The European Commission confirmed BiH’s positive steps in its harmonization of the phytosanitary sector with EU standards and recognized its progress in the 2012 report.
This was confirmed by Martin Schieder, the Head of Operations for economic development, natural resources and infrastructure before the EU Delegation in BiH during a conference on the occasion of the completion of the project ‘’Support to BiH for healthy plants’’.
This project, which was financed by the EU in the amount of 790, 450 euros from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA 2008), has helped BiH in its progress in this area.
‘’Phytosanitary inspections in BiH has improved on its borders and is leading to a uniformed inspection of plants in BiH. Also, the FBiH has completed training of inspectors, and implemented the project to monitor diseases of potatoes’’, said Schieder.
The Phytosanitary control system has an important role in improving the quality of agricultural products, ensuring compliance of BiH products with international standards for trade in plants and plant products.
For that reason, in the framework of the project ‘’Support to BiH for Protecting Healthy Plants’’, was made in a view of a large number of secondary legislation that was adopted by the BiH Council of Ministers, and in January of this year training was given to 300 farmers on the use of pesticides.
‘’The European Union will continue to lend support for the implementation of the EU Acquis Communautaire in the phytosanitary secotr in BiH. A large number of laws have to be harmonized with EU legislation, as well as the capacity to implement and strenghten’’, added Schieder.
In order to continue support in this sector, there are three more projects planned, whose value is 2,2 million euros, and which will be financed by the IPA funds.
Besides that, there are scheduled projects that will work and support the work of the laboratory according to EU standards.
The phytosanitary project this year will contribute to the objectives of phytosanitary services to create and implement a regimen of protection for healthy plants, seeds and seedlings, as well as of soothers, breeders and crops for the protection of plants to comply with EU legislation and international obligations in this area.
