Three work regulations of the Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency are approved

In its 143^rd meeting, the Kosovo Government approved three work regulations of the Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency. This agency was established with the Law on Food. The Law on Food was approved by the Kosovo Assembly on February 12^th 2009. The Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency is an executive agency within the Office of the Prime Minister. This Agencies' duty is to protect the life and health of humans by ensuring a  high level of safe food, including animal food, health and care towards animals, the quality and safety of the food with animal and vegetable origin.

This agency is joined by the Department of Sanitary Inspectorate of Kosovo, the Fito-Sanitary Inspectorate, The Border Fito-Sanitary Inspectorate and border inspectorates of these services. Even though the duties of this agency are of health and sanitary nature, this agency was not established within the Ministry of Health or the one of Agriculture, rather it is functioning within the Office of the Prime minister. During the Assembly review of the Draft law on Food, these two ministries have requested that this agency is placed within one of these ministries.

Whereas, in its 148^th meeting, the Kosovo Government based on two separate decisions established two important bodies of the Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA): The Directing Board of the Food and Veterinary Agency and the Scientific Commission of this agency. According to article 40 of the Law on Food, approved on February 12^th 2009, the FVA Board serves as a supervisory body, whereas the Scientific Council serves as an advisory body.

The FVA Board was established with the following composition:

1. ShqipeDema, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development;
2. IsufCikaqi, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development;
3. BesfortMetaj, Kosovo Chamber of Commerce;
4. TahireMaloku – Gjergji, Ministry of Health;
5. NaserRamadani, Kosovo National Institute for Public Health (NIPH);
6. Ali Gagica, Association for Consumer Protection;
7. ValdetGjinovci, Food and Veterinary Agency.

Whereas the FVA Scientific Council was established with the following composition:

1. SelveteKrasniqi from NIPH/MH – member;
2. BakirKelmendi from INK?MAFRD – member;
3. AlushMusaj from the Faculty of Viticulture – member;
4. ArbenMehmeti from Faculty of Agriculture – member, and
5. KurteshSherifi from Faculty of Agriculture – member.

The establishment of these two bodies is being done 19 months after the Law on Food went into power. In September this year, during its 144^th meeting, the Kosovo Government approved the work regulations for these two bodies. The Food and Veterinary Agency is still not fully functionalized. Besides the delays in the establishment of supervisory and advisory bodies, FVA is still functioning with an acting Chief Executive Officer. FVA functions within the Office of the Prime Minister, even though its mission is related to health issues.