Strengthening Montenegro’s Food Safety and Agri-Food Chain Controls

Montenegro is preparing for EU accession under Chapter 12, covering Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Policy. To align with EU standards, the country continues to develop institutional and administrative capacities for an EU-compliant system of official controls across the entire agri-food chain—from farm to fork and stable to table. This includes plant and animal production, food manufacturing, distribution, and activities at the farm level.

The agri-food chain legislation ensures the safety and quality of food and feed, plant health, pesticide management, seeds and planting materials, plant variety protection, GMOs, animal health, and welfare. It also covers import controls for animals and goods entering Montenegro.

The new Official Control Regulation (EU 2017/625), along with its implementing and delegating acts, is scheduled to be transposed into Montenegro’s legal framework by the end of 2023. While this project does not focus on legislative harmonization, it supports the implementation of official controls by strengthening the capacities and competencies of authorities responsible for planning, enforcement, and verification of compliance across the agri-food chain.

Montenegro is required to develop and regularly update a multi-annual national control plan (MANCP), covering all areas of agri-food chain legislation and detailing the structure and organization of official control systems. The MANCP ensures that controls are risk-based, efficient, and consistent throughout the country. This project contributes to the revision and improvement of Montenegro’s MANCP.

Effective official controls depend on well-trained staff with a thorough understanding of relevant legislation. Competent authorities, along with delegated bodies and individuals, are responsible for ensuring the effectiveness, consistency, and reliability of these controls across the agri-food chain.

Overall Objective (Impact):

Improve the capacities of competent authorities to establish and implement an EU-compliant system of official controls across the agri-food chain.

Specific Objective (Outcome):

Strengthen the institutional and administrative capacities of the competent authority to enforce and verify compliance with agri-food chain legislation.

The main legislative framework for this work is Regulation (EU) 2017/625, along with its delegated and implementing acts, which can be accessed here.

Project Activities

1. Food and Feed Safety

• Review and update Montenegro’s draft Multi-Annual National Control Plan (MANCP) for food and feed safety, ensuring alignment with EU Regulation 2017/625.
• Deliver at least 3 practical trainings for AFSVPA staff on topics such as food of non-animal origin, sampling procedures, border controls, and supervision of delegated bodies.
• Develop procedures, instructions, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for official controls, including entry of goods into Montenegro.
• Prepare a comprehensive Manual for staff and delegated bodies on official control procedures.
• Organize a 4–5 day study tour in an EU member state to observe best practices in official controls.

2. Veterinary Controls

• Update the veterinary section of the MANCP and provide guidance for implementation.
• Conduct targeted trainings on animal by-products, animal welfare, residues of banned substances and veterinary drugs, and border control procedures.
• Draft SOPs and instructions for veterinary inspections and other official activities.
• Prepare a veterinary Manual for staff and delegated bodies.
• Organize a study tour in an EU member state focused on veterinary official controls.

3. Phytosanitary Controls

• Revise the phytosanitary section of the MANCP and annual plans, covering plant health, pesticides, GMO, seeds, and plant variety protection.
• Deliver trainings for staff on border and field controls in the phytosanitary area.
• Draft procedures, SOPs, and instructions aligned with EU legislation and sector-specific regulations.
• Update the phytosanitary Manual for official controls and other relevant activities.
• Organize a study tour in an EU member state focused on phytosanitary official controls.

4. Control of Imported Goods and Border Crossing Points (BCPs)

• Support preparation and supervision of BCP projects to ensure compliance with EU standards for official controls.
• Provide expertise during project design, tendering, and implementation phases.
• Share knowledge and best practices to strengthen long-term capacity of authorities at BCPs.

Expected Results

• Food and Feed Safety: Enhanced capacities of AFSVPA for planning and implementing official controls in food and feed safety.
• Veterinary Controls: Improved capacities of AFSVPA for planning and implementing veterinary official controls.
• Phytosanitary Controls: Strengthened capacities of AFSVPA for official controls in plant health, pesticides, pesticide residues, seeds and planting materials, plant variety protection, and GMOs.
• Imported Goods: Enhanced capacities of AFSVPA for controlling imported veterinary and phytosanitary goods.