Over half of agricultural products exported by Serbia ends up in European Union countries. In the past decade, the exports have tripled, with the EU market becoming increasingly important for Serbian farmers. To keep up with consumers who seek healthy food, both in the country and abroad, Serbian farmers must keep pace with EU’s animal health standards.

Among our citizens, pork is by far the most popular type of meat, with as many as 18,000 tons (!) of meat produced through pig slaughter in December of 2020 alone. The figures cited by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia indicate that the fewest pigs are slaughtered in May. For instance, in this period in 2020, Serbia produced 12,000 tons of pork meat, the figure that, however, still surpasses the production of beef.

Pig farmers, therefore, must consider animal welfare so that they can put quality and healthy products in the market. One of the projects in this area, Strengthening the system of animal health and welfare, has been implemented in Serbia, and funded by the EU, for more than two years.

“The project’s main objective is to harmonise Serbian agriculture with EU standards. We will support the development of both a strategy for animal health and legislation in this area, which will in turn serve to improve the standards of health and welfare of the entire agri-food chain. We will also support the development of programmes for animal disease tracking, contingency plans, guidelines of biosafety for different animals, as well as animal-focused disaster management plans,” Petras Mačiulskis, project lead and key expert in animal health.

Antonio Di Nardo, key expert for animal welfare, who is also working in this project, says:

“Animal welfare is the same as animal wellbeing. Putting an end to unnecessary suffering of animals and securing the best possible conditions for them are two basic concepts on which animal welfare rests.”

Projects like this have an immediate impact on Serbian agriculture. This was also echoed by Vladislav Stanaćev, manager of Knez agrar pig farm near Inđija.

“We expect to see increased competitiveness of our products in the market and a rise in exports, which will, in turn, have a positive impact on our business dealings. These standards will contribute to increasing the quality of food, which is of major importance for us, food producers.”

Duty-free export

Serbian producers are exempted from paying customs duties on exports to the EU since 2000. This regime, which was unilaterally granted by the EU to Serbia, represented the single most extensive trade concessions regime ever granted to any country or group of countries.

Since 2000, the European Union has donated 230 million euros for agriculture and food safety in Serbia. Raising competitiveness, food safety and public health standards, respect for animal welfare, and environmental standards are the main areas of EU assistance to this sector. IPARD (Instrument for pre-accession assistance for rural development) is the leading programme in this area, within which Serbia has been allocated with 175 million euros for the period 2014-2020, with additional 55 million euros of national co-funding, and it is intended for agricultural producers.