I have already written extensively about the procedures for importing chemicals into Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, there are specific situations that require more detailed explanation.
Recently, I received a question from a foreign manufacturer regarding the obligations of their customers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The answer might be of interest to you as well.
First, you need to determine in which part of Bosnia and Herzegovina the importer is based.
If the importer is based in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is necessary to check whether the imported chemicals contain poisons. Here are the obligations you need to know about when it comes to poisons:
- Obtaining a decision approving the company to trade in poisons, and
- Obtaining a permit to import a specific chemical that contains poison.
If the importer is based in the Republika Srpska, then the importer has the following obligations:
- Must be registered in the Register of Manufacturers and Importers of Chemicals,
- Must appoint a chemical advisor, and
- Must register the chemicals they import in the Chemicals Inventory.
These obligations lie with the importer, however, the foreign manufacturer needs to provide the necessary documentation and information that the competent authorities may require.
What happens when a foreign manufacturer has multiple importers in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
In this case, each importer must carry out the prescribed procedures (obtaining an import permit for poisons or registering chemicals in the Chemicals Inventory).
Let's look at this with an example from an importer in the Republika Srpska.
One importer based in the Republika Srpska cannot freely import a chemical that another importer has registered in the Chemicals Inventory. They can, however, buy the chemical on the domestic market from the importer who registered it. If a company wants to be a direct importer of a particular chemical, it must register the chemical in the Chemicals Inventory for itself. Thus, each importer is responsible for the chemicals they place on the market. Also, the contact details of the specific importer must be listed on the label or packaging of the chemical.
A similar situation exists in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: each importer of poisons must obtain their own import permit.
Just two more important things to bare in mind when doing business in Bosnia:
- You must register both hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals in the Chemicals Inventory,
- An importer based in the Federation must meet the obligations of the Republika Srpska regulations if trading chemicals in that territory.
If you want to review the basic information about importing chemicals, I recommend looking at the series of texts on the topic "What You Need to Know Before Placing Chemicals on the Market of Bosnia and Herzegovina?" (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3).
If you have additional questions about importing chemicals, write to me at nina.pajovic@bens-consulting.eu.
Avtor izvirne slike Mohamed Hassan on Pixabay
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