REGION: Balkan states create new food safety network | Progresiv
Six countries in the south east of Europe have teamed up with the goal of improving food safety and protecting consumers’ health, by establishing the South East European Network for Food Safety and Quality Control (SEEN FSQC), which will be based in Zagreb, Croatia. 
The new body will also be responsible for harmonization of standards based on national or international legislation, education and exchange of knowledge, experts and services.
The SEEN-FSQC will be managed by public health and scientific institutes from the six founding countries – Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Slovenia.
They will be joined by leading institutions from Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Hungary and Albania by this summer.
The establishment of this international and multi-sectoral association is expected to provide multiple benefits, primarily for the health of 72 million people, as well as facilitating regional relations, food trade and thus, economic growth.
Director of Croatia’s Institute for Public Health, Andrija Štampar, told newspaper Večernji List that implementation of the project could start in three to four months. (www.esmmagazine.com)
