Although it was fully equipped in late 2015 and technically ready for operation in 2016, Serbia’s national reference laboratory for milk quality control has yet to begin functioning. This delay has left a significant gap in the dairy supply chain. Currently, the quality of milk delivered to dairies is assessed by the dairies themselves, which effectively allows them to determine the purchase price unilaterally. Without an independent laboratory, consumers remain unaware of the true quality of the milk they buy, and producers claim they cannot receive fair compensation based on the quality of their product.
Milk producers argue that those who produce higher-quality milk deserve better premiums, and that the launch of the National Reference Laboratory would support this principle. It would also benefit livestock farmers, who could use certified quality results to negotiate higher prices. However, without standardized and transparent testing, this system remains out of reach.
“Not all dairies pay based on milk quality. Some have their own laboratories, while others rely on services from external state labs like the one in Novi Sad to determine the price they pay producers,” explained Miloš Trajković, a veterinarian from the Association of Cattle Breeders, in an interview with Euronews Serbia. “But dairies with in-house labs can manipulate results without oversight. This has been confirmed time and time again in practice.”
Many producers stress the need for reliable sampling and transparent reporting. Sanja Radulović, a milk producer from the village of Milićevci near Čačak, raised concerns about the contents of packaged milk. “People have no idea what they’re drinking. In that tetrapack labeled as milk with 2.8% fat, there might not even be real milk. At the very least, the packaging should state what percentage is milk, what percentage is milk powder, how much is water. That way, people can pay according to what they can afford. But our milk never has less than 4% fat—I guarantee that. They mix it into some concoction and still call it milk,” she said, emphasizing that all producers have an interest in maintaining quality.
In a recent meeting with representatives of cattle breeders, the Minister of Agriculture, Dragan Glamočić, announced plans to launch the National Reference Laboratory and increase regulatory oversight. “We’ve decided to open an independent lab next year. The key idea is for the state to measure milk quality directly, so payment is based on quality, not on what dairies report,” said Glamočić on Euronews Serbia. “Our inspection services will visit all dairies, monitor milk intake and output, and check whether additives like palm oil or milk powder were used. All findings will be made public—that’s the best way to ensure transparency and fairness.”
According to the Republic Institute of Statistics, annual milk production in Serbia is just under 1.4 billion liters. However, milk consumption is steadily declining, currently ranging between 180 and 200 liters per person annually, depending on the year. This trend underscores the urgency of restoring trust in milk quality through independent and transparent oversight.
