The Central Market Surveillance Inspectorate (IQMT) has continued inspections of the Kosovo market to check dairy products.

Inspections were carried out in supermarkets across the regions of Prizren, Ferizaj, Vushtrri and Gjilan. During the checks, inspectors found products at several retail outlets that the Food and Veterinary Agency (AUV) had banned from sale.

The products removed from supermarket shelves are: VIDAS Milk 3.2% – 1 L; Holla Cooking Cream – 1 L; Garden Milk – 1 L; VIDAS Cream Peppers – 1 kg; Magic Cream – 400 g; Schmand 18% – 800 g; 100% White Cheese – 250 g.

IQMT instructed economic operators to remove these items from sales areas immediately, in compliance with the decisions of the responsible institutions and the legislation in force.

At the same time, the inspectorate called on economic operators to comply without delay with orders to withdraw banned products.

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The Central Market Surveillance Inspectorate (IQMT), in cooperation with the Food and Veterinary Agency (AUV), today launched a wide-ranging inspection campaign covering every link in the commercial chain for milk and dairy products. The Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation (MINTI) announced that the operation will extend to producers, importers, distributors, warehouses, wholesalers and retail outlets.

The inspections were initiated based on findings submitted by the Food and Veterinary Agency. The authorities stress that the use of powdered milk and palm fat when these ingredients are not listed on the label, or when they are used in quantities greater than those declared, constitutes a violation of consumer protection and information rules.

The inspections will focus on whether the product’s actual composition matches the information on its packaging, including the presence of milk powder, palm oil and other components. The accuracy of the product name, product presentation, as well as the documentation and traceability of raw materials, will also be verified. Particular attention will be paid to goods held for commercial purposes or displayed for sale.

According to the official announcement, products whose actual contents, based on analyses and verifications, do not correspond to what is stated on their labels will be removed from the market in accordance with legal procedures. Administrative measures and sanctions will be imposed on economic operators found to be in violation, ranging from fines to other measures permitted under the applicable legal framework.

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The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, together with the Food and Veterinary Agency, presented the results of an extensive inspection of the dairy sector on 04.08.2026. The data, published at 10:59, show that dozens of irregularities were identified, the most common involving the presence or non-declaration of palm oil in products.

Food and Veterinary Agency Chief Executive Bekim Hoxha announced that the operation was conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture between April and July 2026. According to him, the inspections were aimed at verifying food safety, product authenticity and compliance of labels with the legislation in force, as well as protecting consumers.

For this process, the Food and Veterinary Agency deployed its inspection and laboratory capacities across the country. A total of 495 samples were collected as part of the operation and tested for various authenticity and food safety parameters.

The analyses covered fat and protein content, the presence of palm oil and vegetable fats, as well as starch and powdered milk. Hoxha said the results had provided a clear, comprehensive and evidence-based picture of the actual state of the sector, describing the operation as one of the broadest and most comprehensive official inspections conducted in the dairy industry to date.

The inspections and laboratory analyses identified a total of 93 ingredient-related cases of non-compliance. The presence or declaration of palm oil was identified in 46 cases, accounting for almost half of all irregularities and making it the most common problem detected during the operation.

According to the results from the Food and Veterinary Agency’s laboratory, in more than 91% of non-compliance cases, ingredients were not listed on the label in accordance with the requirements of the legislation in force. Hoxha said that, as a result, consumers had not received complete and accurate information about the contents of the products they purchased. He stressed that palm oil, vegetable fats and other alternative ingredients must be clearly declared so that consumer information is accurate and transparent.

The Food and Veterinary Agency’s chief executive clarified that the inspections were not directed against producers but were undertaken to ensure transparency and consumer protection.

Acting Minister of Agriculture Armend Muja said the institutions’ aim was not to determine who was at fault but to bring the truth to light. He said findings must be supported by evidence, laboratory analyses, technical documentation and proper administrative procedures, which is why the inspections were conducted in a coordinated, documented and comprehensive manner.

According to Muja, official inspection reports in a democratic state are not an end in themselves but serve as tools for protecting the public interest. He underlined that institutions must not limit themselves to merely identifying violations, as they have an obligation to respond lawfully, proportionately and effectively.

Muja announced that the Food and Veterinary Agency’s report and findings would first be handled in accordance with the procedure provided for under the Law on Administrative Procedure. He said that, as of that day, a decision would be issued regarding the procedure for enforcing the law in the cases covered by the report.

The acting minister stressed that the Food and Veterinary Agency tests the production, operations and milk of Kosovo farmers. According to him, the quality of farmers’ milk is guaranteed through official inspections, and he described it as the best milk.

However, Muja said this quality is not always preserved after the milk is delivered, which is why the official inspections focused specifically on processors and distributors. He said that, according to the reports, some of them had betrayed the trust of farmers and consumers.

Muja said he had asked the Food and Veterinary Agency to act proportionately, taking into account the Republic of Kosovo’s vital interest in protecting consumers, public health, farmers and approved operations. He added that the country needs the production of milk and dairy products, while support should be provided only to approved operations and to partners or processors willing to cooperate with the Food and Veterinary Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Earlier the same day, at 09:31, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development had announced that, in cooperation with the Food and Veterinary Agency, it would organize a press conference to present the results of the official inspections in the dairy sector.

The announcement published on the ministry’s official Facebook page said the conference would begin at 10:00 and would be held at the Food and Veterinary Agency’s premises. The findings of the final report and the measures to be taken to protect consumers and strengthen food safety were scheduled to be presented during the conference.

Although the announcement about the conference was general, Kosovo’s dairy sector had received increased attention in recent weeks following concerns about the quality and labeling of some dairy products on the market.

