Albania limits import of Serbian pharmaceutical products

Albania limits import of Serbian pharmaceutical products

BELGRADE -- Serbian Economy Minister Željko Sertić says Albania in September passed a law limiting imports of drugs and medications of all types produced in Serbia.

This move ignores all protocols and agreements signed between the two countries, he added.

"This means that our two biggest pharmaceutical companies, Galenika and Hemofarm, will no longer be able export a total of 110 products that have been registered or are pending registration for sale in their market," Sertić told a panel on Serbian exports at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS).

It is a huge financial minus for both companies and Serbia will not allow Albania to introduce rules aimed at destroying a part of its economy without implications from its side, stressed Sertić.

The economy minister said that he had brought up the issue during Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's visit to Belgrade this week.

"The capacity of our country to deal with these things is precisely in our political stability and resolve to extend a hand of cooperation to everyone, but under the condition that we show mutual respect," he said.

The minister added that within the regional CEFTA free trade agreement, problems often crop up when countries pass decrees limiting trade, and mentioned Macedonia's violation related to grain imports as an example.

According to Sertić, "these are all problems that must be solved by the state."