The Price of (Not) Consumer Trust
Every failure in the food control system is paid for not only with increased medical bills, but also with product recalls, export bans, a worsening market position, and ultimately, the loss of consumer trust in certain domestic brands and institutions.
TL;DR
- Failures in the food control system lead to financial losses, export bans, and decreased consumer trust.
- Serbia's food safety system is not fully aligned with EU standards, particularly regarding aflatoxin limits and inspection oversight.
- The country faces a high number of notifications in the EU's RASFF system for pesticides, aflatoxins, and salmonella.
- Key challenges include a lack of integrated data exchange, underfunding of inspections, and a "brain drain" of qualified personnel to the private sector.
- Despite a national laboratory, systemic issues prevent it from being a fully functional instrument for food safety and export competitiveness.
- Lack of transparency regarding product recalls further erodes consumer confidence.
- Economic consequences include inability to export certain animal products to the EU and increased public health costs.