Šaljić: Has the Sarajevo Canton, due to irresponsible governance, relinquished control over health and food safety? That is dangerous!

(Patria) - After 50 years, the laboratory within the Veterinary Station Sarajevo, which dealt with the control of food of animal origin, has lost its license and ceased to perform this public service.

The laboratory lost its license after the management of this cantonal institution refused to meet the conditions for extending the license, in order for this work to be transferred to the private sector in the Sarajevo Canton.

The conditions were purely administrative in nature - the institution only needed to complete a re-registration.

- The geniuses running this institution found it easier to extinguish the license and stop performing this significant public service, which is in the interest of all citizens of the Sarajevo Canton, than to remove an administrative obstacle - says Jasmin Šaljić, a representative of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, in a statement for the Patria News Agency (NAP).

He emphasizes that if the reason for revoking the license is merely an administrative oversight, then this represents an incredible irresponsibility on the part of the director and management of the Veterinary Station.

- If that is not the case, then there is reasonable suspicion of favoritism towards private laboratories, i.e., the private sector. Besides this institution, the employees, all citizens, and, of course, the Sarajevo Canton will suffer damage - states Šaljić.

According to his words, shutting down public laboratories reduces the state's capacity to control the market and provide independent and expert opinions. While private laboratories are often linked to food supply chains, which raises questions about the objectivity of testing.

- Food health safety must have strict and independent control because it directly affects public health (toxins, zoonoses, and bacterial infections).

If control is carried out only by the private sector, this potentially opens space for conflicts of interest and less transparency - notes Šaljić.

Finally, he reminded that at the session of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, held earlier this week, he raised this issue with the director of the Veterinary Station, and he will also submit it to her in writing.

Šaljić: After 50 years, the laboratory within the Veterinary Station Sarajevo, which dealt with the control of food of animal origin, has lost its license and ceased to perform this public service pic.twitter.com/UyLReAxjrv

— Patria (@AgencijaPatria) September 21, 2025