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Country Content Sections/Tabs

Country Content Sections/Tabs

Policy Information

Policy Information

Government Agency(s) / Competent Authority

Authorized Government Agency(s):

Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment’s Department for Organic Production

Agency(s) Contact Information:

Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment
Directorate for National Reference Laboratories
Department of Organic Production
Batajnicki drum
11080 Zemun, Zemun

Contact person: Alexandra Removic
Phone: +381 11 377 20 80
E-mail: aleksandra.removic@minpolj.gov.rs

Organic Regulations and/or Standards

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

In May 2010, a new Law on Organic Agriculture (.pdf; in Serbian) was passed in the Parliament ("RS Official Gazette", no. 30/10), and came into force on 1 January 2011. This law has been prepared in accordance  with the EU legislation on organic farming (Reg. (EC) No. 834/2007 and its implementing rules).

Also Rulebook on Control and Certification in Organic Production and Methods of Organic Production was published in July 2011 (“Official Gazette of RS”, No. 48/11).

Older laws:

The Law on Organic Production and Organic Products (.pdf; in Serbian) was adopted by the Serbian Parliament in July 2006 ("Official Gazette" No. 62/2006).

After adoption of the Law on Organic Production and Organic Products in 2006, the Ministry of Agriculture issued six ordinances that were adopted by the end of 2008:
- Ordinance on national label on organic products ("Official Gazette" 107/2007)
- Ordinance on conditions for trading with organic products ("Official Gazette" 07/2008)
- Ordinance on keeping data and reporting on organic production ("Official Gazette" 14/2008)
- Ordinance on packaging, storing and transportation of organic products ("Official Gazette" 96/2006)
- Ordinance on requirements to be met by a legal entity issuing the certificate, i.e. re-certificate for organic products and on the manner of their issuing ("Official Gazette" 81/2006) (.pdf; in Serbian)
- Ordinance on official identification of inspectors for organic production ("Official Gazette" 61/2008)

Date of Implementation: 2006

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

Law defines production, processing, labeling, storing, transportation, domestic trade and export and import of organic products (vegetable and animal products). Law regulates production of organic agriculture products, systems and methods of organic farming, as well a system of controlling and certifying the whole chain of organic production. Includes animal aquaculture.

Imported Products

If organic products are imported, in addition to a certificate issued by the competent body in the country of origin, it is also necessary to obtain recertification from the authorised national body, for which the importer is required to file an application.

A rulebook on import of organic products is in draft phase.

Certification and Accreditation

Certification:

Accredited certification bodies.

Accreditation Method:

Government

Accreditation:

The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for issuing accreditation for certification bodies. Accreditation procedures include registration at the Ministry of Agriculture and regular reporting to the Ministry about certified organic production. Most of the organic products that are not processed are being exported, and Serbia is preparing to perform custom control of the goods being exported without certified organizations approved by the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture.

Additional Information

Reference Standards:

EU regulations and IFOAM standards. The government’s goal is to become a full member of IFOAM.

Additional Information:

USDA’S GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report (2023)
USDA’S GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report (2023)
USDA’S GAIN Report Serbia Exporter Guide (2021)

Definitions

Definitions

Term

Definition

Health and Wellness

Health and wellness is the aggregation of organic packaged food and beverages, fortified/functional packaged food and beverages, naturally healthy packaged food and beverages, better for you packaged food and beverages and food intolerance products.

Organic packaged foods and beverages

This category includes packaged food & beverages that are certified organic by an approved certification body. Organic production is based on:

• A system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.
• Organic food & beverages are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation.
• The use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organism) is prohibited. “Certified Organic” means the item has been grown according to strict uniform standards that are verified by independent state or private organizations.
• Depending on the country, such products are called ‘organic’, ‘biological’ or ‘ecological’: For organic products to be included under Euromonitor definitions, the organic aspect needs to form part of positioning/marketing of the product. This is an aggregation of organic baby food, bakery, confectionery, dairy, ice cream, oils and fats, ready meals, rice, sauces, dressings and condiments, snack bars, soups, spreads, sweet and savory snacks and other organic food.

Note that fresh food products or individual ingredients are not included in this definition.

Compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is the average annual growth rate over a specified period of time. For instance, the CAGR consumption of from 2018 – 2021 will be the average growth rates across these three years.

USDA GATS data clarification

The data presented in table 2.4 represents the dollar values of the top 5 organic commodities as well as of the total organic exports of the trade partner for the period 2018-2021 as per the United States Department of Agriculture’s Global Agricultural Trade System, a database consisting of international agricultural, fish, forest and textile products trade statistics dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system in 1989 to present.

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How to use this website

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) brings the US organic industry to developing markets around the world. This database is a comprehensive tool for OTA membership interested in participating in or expanding international trade in organic products by providing information to understand international markets for organic products. Select the country you wish to export to and find out whether it has an agreement with the United States, who its certifiers are, and much more.

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