E-mail:
Country:
North Macedonia
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA)
Contact person name:
Lenche Jovanovska
Website:
Physical full address:
III Makedonska brigada No 20 Macedonia Tabak building 1000 Skopje
Phone number:
+389 2 2457 895
Fax number:
Country introduction
Summary:
Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Water Economy and Food and Veterinary Agency are the competent authorities in the field of GMO in Republic of North Macedonia. As a candidate country for EU membership Republic of Macedonia had aligned most of European legislation regarding the GMOs. Namely, the Law on GMOs was adopted by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, in 2008, as well as the bylaws deriving thereof. Food and Veterinary Agency is responsible for GMO food and feed. Until 2013, the Rulebook on specific requirements for GMO food, labeling and traceability requirements of food products containing GMO food or consist of GMOs and requirements for traceability of food produced from GMOs, as well as the Rulebook on requirements and manner for authorization for placing on the market of GM feed and requirements for the use and placing of the market of the feed and requirements for placing on the market of feed which contains and/or consists of GMO, including bulk feed, use of the GM feed and traceability and requirements, and special requirements for special labeling were in force. The rulebooks were harmonized with European regulations (EC) 1829/2003 and 1830/2003, except provisions related to issuing of approvals for which there is a national book of rules. Later in 2013, a genral ban on placing on the market of GMO food was imposed. This ban resulted in the termination of validity of the beforementioned Rulebooks.
The ban was lifted in October 2023 with the adoption of the amendments of the Food safety law. In the next year (2024), the Food and veterinary agency will be responsible for adoption of the Rulebooks on GMO food and on the approval procedure for GMO food, aligned with EU Regulations 1829 and 1830 of 2003.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country is in the process in developing a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country does not have a structure for GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country does not conduct safety assessment of GM food and we do not plan to develop any guidelines for GM food safety assessment.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country has never conducted safety assessment of GM food and will not (be able to) conduct such assessment in the near future.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
There is no regulations in my country on stacked events.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country does not produce any GM food or feed.
GM food/feed imports:
My country does not import any GM food or feed (banned).
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
Currently, in accordance with the latest amendments of the Law on Food Safety ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 209/2023"), the general ban on production, placing on the market, importation into the Republic of North Macedonia of GM-food imposed in 2013 is lifted. However, currently the country has not yet adopted the secondary legislation regulating the specific safety requirements and placing on the market of GM food.
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
I do not know if my country has faced any LLP/AP issues in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
The Food and Veterinary Agency carries out a monitoring plan for placing of GM food on the national market within the Annual Food Safety Monitoring Program.
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
The mandatory labeling requirement is currently provided in the Rulebook on the information related to food (OG of RM 150/2015).
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
16/01/2024
