At its sixteenth session, the Agriculture Committee discussed the report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Provincial Secretariat of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry on soil quality monitoring. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the Provincial Secretariat of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, the Soil Institute and the Institute for Crop and Vegetable Farming.

The Committee asked the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Ministry of Finance to reimburse institutions engaged in soil monitoring in accordance with fiscal plans for this year. The motion was carried to institute monitoring of hazardous substances in areas where they are found in order to protect the population and livestock, especially as the territory involved is not large. The Committee also resolved to introduce modern IT systems to monitor soil quality throughout Serbia, and will initiate a programme to involve local administrative bodies in soil monitoring. More substantial assets are also to be earmarked for improving soil quality in the 2005 Budget.

The session also discussed the report on the activities of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in examining charges brought by the Commodity Reserves Directorate for offences under Article 24 of the Commodity Reserves Act committed from 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2004. Representatives of the Directorate and the Public Prosecutor’s Office answered questions put to them by the deputies.