Currently, illegal open air trade is not limited to food products: animals such as dogs, birds, even exotic ones can be spotted as an item for sale. The central streets of Yerevan are occupied by illegal vendors. Republic square, Northern Avenue, sidewalks and arch passages of buildings are mostly beloved spots.

The head of “The Centre for Stray Animals Neutralization” Harutyun Arakelyan stressed that such people simply exploited those animals in different ways. They might have diseases and are not protected from diseases.
Yerevan Municipality together with the police carry out inspections in different parts of the city. Various cases of violations have been revealed among which are vehicles that are used as food trucks without permission; some traders provide services using flammable materials in crowded areas. People engaged in illegal trade are fined however it doesn’t settle the problem. Protocols are drawn up but not always it is possible to impound the goods mainly because of such people’s insolvency.
To solve this problem Yerevan Municipality jointly with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures worked out a new package of legal changes. The law will make it possible to impound the goods. The law has been approved at the Government meeting. The bill is to be discussed at the National Assembly as well. According to the Mayor, they hope the new law will make it possible to solve the problem. As the Mayor’s Deputy Suren Grigoryan said several attempts had been made to handle the problem via increasing the fines however, it gave no results.

The traders who refused to speak in front of the camera, marked that this trade is their only income source. They were asked why they didn’t want to arrange their trade in the areas provided for it and the answer was that it is not profitable. On the other hand, the economy entities that rent areas, pay taxes have to offer their services at a higher cost than those who do it illegally.
Suren Grigoryan outlined that it is certainly unfair. And the city authorities have to do everything to bring this situation in order.
Illegal open air trade, particularly in case of selling food products, create unsanitary conditions in streets and are unsafe to eat or drink. It is a serious problem for the city and the authorities hope that the legal changes will significantly regulate the situation.