Sanin Tanković, the Director of the Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated that the state of food safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally good, but that risk can never be completely eliminated and must be reduced to the lowest possible level so as not to jeopardize citizens’ health.
Tanković made this statement on Thursday at a press conference held during a break in the two-day international conference, which is being held in Mostar to mark World Food Safety Day and the 20th anniversary of the Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The conference, titled “From Burden to Solution: Food Safety Everywhere,” gathered experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina and European Union countries. Through panel discussions, current topics were addressed, such as the application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the field of food safety, the impact of microplastics on food, water, and soil, and the importance of laboratory food analysis.
Lectures were also delivered by experts from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Germany, and Italy, with an emphasis on the results of a three-year EFSA pre-accession program in which Bosnia and Herzegovina participated, facilitated by the Food Safety Agency of BiH acting as the focal point.
The Director of the Food Safety Agency of BiH, Sanin Tanković, stated that the state of food safety in the country is generally good, but that risk can never be completely eliminated and must be reduced to the minimum possible extent.
Speaking about the case of pears from Belgium, which were distributed to the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in which residues of an unauthorized pesticide, chlorate, were detected, Tanković reminded that the Agency acts as the national contact point for the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and immediately forwards all information regarding potentially unsafe products to the competent inspection authorities.
He emphasized that the primary responsibility for food safety lies with food business operators, including producers, processors, warehouse operators, and distributors, who are obliged to immediately initiate market withdrawal measures in the event of product non-compliance.
He confirmed that the disputed pears from Belgium had been withdrawn from sale and that any product failing to meet the prescribed standards is removed from the market.
Tanković also warned of the need to harmonize domestic regulations with European Union legislation, stating that the Agency had prepared around 20 technical regulations concerning the maximum residue limits for pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants in food.
According to him, in certain cases, the permitted levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina are significantly higher than those in the EU, making it essential to adopt harmonized regulations as soon as possible to protect citizens’ health.
Speaking about microplastics, the Director of the Food Safety Agency stated that BiH does not yet have an appropriate regulatory framework, but that laboratories possess the capacity for its detection and partial quantification in various samples.
He added that enacting regulations is crucial for their effective application and noted that laboratory capacities in the country are already prepared to conduct such analyses.
Tanković also pointed out that economic operators exporting to the EU are already investing significant efforts to meet European standards and can serve as an important driver for further legislative alignment.
Nabil Gangi, the Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), also addressed the conference. He described the Agency as a crucial institution for protecting public health and emphasized the importance of its work in aligning domestic standards with European Union regulations.
Speaking about global food safety challenges, Gangi emphasized that safety must be viewed across the entire production chain, from farm to fork.
This process, as he stated, encompasses soil and water management, pesticide control, agricultural practices, packaging, veterinary standards, product traceability, and cold chain management.
He stressed that food safety does not only concern the final product but every single step in the production chain.
“We are proud to see an agency that has been working dedicatedly for two decades to meet European Union standards and regulations. Director Tanković’s leadership at the Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through successful cooperation with international organizations and expert institutes, has been a key driver of the achievements we witness today and proudly commemorate on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of this important institution,” said Nabil Gangi, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia.
He added that European regulations are among the strictest in the world and that strengthening institutional and production capacities, is crucial for full compliance with EU standards.
