Training of the border veterinary inspectors on EU regulations pertaining to veterinary inspections, on-site sampling of products of animal origin, and handling of samples

The assignment was carried out as part of ORGUT’s subcontract with Chemonics International within the USAID/Sida project –FARMA in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The purpose of USAID/Sida FARMA is to provide technical assistance in agricultural sub-sectors through demand driven assistance aimed at improved competitiveness of agricultural products. USAID/Sida FARMA is a development project jointly funded by USAID and Sida and implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina. USAID/Sida FARMA is to expand environmentally sustainable production, processing, and sales of value-added agricultural products. The expected result of FARMA is contribution to poverty reduction. USAID/Sida FARMA is implemented by Chemonics International with ORGUT as a subcontractor. ORGUT provides consulting services aiming at increasing agricultural competitiveness, meeting EU accession standards, reducing poverty by expanding environmentally sustainable production, and increasing sales, exports, and employment. USAID/Sida FARMA’s approach focuses on four integrated components: Building sustainable market linkages for producers; Increasing access to finance; Building the capacity of producer organisations’ and other counterparts; and Enhancing the policy environment to benefit competitiveness of agricultural goods. In order to attain project goals, USAID/ Sida FARMA uses various tools, including a Development Fund and Partners Fund for targeted subcontracts to local partners.

Since 2005, the State Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SVO) has prepared an annual residue control plan for live animals and animal products, which is regularly submitted to the General Directorate for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission (DG SANCO). Adoption of the residue monitoring plan is mandated by the „Decision on monitoring residues of certain substances in live animals and animal products“ ("BiH Official Gazette", No. 1/04, 40/09 and 44/11). The Decision is aligned with the legislation of the European Union which stipulates obligations of third countries to implement the plan for monitoring and control of residues, which represents one of the main prerequisites for export of live animals and animal products into the EU. Department of the Border Veterinary Inspections is a part of the State Veterinary Office. The Department has 20 border veterinary inspectors. In addition to regular tasks of control of live animal shipments and goods of animal origin, inspectors are also required to take and process samples for shipment to accredited laboratories for further analyses.

In line with "Guidelines for the implementation of microbiological control and control of residues in shipments imported into BiH," the State Veterinary Office – Department of the Border Veterinary Inspections prepares an annual sampling plan for ten border crossings approved for transport of goods of animal origin to BiH. In addition to basic control procedures, the result of laboratory analysis of samples is a very important parameter in assessing the safety. Sampling by inspections at the border crossings must be carried out in accordance with specific prescribed procedures, as results depend on compliance with the protocol. Sampling plan is developed based on an analysis of annual border traffic at each crossing and an analysis of risks associated with each country and manufacturer.