Zeljko Radosevic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, presented the Activity Information for the second quarter of 2019 stressing that in the reporting period the Government had adopted six regulations, 23 rulebooks and one certificate at the Ministry’s proposal.
He also emphasized the excellent international cooperation resulting in the signing of three agreements, two memorandums and two protocols with the view of advancing bilateral cooperation with other countries. Radosevic also said that the Mixed Committee for cooperation with the United Arab Emirates held its first meeting on 8 and 9 April 2019 in Belgrade and the Serbian and Hungarian government held a joint session in Subotica on 15 April. On the occasion Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Branislav Nedimovic talked with the ministers about the potentials for advancing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of agriculture and the food industry.

Following a constructive debate the Committee members accepted the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Activity Information for the second quarter of 2019 by majority vote.

The Committee members went on to discuss the current veterinary situation in the country with a special focus on the incidences of the African swine fever. Emina Milakara, head of the Veterinary Directorate, said that Serbia had managed to successfully combat the outbreaks of the African swine fever in the world and the region, but the virus finally did appear in Serbia viz. four locations in the vicinity of Mladenovac.

The African swine fever, against which there are several preventive vaccines, affects only pigs, both domestic and wild, and poses no risk for people who might consume pork bought in registered outlets under veterinary control, said Emina Milakara. She added that the authorities have employed all the necessary preventive measures needed to staunch the spread of the virus which is currently under control.

After the 40-day monitoring period, which is the period of incubation, Serbia will be able to export into the EU and other countries with no restrictions, as per instructions of the World Organisation for Animal Health.

The signed directive concerning the introduction of the principle of regionalization in Serbia means that only the regions affected by the virus are banned from trading in pigs and pork, while all the rest are free to do so.

The Committee members had questions about the means employed to deal with the African swine fever and whether funds were secured to recompense the owners.

At the proposal of Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic, the Committee members adopted a conclusion concerning item two on the agenda – to increase animal disease protection measures.

The sitting was attended by the representatives of relevant institution Emina Milakara, head of the Veterinary Directorate, Natasa Milic, head of the Waters Directorate, Biljana Petrovic, head of the Directorate for Agrarian Payments, and Bojan Zivkovic, head of the Forest Directorate.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Marjana Maras, Mladen Lukic, Vladimir Djuric, Nada Lazic, Veroljub Matic, Radovan Jancic, Milorad Mircic, Prof. Dr Miladin Sevarlic, Milija Miletic, Tijana Davidovac, Zvonimir Djokic and Arpad Fremond.