Sarajevo, 5 June 2025
On the occasion of marking 60 years since one of the largest mining disasters in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, when 128 miners lost their lives on 7 June 1965 in the Orasi pit of the Kakanj Brown Coal Mine, the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of BiH, in cooperation with the Engineering Chamber of the FBiH, organized a professional workshop on 5 June 2025 on the topic:
“Quality infrastructure, technical regulations, regulations, standards – SAFETY: Bitter experiences of the past as a warning that in the field of standardization, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment, a zero tolerance threshold must be maintained, in order to protect the health and lives of people.”
During the event, participants recalled the circumstances of the tragic accident, after which the authorities at the time urgently adopted technical regulations and standards, often stricter than those in Western Europe at the time, thereby laying the foundation for a safer mining sector.
Today, 60 years later, the quality infrastructure system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is fragmented and underdeveloped. Instead of supporting the economy, it often represents an obstacle, especially for exporters. Although basic legislation has been adopted, its implementation is limited, and in areas such as technical regulations and conformity assessment, progress is almost invisible.
Domestic companies face numerous challenges: from the lack of support for the development of safe production processes to difficult access to regional markets. A particular problem is the fact that only seven technical regulations from EU directives have been adopted to date, and that only up to 2012.
Key recommendations from the event:
- Adoption of a Strategy for the Development of Quality Infrastructure at the BiH level, as an umbrella document for directing reforms and using EU funds.
- Full implementation of the Law on Technical Requirements for Products and Conformity Assessment, with a focus on adopting EU directives.
- Signing of the ACAA agreement with the EU (Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products), for the metal and electrical industries.
- Determining the dynamics and responsibilities of institutions in the process of adopting technical regulations and EU directives.
- Defining strategic product groups for the BiH economy with the involvement of chambers and the scientific community.
- Strengthening conformity assessment bodies – through technical empowerment, accreditation, cooperation with foreign bodies and supervisory authorities.
Table: Main problems, consequences and proposed solutions
| Description of the problem | Consequence | Proposed solution |
| Lack of technical regulations transposing EU directives | Companies that certify products abroad are at a disadvantage compared to unregulated competition | Continue the process of adopting EU directives and harmonized standards |
| Lack of a centralized database of technical regulations | Low level of producer information and awareness of responsibility | Create a database and establish an Information Point at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH |
| Inconsistency of quality infrastructure between entities | Different business conditions in the entities | Adopt a strategy at the BiH level and strengthen the single economic area |
| Large number of required certificates | Additional costs for producers | Consolidate the issuance of certificates and simplify procedures |
| Lack of an institution for training personnel in the quality system | Companies bear high costs of training abroad | Organize training within BiH, involve the academic community |
| Outdated technical regulations in public procurement | Outdated products and lower quality | Adopt regulations aligned with EU standards and involve technical experts in tender preparation |
| Import of unsafe products due to the absence of regulations and CE requirements | The market is flooded with cheap and unsafe products | Adopt EU technical legislation and strengthen inspection supervision |
The Chamber of Economy of the Federation of BiH will continue to actively advocate the adoption of these recommendations at all relevant levels of government, with the aim of establishing a safe, competitive and European-aligned business environment.
