Following Montenegro’s accession to the European Union, the country will be required to recognize Member States that share an equivalent level of consumer protection. This topic was highlighted at the workshop on the “Principle of Mutual Recognition in the EU”.

This implies that inspectors will no longer be able to ban the introduction of such products, except in exceptional cases like those involving consumer safety and fair trade, as noted by the Institute for Metrology and the Project Center for Strategic and Legal Consulting for Montenegro (Land), which is funded by the European Union.

Key elements of the EU’s operations were discussed at the workshop “Principle of Mutual Recognition in the EU”, organized by the Institute for Metrology and the Strategic Advice Center for Montenegro (plac), supported by EU funding.

“Mutual recognition is critical for a functioning single market. A product legally sold in one Member State will not require repeated testing or unnecessary permits,” stated Natalija Jovanović, Project Expert.

Jovanović also emphasized that Montenegro’s administration must prepare, particularly its inspection services, to effectively implement the mutual recognition principle for products in the precious metals sector.

“It is essential to recognize that this does not mean lowering standards but rather accepting different technical solutions from Member States that achieve the same goal: protecting consumers and the public interest,” Jovanović remarked.

During the session, participants learned about EU Member States, Directive 2015/1535, Regulation (EU) 2019/515, and the practical steps Montenegro needs to take for effective implementation of these regulations concerning precious metals. The challenges faced and Montenegro’s obligations to establish a notification system for technical regulations under the EU were emphasized to prevent trade barriers.

Attention was also given to case law from the Court of Justice of the EU, including significant rulings regarding mutual recognition within precious metals. The workshop analyzed how the legal interpretations of these judgments may influence inspection oversight in Montenegro and what procedural adjustments will be necessary in the future to ensure consistent application.

This workshop represents another step toward enhancing the capabilities of domestic institutions in applying European regulations, especially in light of Montenegro’s preparation for full EU membership, as stated in the announcement.