The company Vita was at the center of the debate after the Food and Veterinary Agency conducted official inspections and laboratory analyses to verify whether its products complied with the legislation in force. The case had prompted numerous reactions.

The Vita dairy company had said its products met the standards and had repeatedly requested the publication of the laboratory results. The company had argued that transparency was in the interests of consumers and producers, while expressing concern that delays in publishing the results were damaging its reputation and consumer trust.

For its part, the Food and Veterinary Agency had explained that the official results could not be made public until all laboratory and administrative procedures had been completed. The agency had stressed that the inspections were conducted as part of regular oversight to ensure food safety and compliance with the legislation in force.

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The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD), together with the Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA), has announced that it will hold a press conference to present the results of official inspections conducted in the dairy sector.

The event is scheduled to take place at the FVA premises, starting at 10:00, according to an announcement published by the ministry on its official Facebook page.

The conference is expected to disclose the report’s conclusions and the measures the institutions will take to protect consumers and improve food safety.

The announcement comes at a time when dairy products in Kosovo have come under increased scrutiny following concerns over the quality and labeling of certain items on the market.

One of the companies involved in this debate is Vita. The FVA has conducted official inspections and laboratory analyses to verify whether its products comply with the requirements of the legislation in force.

The issue has prompted reactions from the parties involved.

Vita dairy has insisted that its products meet the standards and has repeatedly called for the laboratory test results to be published. According to the company, transparency serves both consumers and producers. It has also said that the delay in publishing the results is damaging its reputation and affecting consumer confidence.

Meanwhile, the FVA has clarified that the official results cannot be made public until all laboratory and administrative procedures have been completed. The agency stressed that these checks are part of its regular oversight, which is intended to guarantee food safety and enforce the legislation in force.

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Krasniqi said that, after a long debate between producers and processors, a temporary agreement had been reached. According to him, all parties have committed to ensuring that the Ministry publishes the results of the laboratory analyses of the samples taken as soon as possible.

He also said it had been clarified that the samples were not taken only from “Vita,” but also from other dairies. Meanwhile, according to him, “Vita” will begin collecting milk starting tonight.

“After a lengthy discussion between producers and processors, in this case also with the dairy ‘Vita’ and the minister, all actors committed that the Ministry, through the AUV, would publish the results from the samples taken as soon as possible. It was said that the reason for the delay in the results is related to the analysis process and that it is not an issue concerning only the dairy ‘Vita,’ but that samples have also been taken from other dairies. ‘Vita’ committed that starting tonight it will begin collecting milk from farmers, for the sake of fairness and as part of the temporary agreement,” Krasniqi said.

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The protest began at 13:00. The farmers arrived with tractors and work vehicles, while the atmosphere was accompanied by the constant sound of horns.

During the gathering, they poured milk first in the ministry’s courtyard and then near the institution.

When the protesters tried to get closer to the ministry, there were several verbal clashes with police officers, but this did not stop them from moving up near the building.

At the protest, banners could also be seen bearing the slogans: “The farmer is not the enemy,” “Don’t touch jobs,” “Don’t leave us without bread,” “Our work, our right,” and others.

Fidan Krasniqi, a representative of the Dairy Producers Association, spoke about the reasons for organizing the protest.

Krasniqi: For a year now, we have been demanding equal competition

“We have gathered in front of the Ministry of Agriculture as the association of milk producers in support of our farmers, our membership, the collection points, all stakeholders, interest groups, because we are the producers of this country and we produce milk for this country, for this population. For a year now, we have been knocking on the doors of the state, informing the relevant ministries about the situation created in this sector and asking that measures be taken to guarantee investment and the safety of our products so that we have equal competition and not imports at subsidized prices from Serbia, Bosnia, North Macedonia and the entire region. All of you are witnesses to these products and accuse us as to why those products are sold on our shelves at very low prices,” Krasniqi said.

Another participant in the protest, Kushtrim Tigani, called for the publication of results related to the presence of powdered milk.

Tigani: The Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Veterinary Agency should come out with the results

“As the largest dairy in Kosovo, we collect more than 50% of Kosovo’s milk. All these farmers bring us more than 100,000 liters of milk per day. I call on some Facebook soldiers who are coming out and smearing this hardworking farmer and all those farmers who produce milk and process milk, and I urge the Minister of Agriculture and the Food and Veterinary Agency to publish as soon as possible the results of what they found regarding the presence of powdered milk, because there is no powdered milk and they know there is no powdered milk. Let them come out with the results as soon as possible, because even for the analysis of ‘Vita’ milk it takes weeks for the result to come out,” Tigani said.

After the protest ended, the protesters left with their vehicles. Meanwhile, a meeting is currently taking place between the farmers and the Ministry of Agriculture, and statements are expected afterward.

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He stressed that farmers are being pushed toward such extreme actions as a form of protest because of the problems they have been facing in selling their products.

“The caretaker government, with a hostile approach, is directly targeting local producers, the welfare of the farmer, his family and our entire economy.

I call on the institutions to reflect and to take the farmers’ demands seriously and to compensate for the damage caused.

They should not treat them as opponents, but as partners in the country’s economic development,” he wrote.

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As a sign of revolt, they poured milk onto the ground during the protest, after its collection was temporarily halted four days ago, on the eve of the temporary closure of the Vita dairy.

The protesters presented three concrete demands: the immediate resumption of milk collection, the swift publication of test results to remove suspicions surrounding domestic products, and the restoration of the previous milk price to prevent farms from going bankrupt.

During the gathering, the farmers demanded that the state treat them “with dignity and respect.” It was also said there that “Vita’s milk belongs to Kosovo, not Serbia.”

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