The EU twinning project called 'Strengthening the capacity for implementation and further development of the legislation framework in the field of organic production and food quality policy', managed by the Italy-France-Austria consortium of Member States and led by MIPAAF, in collaboration with the French counterpart Ministry, INAO (Institut national de l'origine et de la qualite') and the Austrian Agency AGES (Agency for Health and Food Safety), closed in Belgrade with the participation of the Italian Embassy. The project had started on 4 February 2018 and ended on 3 February 2021, an extension of 4 months compared to the initial timetable, in order to make up for the delays that occurred due to the pandemic and thus allow all objectives to be met.
The main objective of the twinning was to strengthen the administrative competences of the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture in preparing national agricultural policies in the field of organic production and EU quality schemes (Protected Designation of Origin - PDO and Protected Geographical Indication - PGI).
In particular, it is worth highlighting the commitment of the officials of the MIPAAF/ PQAI1 "Organic Agriculture" Office at the beneficiary of the programme, the Department of Food Labelling, Quality Schemes and Organic Production of the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, with numerous missions, aimed at training staff, and updating the Serbian legislation and aligning it with that of the European Union. In fact, during the three-year duration of the programme, Serbia proceeded to harmonise its regulatory regime not only for organic production but also for geographical indications. The project also included activities to assist in the preparation of the new "Law on Organic Production and Quality Regimes for Agricultural and Food Products", with the organisation of training activities and seminars that saw the participation of experts from public institutions of EU Member States.
In order to ensure visibility of the twinning activities among the public opinion, the Twinning expert team, in cooperation with Serbian colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture, prepared two catalogues on national GI products, respectively entitled 'Authentic Serbia' (dedicated to agricultural and food products) and 'Wine Treasure of Serbia' (dedicated to wine products), as well as two brochures on quality schemes for agricultural and food products and organic products, for dissemination among agricultural producers and the wider public.
The dissemination material is available on the website of the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, in both Serbian and English at this LINK .
The collaboration between the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture and MIPAAF has allowed the implementation of four EU twinnings and the signing of a bilateral technical agreement on phytosanitary controls.
Source: MAECI/Mipaaf