Bosnia, Croatia Go to 'Milk War'

Bosnia’s State Veterinary Office ordered all imports of milk from Croatia to be halted at the border as of Wednesday morning, local media reported on Thursday.

“Milk war starts between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia,” read the title of Bosnia’s Pincom news web portal. Croatian media and officials were still mostly ignoring the dispute.

Bosnia’s move came as a counter-measure after Croatia a few days ago revoked the import permit for Bosnia’s milk-exporting company “Mlijekoprodukt” from the northwestern town of Kozarska Dubica, with Zagreb requesting additional laboratory certifications of the company’s products.

Bosnian government officias and representatives of milk producers said this move by the Croatian government was aimed at curbing expanding export of milk from Bosnia to Croatia, and was a violation of free-trade agreements which both Bosnia and Croatia have signed.