What is subjected to the Sanitary Inspection

Pursuant to Article 12 of the Law on Food Safety, the competences related to food safety are divided between the Ministry of Health (sanitary inspection) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management  (phytosanitary inspection, veterinary inspection and agricultural inspection) in the following manner:

For imports and transit of:

1. food of animal origin – border veterinary inspection,

2. food of plant origin – phytosanitary inspection,

3. composite food – border veterinary and phytosanitary inspections.

For exports of:

1. food of animal origin – veterinary inspection,

2. food of plant origin – phytosanitary inspection,

3. composite food – veterinary and agricultural inspections,

4. wine and alcoholic beverages – agricultural inspection.

Sanitary inspection is competent for control of novel foods (food or food ingredients not previously used in human consumption), dietetic products, baby food – mother’s milk substitutes, dietary supplements and salts for human consumption and production of additives, flavours, enzyme preparations of non-animal origin and supplementary agents of non-animal origin, drinking water in original packaging (table water, mineral water, spring water), as well as water for the public drinking water supply in all phases of production, treatment and circulation (wholesale, retail, import at customs clearance points and export). Sanitary inspection is also competent for control of items of general use (Law on Health Safety of  Items of General Use).

Novel food does not include food additives, flavours, enzyme preparations and food produced by genetic modification that have been approved for use in foodstuffs and feedstuffs in accordance with special regulations.

Laws and Regulations

In May 2009 the Law on Food Safety, Law on Veterinary Matters and Law on Plant Health were adopted. These Laws and relevant implementing regulations (Rulebook on Types of Consignments Subject to Veterinary-Sanitary Control and Manner of Performing Veterinary-Sanitary Inspection of Consignments at Border Crossings), govern, inter alia, the manner of performing sanitary and veterinary-sanitary control of goods imported, exported or transiting.

Where is the Sanitary Inspection Conducted

Foods that are imported (except for foods subject to the competences of sanitary inspection in line with the Law on Food Safety) must be directed to the border crossings where competent border veterinary or phytosanitary inspection is in place. For more details please see section: Phytosanitary control and Veterinary control.

The Minister of Health lays down requirements for placing novel food on the market. Sanitary control is carried out inland, thus imports may be directed to any border crossing. More detailed requirements for placing dietetic products on the market are prescribed in the Rulebook on Health Safety of Dietetic Products.

Import/export/transit procedure

On importation, the person responsible for the consignment must provide information on arrival of such consignment, i.e. declare it for inspection, pay fees for the inspection and undertake other measures as instructed by the border inspector. Border control involves documentary checks, consignment identification and physical inspection of the consignment. In case a consignment arrives at the border crossing where no relevant inspection is in place, the customs authority will prohibit import of such a consignment, i.e. instruct its return to the sender or direct it to the closest border crossing with inspection capacities. The customs authority may not clear the consignment before the border inspector finds that there are no sanitary impediments for imports of such consignment. For more details please see section: Phytosanitary control and Veterinary control.

It is prohibited to place unsafe food on the market. Food is unsafe if it is harmful for human health and unfit for human consumption.

Food of plant origin is unsafe if it contains plant protection products, biocides or pollutants, metabolites thereof, or reactive products exceeding the maximum allowed residue levels, or if their use has not been approved or permitted.

Food of animal origin is unsafe if it contains:

1) substances with pharmacological effect or metabolites thereof which are not to be given to animals used for food production, or which exceed the maximum allowed residue levels, or are not approved or registered for use on animals that are used in food production, or are not approved as additives in feed for animals used for food production;

2) substances with pharmacological effect or metabolites thereof in treated animals, where the prescribed withholding period has not been observed.

Novel food must not:

1) be harmful for health of consumers;

2) mislead the consumers;

3) differ, to the extent that affects its nutritional value, from foods or food ingredients that it should substitute according to its intended use.

Supporting documents, Forms

Law on Food Safety

Contact

Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia:

Nemanjina 22–26, 11000 Beograd, Serbia

Phone: +381 11 3616 251, +381 11 3614 890, fax: +381 11 2656 548

Website: www.zdravlje.gov.rs

Sector for Public Health and Program Protection

Phone: +381 11 311 7071, +381 11 2145 409, fax: +381 112699 505

Sector for Inspection:

SIV  III, Omladinskih brigada 1, 11070 Novi Beograd, Serbia

Phone: +381 11 2607 874, +381 11 3117 400, +381 11 269 46 32

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia:

Nemanjina 22-26, 11000 Beograd, Serbia

Phone: +381 11 2607 960, +381 11 3612 197, fax: +381 11 2607 961

Website: www.minpolj.gov.rs

Plant Protection Administration:

SIV  III, Omladinskih brigada 1, 11070 Novi Beograd, Serbia

Phone: +381 11 311 7729

Veterinary Administration:

SIV  III: Omladinskih brigada 1, 11070 Novi Beograd, Serbia

Phone: +381 11 3117 100

Department for Inspection Supervision and Control:

Phone: +381 11 2605 630

Department of Veterinary Sanitary Control at border crossing:

Phone: +381 11 2602 774