Đaković to "Pobjeda": Montenegro temporarily suspends meat imports from Brazil

The Director of the Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Affairs Administration, Vladimir Đaković, gave a statement to the daily newspaper "Pobjeda" regarding Montenegro's joining of the European Union measure that temporarily suspends the import of beef, poultry, and other animal-origin products from Brazil. The measure was introduced because Brazil is no longer on the list of third countries authorized to export these products under EU regulations until appropriate guarantees are provided that the products meet European standards, especially concerning antibiotic use in animals and the ban on antimicrobial growth promoters. Speaking about the results of official controls, Đaković stated that in June and July, dozens of tons of food were returned or destroyed at the border due to exceeding maximum pesticide levels, expired shelf life, incomplete labels, non-compliance with quality requirements, presence of storage pests, and lack of required documentation. A total of 391 violation notices were issued, with fines totaling 308,000 euros, and 29 decisions were made to temporarily ban food facilities. Đaković emphasized that official controls operate continuously despite limited inspectors and increased workload during the tourist season, with priorities set based on risk assessments. Citizens are advised to check expiration dates and labels, adhere to storage conditions, maintain hygiene, and pay special attention to preserving cold chain integrity.