BiH’s Veterinary Office bans meat imports from South America; farmers call for equal controls

In a statement, the Farmers’ Association said stronger oversight of meat imports was long overdue, but cautioned against selective enforcement that could amount to, as they put it, “favouring some at the expense of others”.

The association recalled that it has for years demanded effective mechanisms to protect domestic agricultural production, but said its initiatives have largely been ignored by relevant institutions.

“We are aware that there is not enough meat on the domestic market, but that, too, is the result of policy decisions,” the statement said. “If you have decided to move towards banning imports - which we welcome - then these measures must apply equally to everyone. There must be no preferential treatment.”

Farmers singled out Serbia as a particular example, accusing it of “unilaterally violating signed agreements and banning imports of goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina”, and called for reciprocal measures to be applied uniformly.

The association also raised concerns over the quality of imported meat, warning that lower-grade products often enter the Bosnian market and are sold as premium goods despite low purchase prices.

“We are calling for stronger and consistent controls of everything that enters the BiH market. It must not be allowed for third-grade products to be imported and then sold as first-class goods,” the Federation of BiH Farmers’ Association said.