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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

HACCP system to become compulsory in Serbia

Belgrade, 30 October 2006

Advisor in the Department for Agrarian Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Dragan Pusara stated today that the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) food production system of principles, which is a necessity for export into the EU and numerous other markets, will become compulsory in Serbia as of 2009 in line with the Food Safety Strategy.

In a statement to the Tanjug news agency, Pusara said that between 70% and 80% of food producers under the Ministry's jurisdiction will get the Ministry's support. This should include all producers capable of surviving in the market.

He stated that the Law on veterinary medicine already envisages that from 2009 producers of food of animal origin adhere to the HACCP system of principles, whereas this obligation is yet to be introduced in the legislature of other production sectors.

Pusara recalled that last year with the help of the USAID organisation, the Ministry started providing financial support to producers both for the introduction of the HACCP system and certification.

According to Pusara, 242 companies received funds last year, whereas in 2006 the budget saw a 40% increase and the Ministry expects that around 400 producers will be subsidised this year.

He added that the Ministry is only financing companies under its jurisdiction, but that restaurants and other economic entities will have to comply with new principles.

Pusara said that the HACCP system is not only a precondition for export, but also for sale inside Serbia because increasing numbers of domestic grocery chains, such as Delta and Metro, demand that producers abide by this system.

The HACCP is extremely important because all production stages are inspected and supervised and it can easily be determined at which point an error occurred. Thus the responsibility for product safety will shift considerably from the state to the producers, explained Pusara.