An adequately calculated poverty line is an important tool for planning social   welfare policies. The poverty line in Georgia is currently calculated using a       formula for the minimum consumer basket of goods and services required for   a   working-age male to meet his basic needs. The Economic Policy Experts   Centre (EPEC) argues that the current formula does not fully account for          seasonal needs and the real costs of food and non-food necessities. On March 29, EPEC organized a roundtable discussion on the issue with representatives of the National Statistics Office of Georgia (GeoStat), the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, independent experts, and the media.