Dairy Association expresses concern: Ban in force, but factories operate without authorization

The Dairy Association of Kosovo has publicly expressed doubts about the practical implementation of the Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to restrict palm oil and milk powder in the dairy processing sector.

Minister Armend Muja announced the suspension of these substances in dairy factories on 10 May 2026, while the official document was finalized by the Minister’s Cabinet two days later and received a protocol number on 15 May 2026.

Point 5 of the regulatory act emphasizes that no certified milk processing entity is allowed to introduce palm oil, other vegetable fats, or milk powder into production without a specific permit issued by the Food and Veterinary Agency.

But the Association claims that, based on the data it has, so far no processing unit in the country has secured such a transitional approval, yet production activity is proceeding as if nothing has changed.

In its statement, the organization poses a series of questions to the authorities: what mechanisms are supervising these enterprises, who is ensuring compliance with the regulation, and why is the use of these substances being tolerated when the required permits are missing.

Representatives of the dairy industry call on the Ministry and the Food and Veterinary Agency to take an open stance on the enforceability of the measure, stressing that the public and livestock farmers deserve full transparency in this sector.