Chamber of Commerce appeals for faster export from BiH across the Croatian border

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VTKBiH) has called for an urgent resolution of problems related to long delays and blockages at border crossings with the Republic of Croatia, by opening an additional BIP (border crossing with full inspection supervision) and "green corridors", and extending the working hours of phytosanitary inspectors during the season.

The director of the economy sector of VTKBiH, Ognjenka Lalović, told reporters in Sarajevo that there is a problem during transit through Croatia when it comes to exporting goods from BiH.

- We have seasonal export of fruits and vegetables, limited work of phytosanitary services at the border with the EU, as well as a limited number of crossings through which we can export these goods. There are often blockages at the border, and in most cases, especially with the export of fresh fruits and vegetables. Croatia serves only as a transit country, meaning the buyers are elsewhere in the EU - added Lalović.

Exporters of seasonal, fresh, perishable goods are under great strain due to the existence of only two border crossings, namely the Stara Gradiška border crossing and the Nova Sela border crossing, where phytosanitary certificates can be obtained, and the problems are further complicated by the application of EU Implementing Regulation 2021/2285, according to which shipments of wood and wood products (regardless of thermal treatment) must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

The Association of International Road Freight Carriers of VTKBiH has been appealing and pointing out for months that the existing situation at the border crossings with the Republic of Croatia is unbearable, that kilometer-long queues of vehicles in front of border crossings are unacceptable, and that a huge number of drivers are detained in these queues day and night.

Therefore, the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH has scheduled a meeting for July 7 in Sarajevo to react jointly and appeal for the resolution of problems that are of crucial importance for exporters, carriers, freight forwarders, and others.