The newly adopted Law on Organic Production, announced on Tuesday, lays the foundation for sustainable development within the sector. It aims to ensure the effective operation of organic products and foster fair competition, according to reports from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.

“Furthermore, the law will establish conditions for increasing domestic production, boosting consumer confidence and interest protection, promoting shorter distribution channels, and impacting other environmentally significant processes,” the ministry stated.

This regulation will address issues related to imports and exports, along with the enforcement of control and certification procedures, as well as official inspections which have previously not been adequately legislated.

“It is particularly noteworthy that by adopting this law, Montenegro is moving closer to finalizing its obligations under negotiating Chapter 11,” the Ministry emphasized.

As a candidate country for European Union (EU) membership, Montenegro has committed to aligning its national legislation on organic production with the relevant EU acquis.

The Ministry also pointed out that since January 1, 2022, the EU has implemented Regulation 2018/848, which introduced various changes, including enhancements to the control system.

“The purpose of this Regulation is to further strengthen consumer trust in the organic system and to guarantee that all organic products sold within the EU adhere to the same standards,” the Ministry concluded.