STUDY VISIT TO MARKET INSPECTORATE OF REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA, OCTOBER 7 th – 9 th 2008



TAIEX organized a three-day study visit to Market Inspectorate of Republic of Slovenia (October 7 th – 9 th 2008) . The subject of the study was: “ Experiences and practice of market surveillance organization within EU member states”. The study visit was organised for the representatives from: Market Surveillance Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska Inspectorate, Inspectorate of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brcko District Inspectorate.

In accordance with the schedule of the study visit, we were acquainted with the organisation and working methods of Market Inspectorate of Republic of Slovenia: organizational chart, areas of work and organisation of the units within the Inspectorate, territorial organisation and coordination, laws and by-laws (whose implementation is monitored by Market Inspectorate), surveillance activities planning, as well as reporting the surveillance results.

The attention was in particular drawn to the organisation and working methods of the Sector for product conformity and safety surveillance , including: general criteria for market surveillance activities planning, methods of surveillance, criteria for conformity assessment, implementation of surveillance, pronouncement of measures, notifying of taken measures, taking samples, criteria for samples testing, selecting the testing laboratories, test results analysis, as well as preparation of monthly and annual surveillance plans and operating instructions for inspectors. Within the domain of this sector, specialized presentations of Market Inspectorate's activities in the area of electrical appliances safety – LVD and sampling of products within the scope of LVD were held.

Cooperation between the customs authorities and Market Inspectorate regarding the implementation of Regulation 339/93 was also separately presented, including a retrospective view of primarily established cooperation, customs service and market inspectorate employees training, as well as the improvement of the cooperation and current working methods.

Also, the organization and working methods of the Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products (RAPEX) was presented, since Market Inspectorate is the RAPEX contact point in Slovenia.

Slovenian eminent experts for particular domains: Ms. Andrejka Grlic - Chief Market Inspector, Mr. Novak Janez – Head of Technical Surveillance Sector, Ms. Andreja Belavic Benedik - LVD Senior Adviser/Inspector and Mr. Luka Rus – Slovenian RAPEX contact person acquainted us with the practice and operation of Market Inspectorate.

On the third day, we paid a visit to Slovenian Institute for Quality and Metrology, which is a Notified Body for nine EU Directives (LVD, EMC , MD , ATEX, PPE…). Apart from getting acquainted with the practice and cooperation between testing laboratories and Market Inspectorate, we also paid a visit to EMC and LVD testing laboratories.

Presenting experiences and practice of market surveillance organization in Slovenia , as well as our hosts' competence to answer all the questions and resolve the dilemmas we had, was extremely useful to all the participants of the study visit, and will be useful for establishing market surveillance system in Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the EU practice.