Chapter 12 refers to Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy.
Describing agricultural production as a pillar of the Croatian economy, the minister said agriculture managed to preserve jobs and strive for new markets in times of crisis.
He, however, called for a change of the current structure of the production adding that it was necessary to increase the production of some labour-intensive fruits and vegetables.
Agriculture Ministry State Secretary Stjepan Mikolcic outlined future activities related to enhancement of food safety, such as plans to build border veterinary and phytosanitary inspection stations at Zagreb Airport, in the seaports of Rijeka and Ploce as well as at border crossings of Bajakovo, Stara Gradiska, Metkovic and Karasovici with the financial assistance from the EU funds.
Addressing the press after the opening of the conference, Minister Cobankovic said the share of food and beverages consumption in total tourism revenues was about 10 percent, which meant that it brought about EUR 700 million annually.
The conference was organised by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.