Meeting on eliminating irregularities observed during meat exports to Turkey

(Patria) - At the request of the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Staša Košarac, a meeting was held today in Sarajevo with representatives of the company "Tareks", which operates within the Turkish Union of Agricultural Credit Cooperatives, and "Šišović", which is certified for procurement and slaughtering activities. The meeting was also attended by the Director of the Veterinary Office of BiH, Ljuborim Kalaba.

The topic of the meeting was the elimination of irregularities observed during the export of beef to Turkey, after the Veterinary Office of BiH issued instructions prohibiting the signing of veterinary certificates due to observed irregularities during exports.

Minister Košarac emphasized that, from the perspective of the primary goals of respecting international agreements and obligations of BiH and opening new markets, it is of utmost importance that meat exports to Turkey continue and improve, and that meat exports to Turkey will continue under enhanced inspection supervision measures by the Veterinary Office of BiH, in accordance with the amended instructions on signing veterinary certificates.

"We discussed the elimination of certain irregularities that we inherited upon taking office. The company "Tareks", which de facto had a privileged position from Turkey during meat exports, purchased meat from only one slaughterhouse. We are asking for the number of cooperants to be increased. At today's meeting, it was agreed that this cooperation will be extended to at least two more companies engaged in slaughtering activities, which are certified by Turkey," said Minister Košarac.

In doing so, he stressed, insistence will be placed on ensuring that slaughtering capacities must purchase products from domestic producers.

It was also announced that the Veterinary Office of BiH will conduct enhanced supervision of all slaughtering capacities, with the aim of concluding contracts with domestic producers.

Minister Košarac emphasized that insistence will also be placed on increasing the utilization of quotas for export to Turkey, given that 8,000 tons have been opened, and 3,000 tons have been approved so far.

During today's meeting, it was announced that, in order to improve cooperation, a meeting between Minister Košarac and the competent institutions and bodies in Turkey will be held soon.