EU market closed to Kosovo dairy

Kosovo’s dairy industry cannot sell milk, cheese or yoghurt in the European Union because the country lacks an EU-recognised veterinary certificate.

Producers say factories have the equipment and capacity to export, but Kosovo’s food and veterinary system has not yet met all EU requirements.

The result is a closed market and unused production. Some dairies operate for only four to eight hours a day, despite having capacity to run around the clock.

Kosovo imported more than €12 million in dairy products in the first half of the year, while exports were worth less than €500,000 and went mainly to neighbouring countries.

Industry representatives say the state continues to subsidise production without securing access to larger markets.