Unrealistic ban on meat import, protection measures possible

CACAK - Serbian Minister of Agriculture Snezana Bogosavljevic Boskovic stated on Friday that the request voiced by cattle breeders concerning the ban on import of fatlings and meat is unrealistic but she added that it is possible for the EU to grant protection measures on the Serbian market.

Bogosavljevic noted that the European Commission has given its consent for introduction of preventive measures on the market of diary products in Serbia and that the Ministry of Agriculture is already gathering the data to prove meat import on dumping prices is excessive.

The minister explained that this point is in keeping with the Serbia-EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement from 2008.

After the talks in the Serbian government late on Thursday, farmers decided to renounce their protest and the announced road blocks.

Bogosavljevic Boskovic noted that the farmers were informed that the government is ready to help pig breeders who are having problems with sale of their products.

She noted that the ban on import would prove detrimental to the country itself because Serbia would lose a market for its products such as raspberry, wheat or corn.

Photo Tanjug Video, camera operator Gvozden Nikolic