Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 8/5/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** SI5002

SI5002

**Slovenia**

**Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards**

**Country Report**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Sarah Hanson

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Andreja Misir

**Report Highlights:**

On May 1, 2004, Slovenia has become a member of the European Union (EU),
and all EU food rules, regulations, and laws apply. This report provides
information on the laws and regulations for food, food import rules, and
contact information in Slovenia. All sections of this annual report were
updated in August 2005.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Vienna \[AU1\]

\[SI\]

Disclaimer: This report has been prepared by the Office of Agricultural
Affairs of the USDA/FAS (in Vienna, Austria) for U.S. exporters of
domestic food and agricultural products. While every possible care has
been taken in the preparation of this report, information provided may
not be completely accurate either because policies have changed since
its preparation, or because clear and consistent information about these
policies was not available. It is highly recommended that U.S. exporters
verify the full set of import requirements with their foreign customers,
who are normally best equipped to research such matters with local
authorities, before any goods are shipped.

**NOTE:** **FINAL IMPORT APPROVAL OF ANY PRODUCT IS SUBJECT TO THE
IMPORTING COUNTRY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS AS INTERPRETED BY BORDER
OFFICIALS AT THE TIME OF PRODUCT ENTRY.**

I. FOOD LAWS DEALING WITH IMPORTS

The Slovenian food legislation consists of the following types of laws:

-   Act Regulating the Sanitary Suitability of Foodstuff, Products and
    Materials Coming into Contact with Foodstuffs (Official Gazette UL
    52/2000, UL 42/2002, UL 47/2004)

-   Wine Law (Official Gazette UL 70/1997, UL 16/2001)

-   Act on Marine Fishing (Official Gazette UL 58/2002)

-   Veterinary Practice Act (Official Gazette UL 33/2001)

-   Act on Agriculture (Official Gazette UL 54/2000)

-   Act on Standardization (Official Gazette UL 1/1995)

These laws are valid both for domestic and imported products.

Scope of laws and regulations:

1.  Act Regulating the Sanitary Suitability of Foodstuff, Products and
    Materials Coming into Contact with Foodstuffs and derived
    regulation.

This Act defines conditions that foodstuff, foodstuff additives,
products and materials coming into contact with foodstuffs must fulfill
to meet health standards. This law regulates the oversight over
production and trade with foodstuff, foodstuff additives, products and
materials coming into contact with foodstuffs with the intention to
protect human health, consumer interest, and uninterrupted trade in the
Slovenian market, as well as uninterrupted foreign trade. It also
regulates the monitoring of adequate food safety for foodstuffs,
foodstuff additives, products and materials coming into contact with
foodstuffs, as well as interdisciplinary and international co-operation
in fields of food safety issues and food policy.

Derived regulations include:

\-- Regulation on Infant Formula (Official Gazette UL 46/2002, UL
117/2002, UL 42/2003, UL 20/2004, UL 32/2004)

\-- Regulation on Foodstuff for Special Health Use (Official Gazette UL
46/2002)

\-- Regulation on Foodstuff for Special Diets (Official Gazette UL
46/2002, UL 117/2002, UL 42/2003, UL 41/2004)

\-- Regulation on Conditions that Foodstuff Without Gluten Must Fulfill
(Official Gazette UL 46/2002)

\-- Regulation on Cereal Grits and Foodstuff for Infants and Small
Children (Official Gazette UL 48/2002, UL 117/2002, UL 42/2003, UL
20/2004)

\-- Regulation on Foodstuff Hygiene (Official Gazette UL 60/2002, UL
104/2003, UL 11/2004, UL 51/2004)

\-- Regulation on Nutritional Labeling (Official Gazette Ul 60/2002, UL
117/2002, UL 42/2003, UL 121/2004)

\-- Regulation on Frozen Foodstuff Safety (Official Gazette RS 63/2002,
117/2002)

\-- Regulation on Official Oversight of Frozen Foodstuff Temperatures
(Official Gazette RS 63/2002, 117/2002)

\-- Regulation on Foodstuff Contaminants (Official Gazette UL 69/2003,
UL 20/2004) is not valid any more except for article 9

\-- Regulation on Pesticide Residues on Foodstuff (Official Gazette UL
84/2004)

\-- Regulation on Official Health Oversight on Foodstuff (Official
Gazette UL 73/2003, UL 45/2004, UL 97/2004)

\-- Regulation on Foodstuff, Products and Materials Coming into Contact
with Foodstuffs (Official Gazette UL 75/2003, UL 44/2004) is not valid
any more except article 31

\-- Regulation on Materials and Products Intended to be in Contact With
Foodstuff (Official Gazette UL 36/2005)

