Importance of Accreditation in Food Quality and Safety System
Seminars
The Director of the Accreditation Board of Serbia, Dejan Krnjaić, said today in Novi Sad that it would be easier for Serbian products to gain access to the European market and become more competitive thereon if they would be produced under the food quality and safety system and thus taking the advantages of the accreditation system.
Dr Krnjaić emphasised at the seminar entitled “Accreditation Striving to Protect Public Interests, General Health, Consumer Safety and Protection” within the 75th International Agriculture Fair in Novi Sad that only the observance of European standards might assure citizens, market and exporters that products meet health safety and quality requirements.
He pointed to the fact that food is the most demanding product in terms of quality provision, safety and consumer protection on the common EU market, and that impartial and professional food quality and health safety assessors need to be involved in the food production chain.
According to him this is why there must be third party accreditation bodies competent to independently assess food laboratories, certification and inspection bodies.
Given that our country expects to realise an income exceeding two billion dollars from exporting agricultural products, and since more than half of exported Serbian products go to the EU countries nowadays, then it is obviously important that Serbia should join the European Cooperation for Accreditation as soon as possible, emphasised Dr Krnjaić. This confirms that our economy can produce a product that would be competitive in Europe, but this implies introduction of European standards to the filed of food safety, concluded the ATS Director.
An Assistant Minister of Economy and Regional Development, Borislava Jakšić, emphasised how important it is to establish partnerships with foreign accreditation bodies since it would guarantee the conformity of our products with international standards.
Ms Jakšić added that the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management provides support in the process of adaptation of Serbian standards to those of the EU and in process of joining the European Cooperation for Accreditation.
She also pointed out that it was necessary for Serbia to prove to the European Union that food laboratories in the Republic of Serbia were working properly and thus ensuring the conformity of agricultural production to stringent EU regulations.
The Chairman of the European Cooperation for Accreditation, Mr Lorenzo Thione, said that Serbia would take numerous advantages by signing the Multilateral Agreement (MLA) with the members of the European Cooperation for Accreditation since that document would enable circulation of products and services among the EU countries.
Mr Thione explained that the signing of the MLA within the European Cooperation for Accreditation would ensure international recognition and acceptance of reports, analysis results, and certificates of one signatory country in all other signatory countries.
The Accreditation Board of Serbia already has a certain role in the accreditation system with the potential for its importance to increase as Serbia would be more involved in the EU integration process and finally this role would be fully effective after joining the EU, said Mr Thione.
United Europe would also enable savouring of the same products with the same quality – said the Chairman of the European Cooperation for Accreditation.
Opening address at the seminar was given by the Director General of the Novi Sad Fair, prof. dr Aleksandar Andrejević who emphasised that the International Agriculture Fair in Novi Sad was the right venue for a seminar on accreditation in the system of food quality and safety. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce helped promote accreditation.
The Accreditation Board of Serbia and Novi Sad Fair organised the seminar on the occasion of the 75th International Agriculture Fair.
Dejan Krnjaić’s presentation - Accreditation Striving to Protect Public Interests, General Health, Consumer Safety and Protection
Lorenzo Thione’s presentation - Quality in Agriculture & Food Sector – Current Situation and Prospects
David Galsworthy’s presentation - Accreditation of Food Laboratories in the UK and EU
Jorge Portu Reinares and Silvia Santolalla’s presentation - Control and Certification Systems for Provenance Products
Vida Živković’s presentation - ATS – Our Experience and Future Activities in the Field of Food Quality and Safety
Dragan Pušara’s presentation - Accreditation – Transition of Responsibilities in Food Production
Borislava Jakšić opening today’s seminar on behalf of the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development
Branislav Raketić, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Agriculture
Lorenzo Thione, Chairman of the European Cooperation for Accreditation
Dejan Krnjaić, ATS Director
David Galsworthy, UK expert
Dragan Pušara, Branislav Raketić, Ranko Nikolić, Zdravko Krivokapić, Borislava Jakšić and Kosa Rašković
Seminar participants
Nebojša Drakulić, Borislava Jakšić, Lorenzo Thione and Dejan Krnjaić at the press conference
Jorge Portu Reinares and Silvia Santolalla from the regional Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Rural Development of the La Rioja Government, Spain
Dragan Pušara, ATS Deputy Director
Vida Živković, ATS Assistant Director