The GLOBALGAP Working Group kick off meeting on Monday 7th of December marked the beginning of the project implemented within the Swiss Trade Cooperation Programme. It supports Serbian companies willing to improve their national and international market access through the adoption of GlobalGap quality standards.

Besides offering export opportunities, GLOBALGAP has been identified as an opportunity for producers to introduce good agricultural practices in view of food safety and EU accession.

Besides that, there is a clear need to support the implementation of quality insurance schemes: Basic schemes for the primary and secondary transformation steps (HACCP, ISO 22000, ISO 14000) but also those under public control, like organic production or geographical indications. Setting up a training and coaching programme for producers, companies and trainers, and assisting the implementation of standards according to the requirements of foreign buyers and the needs of local stakeholders are seen as the main project activities.

Seedev is the local implementing partner, guided with the overall coordination and support from our Swiss partner AGRIDEA. The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (MAFWM), the Accreditation Board of Serbia (ATS), and the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) are the key institutional partners involved in project implementation.