\-- Regulation on General Labeling of Packaged Foodstuff (Official
Gazette UL 50/2004, UL 58/2004, UL 43/2005, UL 64/2005)

\-- Regulation on General Labeling of Foodstuff that is not Packaged
(Official Gazette UL 28/2004, UL 10/2005, UL 57/2005)

\-- Regulation on Additives for Foodstuff (Official Gazette UL 43/2004,
UL 8/2005)

\-- Regulation on Measurements of Purity for Additives (Official Gazette
UL 45/2004, UL 4/2005)

\-- Regulation on Aromas (Official Gazette UL 77/2001, UL 31/2004)

\--Regulation on Extraction Dissolvent (Official Gazette UL 7/2001, UL
45/2004)

\-- Regulation on Foodstuff Irradiated with ionizing Radiation (UL
71/2002, UL 86/2003, UL 51/2004)

\-- Regulation on Drinking Water (Official Gazette UL 19/2004, UL
35/2004)

\-- Regulation on Mineral, Spring and Table Water (Official Gazette UL
50/2004)

\-- Regulation on Eruka Acid (Official Gazette UL 20/2004, UL 61/2004)

\-- Regulation on Fat Based Products Used as Spreads (Official Gazette
UL 71/2000, UL 78/2003)

\-- Regulation on Casein and Caseinats (Official Gazette UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Oil Seeds Oil (Official Gazette UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Special Conditions for Import of Brazilian Nuts in
Shell from Brazil (Official Gazette UL 20/2004)

\-- Regulation on Special Conditions for Import from Defined Countries
of Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Figs and Products Produced from Mentioned Nuts
and Fruits (Official Gazette UL 131/2003, UL 20/2004)

\-- Regulation on Food Supplements (Official gazette UL 82/2003, UL
44/2004)

\-- Regulation on Foodstuff Intended for Use in Energy Limited Diets for
Losing Weight (Official Gazette UL 90/2000, UL 142/2004, UL 24/2005)

\-- Regulation on Preservatives for Surface Processing of Citruses
(Official Gazette UL 2/2004)

\-- Regulation on Content of Histamines in Defined Fish Species
(Official Gazette UL 42/2003)

\-- ...

2.  Wine Law and derived regulation.

This Law regulates geographic origin protection specifics of grapes,
wine and other products derived from grape and wine; production of wine
grapes; production of must and wine; production of other products from
wine and secondary products of grapes and wine; and placing grapes,
must, wine and other products from grapes and wine on the market.

Derived regulations include:

\-- Regulation on Geographic Origin Register for Wine and Other Products
from Grapes and

Wine (Official Gazette UL 68/2002, UL 42/2003)

\-- Regulation on Labeling and Packing of Wine, Must and Other Grape and
Wine Products (Official Gazette UL 40/2001, UL 52/2003, UL 44/2005)

\-- \...

3.  Act on Marine Fishing and derived regulations

This Law defines the aims and directives for marine fishing and
regulates management with fish sources, access to fish sources, public
service and financing in marine fishing. It also regulates management of
fish and fish products trade and organizations for fishing in general,
which are all applicable for international fish and fish products caught
in foreign waters.

Derived regulations include;

\-- Regulation on Quality of Fish and Fish Products in Trade (Official
Gazette UL 94/2002, UL 42/2003)\\

\-- Regulation On Fish And Products Derived From Them (Official Gazette
UL 94/2002, UL 42/2003)

\-- ...

4.  Veterinary Practice Act and derived regulations

This Act defines contagious animal diseases, veterinary prophylaxis, the
minimum of animal health, charges and expenditures in the field of
animal health, the veterinary activities and implementation thereof,
public authorizations of the Veterinary Chamber, licensing, professional
training in veterinary medicine, registers, databases and information
technology system, the competence of governmental departments, the
inspection and control, and the rights and obligations of companies and
their employees under this act.

Derived Regulation:

\-- Regulation on Labeling Health Suitability of Foodstuff of Animal
Origin (Official Gazette UL 18/2004)

\-- \...

5.  Act on Agriculture and derived regulations

This Act defines the aims of agricultural policy, layout of agricultural
and rural development, measures in agricultural policy, quality and
labeling of agricultural products respectively foodstuff, trade with
agricultural products (respectively foodstuffs), public services, data
bases and information on agriculture, proceedings and government bodies
in charge of law implementation, researches, education and development
projects, as well as inspection oversight.

