From September 17 to 20, 2024, representatives of the Border Veterinary Inspection Department of the Veterinary Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, visited the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The visit was organized as part of the "EU Support for Efficient Border Management" project, funded by the European Union.
On the first day, NVWA representatives introduced their Serbian counterparts to the agency's scope of work and organizational structure. The program continued with discussions on EU legislation related to imports, procedures for shipment documentation review, identification, and physical inspection of shipments, as well as the methodology for designating border control points and inspection centers. The Serbian delegation also learned about the Dutch national sampling plan, the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), intensified official controls (IOC), and protocols for managing pet and passenger luggage inspections.
The second day focused on detailed procedures for the inspection and verification of imports and transit shipments of live animals, animal products, and animal feed.
The visit concluded with a tour of the border control point at BCP Schiphol, where a veterinary inspector specializing in imports provided an overview of inspection practices at one of Europe's largest transportation hubs.
This study visit facilitated the exchange of knowledge and experiences between Serbian and Dutch experts, contributing to the enhancement of Serbia's border veterinary inspection practices and alignment with European Union standards.