Closing conference of the project “Make a Difference – New System of Market Surveillance” will be held on Thursday, 11 December 2014, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, organised by Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications and EU project Strengthening of the Serbian system of market surveillance for non-food and food products

State Secretary Vesna Kovac and Head of Operations II of the EU Delegation to Serbia José Antonio Gomez Gomez will open the conference. Representatives of the Ministry and EU will offer information regarding the progress made in the last two years in view of the process of introducing the new system of market surveillance, now harmonised with the EU rules, to Serbia.

New EU legislative framework for market surveillance is designed to ensure a greater product safety, therefore a better consumer protection, while at the same time enabling an easier flow of goods between Serbian and European markets.

Assistant Minister/National Project Director Lidija Stojanovic will speak about the progress made by Sector for Market Inspection due to MSS project, and about the novelties’, introduced to market inspectors’ methodology and mode of operation, positive impact on Serbian consumers and economy.
MSS project’s experts will provide a more detailed technical explanation on the work done so far in view of introducing the new system of market surveillance, paying close attention to system of quality management and new management information system, whose development and implementation were jointly funded by Ministry and EU.

Head of the Department for Technical Supervision Slavisa Petkovic will speak about the impact of new market surveillance system on daily work of a market inspector, as well as about the importance of cooperation and coordination among inspectors across Serbia. On the example of water heater, project experts will demonstrate product life cycle, from manufacturer to a store shelf, according to the new system of market surveillance.

Project Strengthening of the Serbian system of market surveillance for non-food and food products (MSS) supports relevant authorities to improve the system of market surveillance, thus promoting consumer protection and penetration of Serbian products into the EU market.

Project aims to improve legal and strategic frameworks, set up an efficient coordination and cooperation among market surveillance authorities and improve knowledge of market inspectors. MSS project is funded by EU with 2,5 million euros and co-funded by Serbia with 350.000 euros.