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Preparation of Terms of Reference for the project “Support to the Trade sector – Food Safety Component” - Macedonia

F.Y.R.O.M.

European Agency of Reconstruction

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia MAFWE and the Ministry of Health

Responsibilities for food safety in FYR Macedonia lie jointly with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE). There is an operational system for food safety in the country, but weaknesses need to be addressed. The CARDS 2006 programme will contribute to the institutional development of the food/feed safety system, approximate legislation in compliance with the EU Acquis, strengthen technical capacity for official controls and support the food industry in complying with EU standards on food/feed safety. Issue, which need to be addressed: • Lack of centralised coordination and management for food safety system and quality regulation • Inadequate and outdated legal framework • Outdated technical skills of veterinary and food inspectors • Lack of adequate modern and competent laboratories for testing and reference functions • Weak capacity of food industry for improved food safety and quality The CARDS 2006 programme will propose improved institutional setting, legislative amendments, and technical improvement of testing facilities. It will also assist the food industry to comply with the food safety requirements of EC-harmonised national legislation. With CARDS 2001 financing a comprehensive review of the food safety sector was undertaken. Recommendations of this review are integrated in the proposed programme. Integral to the 2001 project was the preparation of a rule book (part of the secondary legislation) for food hygiene and food safety, which was subsequently adopted by competent ministries. The CARDS 2004 “Structural and Legal Reform (SLR) support to the MAFWE has a component (veterinary services) related to food safety conditions. SIDA implements a project with the Food Directorate and close coordination with CARDS will be needed. FAO funds a regional project (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, Moldova and Romania) to assist progress towards establishing a modern and food safety and control system. German Bilateral Aid assistance provided by GTZ and ended in 2003, supported the preparation of the Macedonian Food Law 54/2002 and exposed stakeholders to the EU concepts of food safety and institutional arrangements in place in various member states. The proposed 2006 programme will build on the achievements of these previous and on-going projects and will seek to scale up their activities. General objective of the project are: • to promote agriculture and food trade • to contribute to the facilitation of domestic and international trade flows and to enhance the country’s export capacity, particularly in the agricultural sector. The specific objection of the project is: • to assist relevant national administrations in establishing EU and WTO compliant food and feed safety systems.

Start date: 2006-08-01

End date: 2006-09-30