Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Šarović said in Sarajevo that the decision of the European Commission which declared BiH a country that eradicated potato ring rot and allowed export of this vegetable from BiH to the EU, is another success and announcement of future activities within the relevant institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the conditions and standards of the EU.
He thanked the institutions that have contributed to this decision, in particular the Agency for Protection of Plant Health, and stressed that this is a confirmation that BiH, regardless of distribution of responsibility in this area, can meet strict European standards.
Šarović explained that the potato is one of our most important crops with more than 30,000 hectares planted and with an annual production of more than 300,000 tons, and expressed confidence that after this decision and the possibility of export to the EU, BiH would meet conditions for higher production because this area makes it possible.
He said that after this decision there are no longer obstacles to export vegetable and fruit crops to the EU, and that the restrictions stand only for food and agricultural products of animal origin.
Šarović said that the quota of 15,000 tons for meat export to Turkey is quite sufficient for BiH and that it is an obligation of the Council of Ministers and the ministry that he leads to preserve this quota in the next five to 10 years, and stressed that in 2014 production and meat export increased significantly.
(Source: Fena)
