Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FSA BiH) is an independent administrative organisation and a science-based authority responsible for food and feed safety. The Agency is accountable for its work to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In cooperation with the competent authorities of the entities and Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the FSA BiH initiates, prepares and coordinates the drafting of legislation in the areas of food and feed safety, food quality and hygiene.

The FSA BiH provides scientific advice and scientific and technical support to the competent authorities on matters that have a direct or indirect impact on food and feed safety. Its activities include risk assessment, the development and coordination of risk assessment methodologies, the collection and analysis of scientific and technical data, the identification and characterisation of emerging risks, and risk communication. The Agency also provides scientific and technical support for risk management and food safety crisis management.

Risk assessment results and other relevant food safety information are communicated to the competent authorities, stakeholders and the public. Risk assessment documents are publicly available on the official website of the FSA BiH.

The FSA BiH serves as the national contact point for the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. It also performs the role of the EFSA Focal Point for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Agency cooperates closely with the competent institutions at all administrative levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the authorities responsible for agriculture, veterinary public health, plant health, public health and official food and feed controls.

At the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MoFTER) is responsible for defining policies and basic principles, coordinating the activities of the competent entity and Brčko District authorities, and harmonising plans in the fields of agriculture, food, forestry and rural development.

The administrative organisations within MoFTER with responsibilities relevant to food safety are the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Plant Health Protection. The Veterinary Office is responsible for matters relating to animal health and welfare, veterinary public health and the safety of food of animal origin and animal feed. The Administration for Plant Health Protection is responsible for plant health, phytosanitary matters and plant protection.

The Sector for Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Rural Development coordinates activities in the fields of agriculture, food, forestry and rural development. It directs and supervises the work of the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Plant Health Protection and coordinates activities with the Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the effective development and implementation of food safety policy.

The Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VO BiH) is an administrative organisation within the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is responsible for animal health and welfare, veterinary public health, veterinary medicinal products, the safety of food of animal origin and animal feed, and other veterinary matters within its legally defined competence.

In cooperation with the competent authorities of the entities and Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the VO BiH prepares and coordinates draft legislation relating to animal health and welfare, animal feed, veterinary public health and the production and placing on the market of food of animal origin. It also coordinates the establishment and implementation of risk management measures in these areas.

The VO BiH coordinates and monitors measures for the prevention, surveillance, control and eradication of animal diseases, including zoonoses, and supports the implementation of animal welfare requirements.

The Border Veterinary Inspection Department is an integral part of the VO BiH. It carries out official veterinary checks and controls on the import, transit and export of live animals, products of animal origin, animal feed, veterinary medicinal products and other consignments that may pose a risk to animal or public health.

The VO BiH is responsible for cooperation and coordination with the veterinary authorities of other countries and relevant international organisations. It also coordinates requirements and procedures relating to international veterinary certification and trade in animals and products of animal origin.

The Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Plant Health Protection (PHPA BiH) is an administrative organisation within the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is responsible for coordinating plant health policy, preparing draft legislation and performing administrative and technical tasks aimed at protecting plant health throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The PHPA BiH performs the functions of the National Plant Protection Organization of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It is responsible for international cooperation and the exchange of phytosanitary information with relevant organisations and networks, including the IPPC/FAO, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), the World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO/SPS), UPOV, OECD and ISTA.

In accordance with the Law on Plant Health Protection and other relevant legislation, the PHPA BiH performs administrative and technical tasks relating to plant health, harmful organisms, plant protection products and pesticide residues. It also coordinates activities with the competent authorities of the entities and Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Official phytosanitary controls are carried out by the competent phytosanitary inspection authorities. At border crossing points and other approved points of entry, phytosanitary inspectors examine consignments of plants, plant products and other regulated objects to verify compliance with phytosanitary requirements and to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful organisms.

Phytosanitary inspections are also carried out within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina at places where plants, plant products and other regulated objects are produced, grown, processed, stored, transported, distributed or otherwise handled. These controls are performed in accordance with the legally defined responsibilities of the competent inspection authorities of the entities and Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina.