The project will be implemented through cooperation between a consortium consisting of the Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity (SWEDAC) and the Swedish National Food Administration (SLV)on one hand and the Food Directorate within the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Macedonia on the other.
The project forms part of a regional programme with the complicated name: Quality and Regulatory Infrastructure Development for Food Safety and Quality in South East Europe which, apart from Macedonia, also includes Bosnia-Hercegovina.
The project objectives are:
- to support Macedonia in adapting to the requirements of the European Union and the provisions of the WTO agreements, in the area of food safety and international trade in food and foodstuffs. This adaptation would enable Macedonia to gain access to new export markets for agricultural goods, thus improving the potential for economic growth.
- to support Macedonia in harmonizing laws and regulations in the fields of food safety and trade in food and foodstuffs. This will further enhance the political and democratic dialogue in South East Europe.
The programme activities include implementation of legislation and directives, training of food safety inspectors and support to the national body for accreditation of laboratories.
The regional programme is designed to address the national needs of Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, identified in the preparatory studies. However, some activities will be implemented jointly in order to create synergies and facilitate regional harmonisation.
2008-07-28