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(…) Energy from biofuels and waste has increased considerably, from minimal levels in 2012 to nearly 5% of total primary energy supply in 2016. (…)

In addition, the European Union and Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2017, which broadens the scope of economic and sectoral cooperation, creating a framework for new opportunities in trade and investment, as well as bringing Armenian economic laws and regulations closer to those of the European Union. Harmonization of regulations will cover the business environment, agriculture, transport, environment, consumer protection and the energy sector. (...)

The authorities are focused on improving the electricity distribution system, thereby improving supply reliability and increasing the affordability of energy provision by reducing costs. Specifically, they have strengthened the electricity sector by encouraging private sector participation and modernizing the nuclear power plant, and are exploring options for building new renewable and thermal power plants.

According to the authorities, the implementation of the four main pillars of the Energy Sector Development Strategy continues. These pillars are: the development of nuclear energy; the realization of an economically viable renewable energy potential; the diversification by types and source of primary energy supplies; and regional integration. The objectives are: the improvement of energy efficiency and energy savings in all sectors of the economy; the safe operation of the nuclear power plant; and the construction of new nuclear capacities (Section 4.2.2).

While most imports are free of prohibitions, quotas or licensing requirements, there are restrictions for health, security or environmental reasons. These restrictions include requiring authorization for (…) phyto-protection chemicals, weapons, components used in the production of weapons, explosives, nuclear materials, poison, (...)

As is the case for most imports, the vast majority of exported products are free of any prohibitions or quotas. The export restrictions that do exist are imposed for health, security, and environmental reasons. Armenia has no export licensing regime; however, for some products, exporters need to obtain prior state permission for export operations. These are weapons, nuclear materials, pharmaceuticals, rare animals and plants, and rare objects or artefacts considered part of the national patrimony.

Three FEZs are currently operational:
• The Alliance FEZ was opened in August 2013, and currently has 13 businesses using its facilities. Its focus is on (…) alternative energy. In 2014, the Government expanded operations in the Alliance FEZ to include industrial production as long as there is no similar production already occurring in Armenia;
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The legal framework for standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment is the EAEU Treaty and national legislation. According to the EAEU Treaty, "technical regulation of the EAEU members shall be used for the purpose of protecting life and (or) human health, property, the environment, protecting life and (or) health of animals and plants, prevention of actions misleading consumers as well as to ensure energy efficiency and resource conservation within the EAEU. Adoption of technical regulations of the EAEU for other purposes is not allowed".

SARM is the national standardization body in Armenia. It maintains the national library of standards, which includes international (ISO), CIS (GOST), EU (EN), Armenian (AST), and other standards. Currently, certificates of conformity issued or accepted by SARM are required for most food products, alcoholic drinks, and electro-technical and petroleum products. In recent years there has been a substantial movement toward the adoption of common international wording and usage on product specifications and certification procedures.
- In 2017, SARM adopted and registered 471 national standards, pertaining to the energy, construction and environmental sectors as well as conformity assessment, from which 129 standards are identical to equivalent international and European standards.
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- SARM has been accredited as a certification body for products, services and quality and environmental management systems (ISO 9001 and ISO 14001). It also carries out conformity assessment work in the above-mentioned fields and tests a large number of items. Test certificates from foreign laboratories are accepted if appropriate interstate agreements exist.

According to the FAO, the gross value of agricultural products in 2016 was AMD 1,054 billion, of which about 30% was from livestock and livestock products. There are about 317,346 farms, practically all of which are owned by smallholders, with an average farm size of 1.8 hectares. (...) The sector is highly climate sensitive, with potential adverse changes in temperature, precipitation, and frequency of extreme events such as droughts, heat waves and floods. Furthermore, most of the land is at an altitude of over 1,000 metres, and over two thirds is on a slope of 6 degrees, which exacerbate climate and infrastructure problems.