Dragan Glamocic, advisor to the Prime Minister and Head of the Operative HQ against nodular dermatitis, presented the measures undertaken to suppress lumpy skin disease in cattle. Glamocic said that so far 532 animals were euthanized, mostly in southern Serbia, in Bosilegrad, Bujanovac and Surdulica.

“Vaccination is almost finished in the affected areas, and the vaccination of cattle in endangered areas has also begun”, said Glamocic. He added that 400,000 vaccines were sent in aid from the EU, and the money prepared to reimburse the damages inflicted by the infection, about 25 million RSD, has already been dispatched to the most vulnerable households affected by the disease. Besides vaccination, the affected areas were disinsected to suppress the spread of the disease transmitted also by insects such as mosquito, fly or tick. The neighbouring countries did not instate any measures against import of Serbian meat and dairy, except from the areas affected by the disease, which is not harmful to humans. The Veterinary Directorate and the Ministry of Interior conduct strict control of cattle transport trucks at control stations in the affected areas and the misuse of pits where the carcasses of the diseased animals are destroyed is almost impossible. All relevant ministries are included in the action against nodular dermatitis, as is the Serbian Army, and the Operative HQ is also assisted by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, scientific institutions, university representatives, the Office for Kosovo-Metohija and the Serbian Government’s Coordination Body for Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. At the end of the debate the Committee thanked all the institutions and individuals for their efforts on suppressing nodular dermatitis, recommending that they continue with these activities and keep the existing system on stand-by for any possible outbreaks of other diseases. The Committee also recommended reviewing certain laws relating to the outbreak of other infectious diseases.

Jugoslav Nikolic, Director of the Hydrometeorological Service, spoke about the anti-hail measures. Nikolic explained the anti-hail system and the manner in which the Service combats this natural occurrence saying that the chief problem is poor funding for the shooters and for the purchase of anti-hail rockets.

It was said that there is no full-proof protection against this natural occurrence. Following an in-depth discussion the Committee accepted a Conclusion Proposal suggesting to the relevant Ministry and the Hydrometeorological Service full and unified implementation of the Anti-Hail Protection Law, renewal of equipment and increase of payments for anti-hail shooters.

The Committee also recommended that the anti-hail stations’ rocket supply be replenished before the hail season, and to allocate funds for anti-hail protection during budget planning. The Committee also suggested continuing with the subsidies for the anti-hail protection and insurance companies that insure crops. To this end, the Committee decided to submit a Request to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection asking for an explanation, as soon as possible, of future steps toward improving anti-hail protection.

The third item on the agenda concerned the protection of agricultural production from excessive imports especially in the case of dairy and pork production. Tomislav Topalovic of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection informed the Committee members on the Serbian Government’s decision of the previous day to prolong the import levy (prelevman) concerning the protection of excessive imports of milk and dairy, pigs and pork, to 31 December of 2016. The decision was reached in consultation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and representatives of the European Commission, said the representative of the relevant Ministry. The Committee recommended to continue to focus on the protection of domestic agricultural production without violating any signed agreements and laws and endorsed the Serbian Government’s decision.

The Committee then proceeded to set up a subcommittee to monitor the agricultural situation in marginal and undeveloped areas in the Republic of Serbia.

The Committee also accepted the Proposal of the Conclusion recommending allowing the farmers, in line with regulations, unimpeded placement of seasonal fruit and vegetables and other agricultural produce, produced domestically, on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, which does not impinge on the enforcement of other laws by republic, provincial and local authorities.

The Committee members agreed that the future ministry in charge of agriculture should also include forestry and water management in both its name and scope of work, which is something that should be taken into consideration when passing the Law on Ministries.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic and attended by Committee members Arpad Fremond, Jasmina Obradovic, Olena Papuga, Radovan Jancic, Miroslav Aleksic, Velimir Stanojevic, Marko Gavrilovic, Prof. Dr Miladin Sevarlic, Goran Jesic, Veroljub Matic, Milija Miletic, Danijela Stojadinovic, Zarko Bogatinovic, Tijana Davidovac, MA Marko Milenkovic and deputy member Sonja Pavlovic.