A new stamping system based on QR codes was supposed to be introduced in Armenia on January 1, 2025, in accordance with EAEU regulations. The State Revenue Committee introduced the draft in December 2024, but withdrew it a few weeks later, citing the need to improve and implement the system.
Following the revocation, a repeat purchase of paper stamps worth billions of drams followed, even though E-mark, the company managing the digital system, claims that the implemented system was fully operational at the time and ready to incorporate other product groups into the digital stamping system. While these actions by the State Revenue Committee may raise doubts about the State Revenue Committee’s interest in repeat purchases of paper stamps, strange events related to the purchase of paper stamps have been observed in parallel. It turned out that the company “AMPG Group” supplied paper stamps to the State Revenue Committee before the committee announced a procurement tender and selected the winner. The company had no competitors in the tender, which was announced and held later.
Why is QR code considered important?
In February 2018, the Eurasian Economic Commission adopted an agreement on the labeling of goods with identification means in the EAEU with the aim of implementing a single, unified labeling system throughout the EAEU. According to the government, the new system allows for monitoring the movement of each unit of goods from entry into circulation to consumption and transmits this information in full to the government agency. This creates the opportunity to effectively combat the circulation of illegal and counterfeit goods. On the other hand, the government gains the ability to monitor the economic behavior and changes of producers, importers, exporters, and sellers using this system.
In Armenia, the new labeling system was first implemented as a pilot project and included juices, beverages, beer, meat, fish, tea, coffee, dairy products, perfumes, cosmetics, and other products. Alcohol, cigarettes, and water were later added to the new labeling system.
The State Revenue Committee first submitted, then withdrew, and then resubmitted the draft.
Starting January 1, 2025, the State Revenue Committee planned to include all product groups in the digital labeling system and circulated a draft for this purpose. The draft was discussed until December 24, 2024, but did not become a government decision. The State Revenue Committee withdrew its proposal for further development. In an interview with Hetq, the chairman of the State Revenue Committee explained: “We began studying it (the system). At that time, preliminary decisions were made that all goods not subject to excise taxes should be transferred to the new system. Research showed that we are not yet ready, and the system needs to be implemented.”
The State Revenue Committee also presented a similar justification to Azatutyun, without specifying the specific fundamental changes made to the withdrawn draft and the subsequent decision. However, a review of these documents reveals that the most significant change concerns the timing: accordingly, some goods are to be included in the new system later, including starting in 2026.
E-mark, the national digital labeling operator that developed and manages the new system, responded to Azatutyun’s written questions and stated that the system has completed the pilot phase, is fully operational, and is ready to label new product groups.
“The pilot programs were implemented with high efficiency; by December 2024, E-mark compiled and implemented all the necessary software changes to improve the system.” “We are unaware of any protocols regarding the system’s lack of readiness,” the company stated, noting that new product groups added to the system by government decision last February “were implemented using the same software.”
In this situation, when the State Revenue Committee withdrew the digital stamping and product group expansion project at the end of December 2024, it became necessary to stamp a number of products using the previously existing paper stamp option. To this end, the State Revenue Committee announced an electronic auction for the printing and purchase of paper stamps. The auction was announced on February 12, 2025, and AMG Group, a long-standing partner of the State Revenue Committee in the supply of stamps, emerged as the sole participant and winner.