The ban on the import of meat and meat products into Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from Croatian producers who do not meet European Union standards remains in effect, even after Brussels’ assessment that BiH should not impose criteria on exporters from Croatia that are stricter than those applied to its own companies, quotes the press from the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Mirko Šarović.
The authorities of BiH have prohibited imports into the country since July 1 for more than fifty companies from Croatia engaged in the production of meat and meat products, citing that they do not meet the conditions for export to EU markets, and therefore cannot sell their goods even in BiH.
The European Commission stated yesterday in a special statement that Croatian companies that do not yet fully comply with the regulations necessary for export to the EU market have been given a transitional two-year period to adapt to these standards. Brussels also emphasized that the majority of Croatian producers meet the standards applicable in BiH and therefore there should be no obstacles to the continuation of exports to that country.
Minister Šarović, however, does not back down from his position that exports from Croatia to BiH can only occur if the company possesses the so-called EU number or if the interested company submits a request to the Veterinary Office of BiH to certify its production facilities and include it on the list of authorized importers, Hina reports. The import ban in BiH mainly concerns slaughterhouses from Croatia and companies engaged in meat processing.
