The Agriculture Committee held its eleventh session on 13 July 2004. The session was chaired by the Committee’s chairman, Dr Zoran Masic.

The Committee discussed reports on measures taken to monitor the production of and trade in sugar in order to fulfil European Union requirements leading to the restoration of preferential treatment for sugar exports. The Committee chairman noted that relevant Ministries had submitted the requested information to the Committee, with the exception of the Ministry of Justice, which is to submit the information at a later date, as it was unable to collect it in the time prescribed.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Miroljub Labus, acquainted the deputies with facts ascertained relating to the import and export of sugar from September 2002 to May 2003, planned production and upcoming talks on the return of preferential treatment for the export of surplus sugar. Representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations also took part in the discussion.

The Committee expressed its support for the measures implemented by the Government Commission and the Government itself in healing the rift with the EU Commission in charge of sugar exports. The Government and representatives of the working group were requested to submit regular reports to the Committee on actions taken, especially after 8 August, when the prohibition on sugar exports is due to be lifted.

The Committee also discussed sections of the Sanitation Supervision Bill relating to the inspection of buildings and foodstuffs of animal origin. Representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, as well as professors from Belgrade and Novi Sad Faculties of Agriculture took part in the discussion.

Due to an obvious conflict of opinions between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the Committee will request the Government of the Republic of Serbia to withdraw the Sanitation Supervision Bill from procedure, in order for the Ministries to analyse its provisions again and define the Bill’s final form, acceptable to both Ministries.