The Republic Foot Safety Inspection Service will, in the upcoming period, conduct controls of declarations and labelling of the products that contain palm oil, palm fat, and other plant-based oils and fats, in the aim to protect consumer rights and information for consumers on the content of the product.

Namely, products which are not in the category of milk products in line with existing regulations are not allowed to have labels linking them with milk products, such as: cheese, plant cheese, type of cheese etc.  This is prescribed by the Rulebook on additional requirements for placing on the market products containing palm oil, palm fat, or other vegetable oils and fats, which was published on the 5th of June in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska.

Also, it is not permitted to show an image of a milk product, as well as the presentation of the product which can mislead consumer into thinking that it is a milk product.

These products on the market must have a graphic symbol in the shape of a rectangle with red edges, with a label „NOT A 100% MILK PRODUCT “and „CONTAINS PALM OIL AND OTHER PLANT OIL “

For packed products, graphic symbol is put in the main field of vision of the product and on a visible place next to the product on display or product’s price, and for unpackaged products it should be placed on a visible place next to the product on display or next to a price.

Food businesses are required not to place these products alongside the milk products in retail, clearly separated in the refrigerated display cabinets, on shelves, and in the other places which are visibly available to consumers.

Primary goal of the inspection service is not to punish, and in this way, we draw attention to businesses to the new provisions in the law. Buyers must have precise and unambiguous information on the contents of the product that they are buying. The main basic goal is protecting buyers from fraud, as well as protecting domestic producers who produce genuine milk products from unfair competition.