MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND WATER MANAGEMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
AND THE MINISTRY OF CLIMATE CHANGE &ENVIRONMENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ON VETERINARY FIELD COOPERATION

("Off. Herald of RS - Treaties", No. 5/2019)

Preamble

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Climate Change &Environment of the United Arab Emirates (hereinafter referred to as the Parties"), within the framework of mutual desire to facilitate the bilateral trade of live animals, animal products and food of animal origin and, at the same time to prevent the introduction of transmissible animal diseases, unsafe products and food of animal origin, as well as to develop the cooperation in the veterinary field and food safety, have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The previous preamble is an integral part of this Memorandum of Understanding that is read and interpreted with it.

Article 2

1. The import and transit of live animals, animal products and food of animal origin, (hereinafter referred to as: shipment) can be accomplished only if the obligatory veterinary-sanitary conditions have been complied with and if previous approval of the competent authority of the importing country, and of the country through the territory of which the shipment will be in transit has been obtained.

2. The competent authorities of the Parties shall exchange the models of the veterinary-health certificates (hereinafter referred to as: certificates"), which have to accompany the shipments to the territories of the States Parties, and shall keep each other informed of their modifications and additions.

3. The veterinary health certificates have to be printed at least in the Serbian, Arabic and English languages.

Article 3

The competent authorities of the Parties shall:

1. inform each other of veterinary-sanitary conditions for import and transit of shipments;

2. inform each other in written or electronical form, within 24 hours, of an outbreak of transmissible animal disease of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) as well as of the disease course, and in case of the Foot and Mouth Disease, indicate the type of virus, source of agent, the character of the disease and measures taken for prevention and eradication of the disease.

Article 4

In order to develop the cooperation in the veterinary field and food safety the competent authorities of the Parties shall:

1. exchange of experiences, information about regulations, best practices and modern technologies regarding the veterinary field and other professional publications enacted by both parties;

2. promote cooperation among scientific institutions studying and researching animal health and veterinary public health, as well as cooperation among the diagnostic and analytical laboratories;

3. offer mutual help in production and purchase of the means for disease prevention and medical treatment of animals;

4. exchange, in case of need, the strains of the animal pathogen for experimental and diagnostic purposes, as well as the diagnostic means;

5. promote cooperation between the Parties and exchange veterinary experts in order to get acquainted with the organization and activities of the veterinary service, the status of export and animal health information of the other State Party;

6. hold specialized training courses on livestock animal health and food safety;

7. agree on any other area of cooperation upon later;

8. make the effort to organize annual expert meetings on reciprocal bases.

Article 5

If at the point of entry or at the place of destination it is established that the shipment does not comply with the veterinary-sanitary conditions stated in the certificate, the competent authority of the Party on which State territory inadequacy is detected shall immediately inform the competent authority of the other Party and take measures in accordance with its internal regulations.

Article 6

1. If a transmissible animal disease is diagnosed on the State territory of one Party, the competent authority of the other Party is entitled to limit or ban import and transit of shipments of animals of the species susceptible to that disease, coming from the territory in which such a disease has an outbreak or from the whole State Party.

Article 7

To achieve the objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding the Parties will:

1 - Strive to establish a Joint Committee, which will have regular meetings at least once a year or whenever it is needed. Committee Report on the achievements, set priorities and develop action plans for the targeted projects.

2 - Determine a focal point for exchanging information.

Article 8

The title to, and intellectual property rights in, or in relation to, any material supplied by one Party to the other Party pursuant to this Memorandum of Understanding shall remain with the Party supplying the material and such title and rights shall be respected and protected by the Party receiving the material at all times, notwithstanding the termination of this Memorandum of Understanding.

Article 9

All the activities within the framework of this Memorandum of Understanding will be carried out in accordance with the domestic legislation of the States Parties, without detriment to the commitments or legal obligations arising from their bilateral and multilateral agreements.

Article 10

Disputes arising from the application of the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be settled amicably.

Article 11

Each Party will incur all expenses of its participation in the activities during the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding unless otherwise agreed.

Article 12

This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended and/or modified by mutual consent of the Parties, in written. The amendments/modifications shall enter into force in accordance with Article 14 of this Memorandum of Understanding.

Article 13

This Memorandum of Understanding shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Parties resulting from other international agreements to which they are parties.

Article 14

1. This Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force on the date of the receipt of the last written notification by which the Parties notify each other, through diplomatic channels, of the completion of their internal legal procedures required for the entry into force of this Memorandum of Understanding.

2. This Memorandum of Understanding shall remain in force for period of five (5) years. Its validity shall be extended automatically for successive periods of one (1) year unless either of the Parties submits a written notice through diplomatic channels of its intention to terminate it at least six (6) months before its expiration date.

3. The termination of this Memorandum of Understanding will not affect the programs and projects under implementation or agreements signed in accordance with the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding.

Done in Belgrade on 9th of April 2019. in two original copies in the Serbian, Arabic and English languages, all of texts being equally authentic. In case of divergences of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water Management
of the Republic of Serbia

 

On behalf of the Ministry
of Climate Change & Environment
of the United Arab Emirates