The basic conditions for the production of healthy and quality milk are meeting hygienic standards, which include clean and healthy animals and staff who treat them, clean rooms and equipment for milking, as well as meeting certain conditions regarding cooling and transport of milk. The need to meet these conditions and reach European Union standards for milk production in order to improve the quality of raw milk in Serbia was discussed at the Regional Conference on Milk Quality and Food Safety in Pirot. The aim of the conference was to inform milk producers and processors about EU standards and their application in Serbia, but also to hear their experiences in milk production and processing. The participants talked about the Strategy for achieving EU standards in milk production, measures to improve production, and thus quality, which brings higher earnings.
"The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management is focused on improving the quality of raw milk, which is why with the support of the EU a draft Strategy was prepared through this negotiation project in order to bring EU standards closer", said Milanka Davidovic, head of the European Integration Department. She emphasized that it is not easy to reach the standards, but that there is constant progress in that field.
Improving milk quality ensures better placement of products on the domestic and European market, which is why it is important to improve the knowledge of milk producers and processors. Representatives of the Veterinary Administration and the Directorate for National Reference Laboratories pointed out how good the health and general condition of animals affect the quality of milk, as well as the necessary hygienic measures that need to be taken on a daily basis to maintain and improve quality. EU project experts spoke about the European Union's policy regarding food safety and milk quality.
The conference was organized by the MoAFWM and EU project „Capacity building for the alignment with the acquis in the area representatives of the EU Delegation to Serbia, local self-government, Agricultural Professional Services in Pirot and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. Milk producers and processors gathered in the Hall, but also those who watched the live broadcast of the conference over the Internet, presented the problems they face in the production and processing process, emphasizing that they expect additional incentives from the state, but also the desire to improve production and reach set quality standards. As they said, everyone's goal is to put into practice what was discussed at the conference, because in that way the quality and safety of food will be better, and their earnings will be higher.