Measure I.2: Cross-border initiatives targeting the exchange of people and ideas to enhance the professional and civic society cooperation.
Project Title: Safe Food Region
Project Budget:
| Project Value | EU Contribution | |
| Republic of Serbia | € 53.309,38 | € 43.730,00 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | € 34.580,00 | € 28.580,37 |
| TOTAL | €87.889,38 | € 72.310,37 |
Beneficiary of funds in the Republic of Serbia: Regional Chamber of Commerce Valjevo
Beneficiary of funds in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Regional Chamber of Commerce Bijeljina
Partners:
Area of implementation:
- Serbia: Kolubarski county with municipalities of Valjevo, Osečina, Ub, Lajkovac, Mionica, Ljig, and Mačvanski county with municipalities of Šabac, Bogatić, Loznica, Vladimirci, Koceljevo, Mali Zvornik, Krupanj, Ljubovija.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Municipalities of Bijeljina, Pelagićevo, Zvornik, Osmaci, Srebrenica, Bratunac, Lopare, Šekovići, Vlasenica i Milići, Ugljevik and Donji Žabar.
The target groups of the project: Participants in the food chain. This includes final consumers, processing companies, HORECA sector, traders and exporters.
Project duration: 01.04.2013. – 30.11.2013.
Project objectives:
The overall objectives:
Overall objective 1. Strengthening of competitiveness of SMEs in Serbia and BIH.
Overall objective 2. Prevention of food health injuries for consumers in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and in EU countries.
Overall objective 3. Exchange of best food safety practices among food actors in cross border region.
The specific objective of the project:
Targeted food safety education of actors in food supply chain in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Activities and results of the project
Safe food is one of the key factors in the health protection of modern society. In order to have safe and competitive products for EU market, all the participants in the production chain should apply the same standards set to protect consumers from potential health risks.
Project goal was to educate as many participants in the food production process and placement and in that way increase competitiveness of small and medium enterprises in cross border region of Serbia and B&H recognized as an area with intensive agriculture and food industry.
During the project, training was organized for 200 farmers, members of consumer associations, workers in processing industry, representatives of catering industry, merchants and exporters from Valjevo and Bijeljina region. A “Practical Guide for Food Safety” has been printed in 2000 copies for those participating in the production, processing and placement of food.
Two different study visits were organized during the project. Farmers from Serbia visited Agency for food safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina situated in Mostar, while members of the food processing industry from Bosnia and Herzegovina visited several farms in Valjevo region in the Republic of Serbia. During the visits important standards considering food safety were presented. Also, participants of the study visits had an opportunity to establish important business connections for the future.
Production and placement of the safe food are a legal obligation for companies, but also a path they should follow towards fulfillment of European standards and achievement of better competitiveness on the European market.
