., will also be subject to veterinary control while all products of plant origin that can transmit quarantine organisms are subject to phytosanitary control.

The respective safety measures are foreseen for avoiding the transmission of various infectious diseases or epidemics by the imported goods. Based upon Minutes No. 3 of the Government of Georgia, dated 21 January 2013, a list of unreliable countries was defined which enumerates those states where dangerous infectious diseases and epidemics are spread. The states on this list can import goods into Georgia only if they belong to the list of EU importer countries or are recognised by the European Commission, have the required certification and pass through inspection at the Georgian border entry point.

Based upon Decree No. 301/N of 2001 of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, the National Food Agency (LEPL) is responsible for the control of goods on the consumer market. According to the information provided by the Food Department of this agency, there are no state-of-the-art high-tech laboratories in Georgia that would be able to define the quantity of genetically modified components in products as well as identify the dietary supplements contained. There is no official proof of whether or not goods imported into Georgia or the dietary supplements they contain can cause the occurrence of various diseases (including cancer).

Conclusion

According to the latest official data of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health of 2012, the number of malignant tumour cases decreased slightly if compared to previous years. Additionally, based upon the statistical data of 2008-2012, the number of newly emerged cases of malignant tumours shows a gradual annual decrease. The increase of malignant diseases, therefore, and, particularly, a tremendous increase, as reported by Gogi Topadze, was not observed. The year 2012 showed a significant increase of malignant tumour cases in the age group of persons 0-19 years. This fact confirms that malignant diseases are indeed rejuvenating.

Concerning the control of goods imported into Georgia, the import process underwent a facilitation in the years 2006 to 2013. Before 2013, imported goods were subject only to document verification at the border entry point although an ISO certificate confirming food safety was required. Starting from 10 June 2013, imported goods are subject to both veterinary and phytosanitary control. At the moment, goods intended for import into Georgia are subject to document verification, identity check and sample taking for on-site inspection or laboratory analysis.

Furthermore, for avoiding the spread of epidemics and infectious diseases, there is a list of unreliable countries including all states with a high risk of infectious diseases and epidemics. The countries from this list can import goods into Georgia only in the case if they belong to the list of importer countries to the European Union or are recognised by the European Commission, have the required certification and pass through inspection at the Georgian border entry point.

The real problem is the lack of relevant laboratories that could define the quantity of the genetically modified components in products and identify dietary supplements contained.

The MP connects the spread of malignant tumours and other diseases with the uncontrolled quality of imported goods. Goods being imported into Georgia, however, are subject to certain control measures. At the same time, there is no official proof of the negative effects of imported goods and their dietary supplements on the occurrence of various diseases in the country.

FactCheck concludes that Gogi Topadze’s statement:  “Malignant diseases have increased tremendously and diseases have rejuvenated. This is official information. In addition, many other illnesses are being spread due to the uncontrolled quality of imported goods,” is MOSTLY FALSE.