Derived regulations include:

\-- Regulation on Quality of Poultry Meat (Official Gazette UL 56/2001,
UL 94/2002, UL 21/2004, UL 10/2005)

\-- Regulation on Poultry Meat Products (official Gazette UL 59/2002, UL
78/2003)

\-- Regulation on Using the Term Milk and Using Names for Milk Products
(Official Gazette UL 11/2001)

\-- Regulation on Cow's Milk Quality (Official Gazette UL 62/2003)

\-- Regulation on Kefir Quality (Official Gazette UL 66/2003, UL
126/2003)

\-- Regulation on Dehydrated Canned Milk (Official Gazette UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Casein and Caseinats (Official Gazette UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Oil Seeds Oil (Official Gazette UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Beer Quality (Official Gazette UL 3/2003)

\-- Regulation on Tea Quality (Official Gazette UL 48/2003, UL 87/2004)

\-- Regulation on Quality of Mustard (Official Gazette UL 12/2003)

\-- Regulation on Egg Quality (Official Gazette UL 22/2004, UL 62/2004)

\-- Regulation on Quality of Cocoa and Chocolate Products (Official
Gazette UL 72/2003, UL 43/2005, UL 58/2005)

\-- Regulation on Coffee and Chicory Extracts Quality (Official Gazette
UL 2/2004)

\-- Regulation on Quality of Meat Products (Official Gazette UL 34/2004,
UL 62/2004, UL 50/2005)

\-- Regulation on Grading and Marking of Beef Carcasses on Slaughter
Line (Official Gazette UL 103/2001, UL 34/2002, UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Beef Labeling (Official Gazette UL 57/2005)

\-- Regulation on Grading and Marking of Carcasses from Sheep and Lamb
on Slaughter Line (Official Gazette UL 28/2001)

\-- Regulation on Categorization, Marking of Meatiness and Selection of
Slaughtered Pig Carcasses (Official gazette UL 22/2004, UL 33/2004, UL
104/2004, UL 33/2004, UL 10/2005)

\-- Regulation on Quality of Baking Soda, Pudding Powder, and Vanilla
Sugar (Official Gazette UL 12/2003)

\-- Regulation on Quality of Baking Products (Official Gazette UL
26/2003, UL 28/2004)

\-- Regulation on Quality of Marmalades, Jellies, Jams and Sweet
Chestnut Mush (Official Gazette UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Honey (Official Gazette UL 31/2004, UL 89/2004)

\-- Regulation on Juice Quality and defined Alike Products (Official
Gazette UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Distilled Drinks (Official Gazette UL 50/2003, UL
91/2003)

\-- Regulation on Quality of Grain Products (Official Gazette UL
26/2003, UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Spices (Official Gazette UL 63/2002)

\-- Regulation on Vinegar and Diluted Acetic Acid Quality (Official
Gazette UL 2/2004)

\-- Regulation on Salt Quality (Official Gazette UL 70/2003)

\-- Regulation on Sugars (Official Gazette UL 34/2004)

\-- Regulation on Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water, Table Water
(Official Gazette UL 50/2004)

\-- Regulation on Quality of Vegetable Oil, Vegetable Fats and
Mayonnaise (Official Gazette UL 122/2003, UL 16/2005)

\-- Regulation on Aromas (Official Gazette UL 77/2001, 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Additives for Foodstuff (Official Gazette UL 43/2004,
UL 8/2005)

\-- Regulation on Organization of Trade with Wine Grapes, Must and Wine

\-- Regulation on Labeling of Packaged Foodstuff (Official Gazette UL
50/2004, UL 58/2004, UL 43/2005, UL 64/2005)

\-- Regulation on Foodstuff that isn't Packaged (Official Gazette UL
28/2004, UL 10/2005, UL 57/2005)

\-- Regulation on Contents of Documents on Congruity of Agricultural
Products that is Foodstuff (Official Gazette UL 31/2004)

\-- Regulation on Establishing Congruity of Agricultural Products that
is Foodstuff (official Gazette UL 45/2004)

\-- \-- Regulation on Fat Based Products Used as Spreads (Official
Gazette UL 71/2000, UL 78/2003)

6.  Act on Standardization and derived regulations

\-- Regulation on Meat Quality of Slaughtered Animals and Wiled Animals
(Official Gazette UL 31/1996, UL 53/1996, UL 52/1998, UL 85/1998, UL
10/2005)

II\. LABELING REQUIREMENTS

A.  General requirements

\-- Regulation on General Labeling of Packaged Foodstuff (Official
Gazette UL 50/2004, UL 58/2004, UL 43/2005, UL 64/2005)

\-- Regulation on General Labeling of Foodstuff that isn't Packaged
(Official Gazette UL 28/2004, UL 10/2005, UL 57/2005)

According to the Regulation on General Labeling the minimum data on the
label is as follows:

-   name under which foodstuff is sold

-   list of compounds and for some quantity of compounds

-   net weight

-   expiry date

-   foodstuff lot

-   storing conditions

-   name, title and address from producer, packing company or selling
    company (that must have address in the E.U.)

