Minister Košarac: BiH Was Approved to Export Pork to Northern Macedonia

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Staša Košarac, stated that the export of pork to Northern Macedonia was approved today, after the vaccination of pigs against classical swine fever was suspended in the Republika Srpska and the Brčko District.

 

Minister Košarac said that this decision was made upon the BiH Veterinary Office that informed the Foodand Veterinary Agency of Northern Macedonia that the vaccination of pigs against classical swine fever in the Republika Srpska was suspended on December 31 last year, and that vaccination in the area of Brčko District is expected to be suspended on May 1 this year. The Macedonian party was also informed that the decision on the termination of vaccination on the territory of the Federation of BiH will be made in the following period, about which BiH will inform Northern Macedonia in a timely manner.

 

"On one hand I asked the Veterinary Office of BiH to start mapping the Republika Srpska and Brčko District, which have completed their part of the work, and on the other hand to map the Federation of BiH, as well as to inform the relevant agency in Northern Macedonia about the fulfilled conditions and request the export of pork from BiH, which was approved today. I am extremely encouraged by the fact that domestic businessmen will have the opportunity to place their goods on the Macedonian market, especially the realized surpluses in production. I believe that this opportunity will make their job much easier, "said Minister Košarac.

 

He expressed gratitude to the relevant institutions at all levels of government in BiH, which took concrete steps to enable the export of pork to Northern Macedonia.

 

"Respecting the constitutional competencies, I am in constant communication with the relevant entities’ ministers and other relevant bodies. In the previous period, we worked in a coordinated manner on the realization of the requests of the Macedonian party when it comes to the export of pork, estimating that this measure will help domestic businessmen in the new circumstances due to the spread of the coronavirus," said Minister Košarac.

 

He mentioned that farmers from Republika Srpska will be able to export pork to Northern Macedonia from today, and farmers from Brčko District from May 1.

 

"When it comes to exports from the Federation of BiH, I asked the Veterinary Office of BiH, in coordination with the relevant federal ministry, to resolve the issue of an emergency plan within the next 15 days, so that farmers from this entity can export pork to Northern Macedonia", pointed out Minister Košarac.