A public debate has commenced regarding the draft of the Law on Official Controls (“Law”), that is scheduled to enter into force on 1 March 2026.
The Law should regulate the conduct of official controls and other official activities, covering food safety at all stages of production, animal feed, animal health and welfare, plant protection, and organic production. In this manner, domestic legislation is further aligned with the legal framework of the European Union, while also creating conditions for the unhindered export of animals, food, feed, and other goods.
Key provisions of the Law include:
- conducting official controls without prior notice, except where such notice is justified;
- expanding the scope of official controls to cover all stages from production and processing to the distribution of food and feed;
- strengthening supervision over GMOs and animal by-products, with official controls applicable at any stage of production, processing, and distribution;
- enhancing controls in the fields of plant protection, organic production, and geographical indications;
- digitalization of the system, through the establishment of an information platform to improve the implementation of official controls and ensure more efficient data exchange;
- clear definition of competent authorities empowered to perform controls, with particular emphasis on the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Ministry of Health.
In the areas governed by this Law, the Law on Inspection Oversight shall not apply.
Our law office remains at your disposal for legal support – both regarding compliance with the new obligations and with respect to the practical consequences that the Law on Official Controls will have on businesses operating within the food production and distribution chain.