-   foodstuff origin, if omission of that information could mislead
    consumer on real origin of the foodstuff

-   instructions on how to use foodstuff, if the foodstuff could not be
    properly used without them

-   content of alcohol in alcoholic beverages that contain more than
    1.2% vol.

[]{.mark}

Labeling should not be ambiguous or misleading for the consumer. For
details on specific data requested on a label see Regulation mentioned
above.

The label on a product that is not packed must include: name under which
foodstuff is sold, name or business name of the producer or brand name,
product origin if omission of that information would mislead the
consumer about product origin, expiry date for prepared food that is
microbiologically easily spoiled and other data if other specific
regulation demands it.

[]{.mark}

All labels must be in Slovenian language

[]{.mark}

We are not aware of products sold with U.S. standard labeling.

[]{.mark}

4\. Stick-on labels, meeting local requirements, can be affixed in
addition to the U.S. standard label.

[]{.mark}

There are special shelf-life and country of origin requirements (see
paragraph 1, minimum data on labels).

B. Nutritional Labeling Requirements

\-- Regulation on Nutritional Labeling (Official Gazette Ul 60/2002, UL
117/2002, UL 42/2003, UL 121/2004)

According to the Regulation on Nutritional Labeling, nutritional
labeling is mandatory only if the producer is represented or markets
his/her foodstuffs as having special nutritional characteristics.

If a foodstuff has nutritional label data, the information should be in
this order:

Group 1

(a) energy value

(b) amounts of: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats

Group 2

(a) energy value

(b) amounts of: proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, fats, saturated fat
    acids, fibers and natrium

Permitted nutrient content claims are the ones that deal with energy
value of foodstuff and substances in foodstuff.

[]{.mark}

Conditions for descriptive labeling of nutritional content in foodstuff
are listed in appendix of Regulation on Nutritional Labeling. This list
also determines when to use relative descriptions (and what they mean
for nutritional content) like "low", "without", "very low"\...

The Act Regulating the Sanitary Suitability of Foodstuff, Products and
Materials Coming into Contact with Foodstuffs forbids health claims on
food products. Only the Minister for Health can allow some foodstuff to
have health claims and specify how they should be marked.

[]{.mark}

(See appendix 1 and 2 for contact information regarding the above).

III\. PACKAGING AND CONTAINER REGULATIONS

\-- The Law on Measures (Official Gazette UL 22/2000, UL 2004)

\-- Regulation on Handling of Packing and Packing to be Disposed
(Official Gazette RS 104/2000) -- This Regulation deals with handling in
production, trade and usage; handling in package waste collection,
disposal and recycling. This Regulation summarizes contents of EU
directive on packaging (94/62/EC) and various provisions on labeling and
identification system for packaging and standards that prescribe
conditions for quality of packaging

Producers, importers and packagers must provide for the regular disposal
of packaging they put on the market at their own cost (that which is
communal waste and that which is not communal waste).

Regulation on Handling of Packing and Packing to be Disposed in appendix
1 deals with conditions for production and used materials, as well as
packaging adequacy for second usage and recycling.

IV\. FOOD ADDITIVE REGULATIONS

\-- Act Regulating the Sanitary Suitability of Foodstuff, Products and
Materials Coming into Contact with Foodstuffs (Official Gazette UL
52/2000, UL 42/2002, UL 47/2004)

\-- Regulation on Additives for Foodstuff (Official Gazette UL 43/2004,
UL 8/2005)

\-- Regulation on Measurements of Purity for Additives (Official Gazette
UL 45/2004, UL 4/2005))

Regulatory authorities developed an additive lists that can be retrieved
at www.gzs.si (English version is still not available).

V. PESTICIDE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS

\-- Regulation on Pesticide Residues on Foodstuff (Official Gazette UL
84/2004)

\--Act on Phyto - pharmaceuticals (Official Gazette UL 11/2001, UL
2/2004, UL 37/2004)

Pesticides must be registered at the office for phytosanitary control
[http://www.furs.si](http://www.furs.si/)

VI\. OTHER REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Food products do not have to be registered for import in Slovenia, but
they have to

comply with food‑quality standards prescribed by Slovenian laws and
regulations.

All shipments that contain food will go through sanitary inspection,
that is, they will be

randomly tested for quality and health standards.

