The Bill amending and modifying the Food Safety Law was presented by Tamara Boskovic on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, who said that it adjusts the national to European legislation, defines the relevant terms and authorities, introduces an official control fee - same for all the entities involved, and specifies the competences of national reference laboratories.

The Bill amending and modifying the Law on Plant Protection Products was presented by a representative of the Plant Protection Directorate who said that the Law in force was passed in 2009 and is only partially harmonized with EU directives and regulations. The amendments concern the registration of plant protection products and the control of the application of plant protection products and pesticides. It also establishes a system of official and reference laboratories, defines the procedure for registration and evaluation and a training system of all who come in touch with plant protection products.

Jelena Jankovic of the Plant Protection Directorate presented the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Plant Health saying it would not affect the harmonization with EU directives as it is chiefly focusing on meeting the set objectives and eliminating the flaws noted in the application of the Law – job organization, better implementation of international standards and adoption of important phytosanitary measures.

The Bill on Hospitality Industry and the Bill on Tourism were presented by Dr Miroslav Knezevic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, who said that the new developments in the spheres of tourism and the hospitality industry in the country require the adoption of two separate laws to replace the previous single law. The bills also provide much needed harmonization with the Inspection Law and Law on General Administrative Procedure, as well as the 2020 National Tourism Development Strategy, said Knezevic.

The Bill on Hospitality Industry addresses the grey economy and regulates the operation of individuals offering so-called daily accommodation who will now be able to do business without intermediaries and register their own guests, as well as pay a flat tax rate. The Bill also introduces a central information system or e-tourist and it is expected to have a positive impact on village tourism, said Knezevic.

The need to pass a new tourism law arises from the recent results the branch has yielded in the country. It harmonizes and coordinates the work of national, regional and local tourist organizations, provides better traveller security and is harmonized with the EU package travel directive of 2015. Under the new law, besides a guarantee, the tourist agencies also need to provide a deposit, plus they will be categorized, said Knezevic.

Following a discussion the Committee members accepted all the bills, in principle.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Nenad Canak, and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Elvira Kovacs, Zvonimir Djokic, Vesna Markovic, Vera Jovanovic, Olivera Pesic, Gordana Comic, Dusica Stojkovic, Milorad Haji Stosic, Zarko Micin and Dragan Sormaz.