The Republic Phytosanitary Inspection Service has prohibited the import of three shipments of seed potatoes from the Netherlands and France, totaling 66.2 tons, due to the presence of a harmful organism.
During the inspection of one shipment, samples were taken for laboratory analysis. Based on the analysis report, conducted by the Agricultural Institute of the Republic of Srpska, the presence of a harmful organism, the causative agent of dry rot of tubers, was confirmed. Consequently, the phytosanitary inspector issued a decision prohibiting the import of the contested shipment and ordered its return to the sender.
Given the start of the sowing season, inspectors place special emphasis on the quality inspection of agricultural plant seeds, planting material, fertilizers, and other agricultural production materials during foreign trade inspections, as these are basic preconditions for achieving high-quality yields.
This year, the Republic Phytosanitary Inspection Service took 405 samples during the import of agricultural production materials for laboratory analysis. After the analyses were completed, eight shipments that did not meet the prescribed conditions for placing on the market were ordered to be returned. These included seeds, planting materials, and plant protection products.
It is important to emphasize that the shipments which are sampled remain under surveillance until the results are received, which helps prevent low-quality production materials from entering the market. The seed market in the Republic of Srpska is entirely under the control of the Inspection Service. The aim of inspection activities is to ensure high-quality agricultural plant seeds which are traded in the Republic of Srpska and which agricultural producers use.
Considering the measures taken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Srpska to encourage agricultural production and support domestic producers, the phytosanitary inspection offers strong support for domestic agricultural production through its activities.
