The Danger of Uncontrolled Meat Import

AIM Pristina, January 31, 2001

Intensified control in meat turnover would be the best for prevention of the spreading of the mad cow disease that has shaken the European market. Everything is still in the phase of creation in Kosovo, system of control inclusive, both at border crossings and inside Kosovo. Lack of the law on food control has stirred up fear that in Kosovo the market would be flooded by foodstuffs dangerous for the health of the people, such as the meat of mad cows.

No matter how firmly the countries of the EU have shut their doors to import of such meat in order to avoid the possibility of infection of the population with the virus of this deathly disease, it can very easily find its way into Kosovo.

There are still dilemmas how this mechanism could operate and prevent this from happening in Kosovo. These dilemmas are especially present at the top of the pyramid of power, because different departments are arguing about who will be in charge of the job. The Department of Agriculture has not decided yet whether it should or should not pass the legislature which would ban the import of meat from the countries of the EU, although such a demand was already addressed to this department. It is still uncertain whether such a decision will be made. The officials from various institutions claim that “it has become necessary to ban import of beef from the countries of the EU because the equipment for the control of meat in Kosovo is not that modern to easily identify the symptoms of this disease”. They warn that there is no possibility to make such analyses in Kosovo, so that samples would have to be sent to some of the countries of the EU in order to make profound analyses.

In any case, the only enterprise licensed for the control “Kosova-Control” instructed its inspectors on four border crossings between Kosovo and Macedonia and Albania not to allow any beef from the countries of the EU to be brought into Kosovo. They were warned that they would be called to answer if they fail to carry out their duty. Nevertheless, not all border crossings have been closed. Even the officials of “Kosova-Control” company are very concerned by the fact that cross-border illegal beef trade is the greatest risk and threat. Lack of sanitary inspection along the border with Serbia and Montenegro also causes great concern because this opens great possibilities for smugglers who are interested only in their personal profit.

Cattle sellers at the livestock market in Pristina and some of the other towns in Kosovo claim that their merchandise arrives from Serbia via Novi Pazar. The departments in charge still have not passed the regulations on meat quality control sold in butcher shops or served in hotels. Grand Hotel in Pristina, as the largest in Kosovo pays additionally for meat control it purchases in meat factory in Kosovo Polje, as Hotel manager Zak Ceku claims.

The Hygienic Institute and the “Kosova-Control” Company determine quality of meat served in this hotel. However, there is no legal obligation of quality control of meat in the market. “We control meat only we are asked to do it”, inspectors of the specialised “Kosova-Control” company declared some time ago.

In order to illustrate that it is possible for meat of dubious quality to enter Kosovo, the inspectors of “Kosova-Control” give the example of import of radiation contaminated fish from Ukraine. “The control was performed at request of the company which imported the fish”, says Izet Malazogu, Director of “Kosova-Control”.

On the other hand, butchers and meat sellers in all the towns of Kosovo say that they have no obligation to subject meat to veterinary control. Therefore, it should not surprise if in butcher shops meat is sold without any stamp. Other types of food poisoning threaten the citizens of Kosovo. Owners of butcher shops who sell fresh meat and meat products admit that their merchandise is not controlled at all. They simply buy livestock in markets and prepare smoked meat products themselves. Although the merchants would not admit it, it is a fact that a buyer will never know exactly whether a product is fresh or its consumption time limit has expired a long time ago. The picture of smoked meat products on stalls of green markets, exposed to dust, is an even more sorrowful sight. And the picture of exhibited chicken drumsticks, giblets, frozen fish melting in the sun and various smoked meat products also exhibited practically on the ground in front of mini-markets do not speak only of catastrophic hygienic conditions in which food stuffs are held and sold, but also about everyday life in which such phenomena have become customary. Indeed, the question of food quality, its maintenance and consequences on the health of the people is very rarely raised.

AIM Pristina

Ibrahim REXHEPI