Tomatoes entering Kosovo from Albania are considered dangerous. Doubts about them have also been raised by the Food Agency, which is waiting for concrete results. Doubts are that tomatoes may contain high amounts of hormones, which are dangerous to human health.
The Food and Veterinary Agency in Kosovo is awaiting the results of the laboratory tests of the samples sent for the tomatoes that were imported from Albania, and depending on the results, actions will be taken.
They are suspected to contain high amounts of hormones, which are dangerous for human health.
The Food Agency still has no official notification about the tomatoes imported from Albania and their content, which have recently left the European Union market.
But, despite all this, the AUV has taken the samples and sent them to laboratories abroad, for the purpose of testing for chemical contaminants/pesticide residues.
"Besides the official controls, without a doubt as sources of information, through the official channels we have, we accept notifications for any product that presents doubt or danger to the consumer. Where we do not have any information about the doubts raised by you.
However, we also forwarded information provided by the media to raise suspicions and based on this, we as AUV, have taken additional control measures, with special emphasis on the control of tomatoes originating from Albania. AUV is awaiting the results of the laboratory tests of the official samples sent".
This institution has proven that measures will be taken later.
"After receiving the results, depending on the findings, actions will be taken", says the statement to the media made by the Food Agency.
Business representatives have said that Kosovo will have to take measures against any product that does not meet market requirements.
The head of the Kosovar Business Agency, Agim Shahini, said that regardless of whether it is domestic or imported, every product must be checked.
“Ai produkt është duke u eksportuar në vendet e ndryshme të Ballkanit, duke përfshirë këtu edhe Kosovën. Edhe Kosova duhet të marrë hapa të drejtë dhe të sigurt që çka është ai standard që nuk plotësohet për konsum në Europë, e plotësohet për konsum në vendet e ndryshme të Ballkanit në këtë rast për Kosovën.
Dhe në raste se Kosova vërteton një gjë të tillë, se nuk është për konsum, atëherë duhet të ndalohet ky import i këtij produkt, në mënyrë që të ruhet shëndeti publik. Por, në të kundërtën nëse i plotëson kushtet, por në vendet e BE kërkojnë standarde edhe për paketim, atëherë kjo është një çështje dekorimi dhe jo çështje që jep dyshim për një kualitet të dobët dhe që nuk është për konsum”.
However, until the analysis by AUV is received, tomatoes imported from Albania will continue to be present on the market. They have recently been returned by the European Union, on the grounds that they do not meet the safety parameters./Monitor