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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

"Think on Time" campaign to remove technical barriers in trade with WTO, EU

Belgrade, 27 November 2006

The Serbian Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Services stated today that as part of the campaign "Think on Time", whose aim is to remove technical barriers in international trade with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the EU, 343 companies have signed contracts this year on using enticement funds for the introduction and certification of the HACCP/ISO 9001 food safety system.

The statement reads that the contracts are worth RSD 250 million and that the funds were provided from the Ministry's budget. It also recalls that the HACCP food safety system is based on seven principles that ensure complete health safety of food products in all production and processing stages.

At the moment around 650 companies are in the implementation process or have already integrated the HACCP/ISO 9001 standard. This figure includes 242 companies which signed the contracts with the Ministry last year, as well as another 56 companies which were subsidised through the Ministry's and USAID donation.

The statement continues that the results of a survey conducted in early 2004 showed that 85% of domestic food producers have never heard of the HACCP. An analysis of subsidised beneficiaries also demonstrated that the HACCP system is necessary for all producers regardless of the type of goods they make.

The companies whose participation in 22 international fairs in the past two years was financed by the Ministry have realised over €70 million worth of contracts and signed dozens of long-term contracts on cooperation with foreign partners. This would have been impossible without a certified quality control system in these companies, adds the statement.

Also, the Ministry strove to integrate the HACCP system into the draft strategy on food safety and draft law on food. According to the recently adopted Law on veterinary medicine, as of January 1, 2009 this system will become compulsory for all producers of animal origin food. Thus the harmonisation of domestic standards with the EU's integration demands has begun.