Product samples shipped via express mail and food for fairs are treated
like any other

import, so they will be tested for quality and health standards.

At the retail and wholesale level, food storage and foods are inspected
on a basis of plan

for that year or if an event requires it.

Standard import documents are not prescribed, but the sanitary inspector
has the right to ask for additional information from producer for
certificates from competent institutions of country of export, for
example, producers specification, certificate of origin, certificate of
compliance with certain regulation, etc.

VII\. OTHER SPECIFIC STANDARDS

Only metric weights and measures are accepted

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) and food produced from them is
regulated by the following: Law on Ratification of Cartagena Protocol
(Official Gazette UL 89/2002), Law on Dealing with Genetically Modified
Organisms (Official Gazette UL 67/2002, UL 73/2004, UL 23/2005),
Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 22 September 2003 concerning the traceability and labeling of
genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed
products produced from genetically modified organisms, and amending
Directive 2001/18/EC, Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically
modified food and feed (Text with EEA reference)

Wine is regulated by: Wine Law (Official Gazette UL 70/1997, 16/2001),
Regulation on Labeling and Packing of Wine, Must and Other Grape and
Wine Products (Official Gazette UL 40/2001, 52/2003, 44/2005)...

VIII\. COPYRIGHT AND/OR TRADE MARK LAWS

Basic acts regulating this field follow the [Industrial Property
Act](http://www.uil-sipo.si/Laws/Zil_1e.pdf), [Copyright and Related
Rights Act](http://www.uil-sipo.si/Laws/ZASP_EN.pdf), the [Act
Regulating Customs Measures Relating to Infringements of Intellectual
Property Rights](http://www.uil-sipo.si/Zakoni/Ukrepi_a.pdf) and several
international treaties to which Slovenia is bound.

Companies interested in the registration of trademarks or brand names
have to apply at:

[]{.mark}

Address: Slovenian Intellectual Property Office

Kotnikova 6

SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Phone: +386 1 478 31 54

Fax: +386 1 478 31 10

E-mail: <info@uil-sipo.si>

Webmaster: <j.kukec@uil-sipo.si>

Opening hours for public: Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 14.00

IX\. IMPORT PROCEDURES

All required information could be obtained at:

**Address:** The Customs Administration of the Republic of Slovenia\
Šmartinska 55, 1523 Ljubljana, Slovenia

**Tel.:** +386 1 478 38 00

**Fax:** +386 1 478 39 00

**E-mail:** <carina@gov.si>

**WWW:** <http://carina.gov.si/>

APPENDIX I. GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY CONTACTS

The responsible authority for laws and regulations on sanitary
suitability of foodstuff, products and materials coming into contact
with foodstuffs; wine; marine fishing; veterinary practice; agriculture
in general is:

Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Food

Dunajska 56, 58

1000 Ljubljana

tel. 00386 1 478 9000

fax. 00386 1 478 9021

[www.mkgp.gov.si](http://www.mkgp.gov.si/)

The responsible authority for laws and regulations on some agricultural
issues and sanitary suitability of foodstuff, products and materials
coming into contact with foodstuffs is:

Ministry of Health

Stefanova ulica 5

1000 Ljubljana

tel. 00386 1 478 6019

fax. 00386 1 478 6058

[www.gov.si/mz](http://www.gov.si/mz)

The responsible authority over trade issues is:

Ministry of Economy

Kotnikova 5

1000 Ljubljana

tel. 00386 1 478 3311

fax 00386 1 433 1031

[www.mg-rs.si](http://www.mg-rs.si/)

The responsible authority over biotechnology issues and waste disposal
is:

Ministry for Environment Spatial Planning and Energy

Dunajska c. 48

1000 Ljubljana

tel. 00386 1 478 7400

[www.sigov.si/mop](http://www.sigov.si/mop)/

The responsible authority over measurements and standards is:

Slovenian Institute of Quality and Metrology

Tržaška c. 2

SI-1000 Ljubljana

 

Tel: (01) 4778 100

Faks: (01) 4778 444

[info@siq.si](javascript:linkTo_UnCryptMailto('ocknvq<kphqBuks0uk');)

ww.siq.si

APPENDIX II. OTHER IMPORT SPECIALIST CONTACTS

Information source for reports on Slovenian and other countries is found
at:

http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp

EMBASSY (FAS/USDA) POINT OF CONTACT

For questions regarding other issues not covered in this report, please
contact:

Andreja Misir

Agricultural Specialist

American Embassy, Zagreb

# USDA/FAS

Tel. 00385 1 661 2467

Fax. 00385 1 665 8950

Mob. 00385 91 455 2365