Milk wars with a non-EU neighbour.
Due to the objections of Croatia to the decision of the EU Office for Food and Veterinary Affairs that some dairies in Bosnia and Herzegovina can again export heat-treated milk to the EU market, some Bosnian politicians and representatives of agricultural organizations have on Thursday called for the introduction of countermeasures and boycott of Croatian products. Bosnian minister of foreign trade and economic relations Mirko Šarović said that this possibility has still not been considered, although he did not completely rule it out, reports Jutarnji List on August 28, 2015.
“We import large quantities of milk from Croatia without putting any barriers. We will wait for the reaction of the European Commission to reject the demands of the Croatian side”, said Šarović in Vienna, where he was attending a conference. Šarović confirmed that he discussed the issue in Vienna with Croatian foreign minister Vesna Pusić, but he said he did not get any special explanation.
Mladen Bosić, president of the Serbian Democratic Party, which is a member of the ruling coalition, has called for the boycott of Croatian products in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a countermeasure. “I believe that BiH citizens will know how to react to this problem which was created by a country that is blocking the export of milk to the EU. I think the boycott is the only way to fight for our rights”, said Bosić to reporters in Sarajevo.
The European Commission has included four dairies from BiH on the list of those who should be allowed to export their products to the EU because they meet the necessary production and sanitation standards. These are “Milkos” from Sarajevo, “Megle” from Bihać, “Mljekara Livno” and “Mlijekoprodukt” from Kozarska Dubica.
The EU Delegation in BiH explained that the European Commission has suspended the procedure for inclusion of new producers on the list since “one EU member state has submitted written comments”. It also stated that the European Commission has included this issue in the agenda of the next meeting of the relevant committee which will be held on September 16. “This means that while these discussions are not finished, dairies included in the list cannot export milk and dairy products to the EU.”
The minister of foreign trade is confident that, despite the objections of Croatia, exports will finally be allowed. “Our position remains that we are right and that the European Commission will protect us”, said Šarović.
