The food safety system must be improved continuously. Everyone in the supply chain, from primary producers to policymakers, should work on its improvement consistently and uncompromisingly
One significant area for improvement is the harmonising of Serbian legislation with that of the EU, which requires a complete revision of the Food Safety Act to achieve tangible progress. The shortcomings of the current legislative framework hinder full harmonisation, but also the adoption of all relevant regulations and by-laws, due to differences in categorisation, procedures, names of by-laws and similar aspects. This harmonisation is further complicated by the use of different methodological rules for drafting regulations compared to those of the EU.
To improve the control of food in Serbia, we recommend strengthening the administrative capacities of inspection services and reference laboratories, along with the consistent application of risk analysis approaches in official controls. Food control responsibilities are shared between the ministries of health and agriculture, but there are discrepancies in the application of control procedures and a lack of clear guidelines. The transparent defining and consistent application of these responsibilities, along with continuous efforts to improve them, are included in our recommendations. Adoption of the Law on Official Controls, aligned with EU regulations, would contribute significantly to improving this area.
We provide recommendations to create a higher-quality food sector
The successful identification of issues arising from the overlapping of responsibilities between different ministries, and proposals to overcome them, are aimed at improving the business environment for domestic players in the food sector
The FIC Anti-Illicit Trade & Food Committee supports the harmonisation of regulations under Chapter 12, with the aim of protecting consumers, removing trade barriers and facilitating operations in the food industry and trade with the EU. We also recommend revising other regulations to address jurisdictional conflicts that create uncertainty in domestic market operations and foreign trade, such as the Trade Act and the Food Safety Act.
We believe it is necessary to simplify the procedures of control bodies for efficient, proportionate, and clear health protection measures, including the application of the risk analysis model and the centralisation of information. We recommend intensifying the implementation of the action plan to address issues hampering foreign trade and simplifying administrative procedures. Achieving these goals requires constructive cooperation among all participants.
Combating the grey economy in the food supply chain also contributes to safety. Food sold through legal channels is subject to safety controls. There is no information regarding food safety controls in illicit channels. Sanctioning those operating in the grey market also protects the position of those that adhere to regulations. The introduction of excise stamps for coffee has not achieved the desired results, while it has imposed additional costs on registered importers and producers. Consideration should be given to revising the measures in order to redirect costs towards investment and improving food production, with a focus on the enforcement of control and imposing appropriate penalties for those who deliberately break the law.