Bosnia can now export all kinds of dairy products to EU countries, according to a decision the European Commission (EC) published on Monday.

“As I had announced, the European Commission approved the export of a new category of dairy products, and this is one of the most positive news and decisions for the dairy and agricultural sector,” Foreign Affairs and Economic Relations Minister, Mirko Sarovic, told reporters, adding that his Ministry was committed and worked toward this result for a long time.

Bosnia until now only exported thermally treated milk to the EU, but now the country is allowed to export milk with a lower level of pasteurization, even raw.

“We are among the rare countries outside of the EU which have met all conditions for exporting all kinds of milk, which speaks of the progress within our entire system, but also of our dairy industry,” the Minister said.

Bosnia has until now also exported more pasteurized milk to signatory countries to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) than it imported, but there was still a large deficit in dairy exports, he said.

“Now we are opening this door as well,” he said.