• Serbia aligns beef, lamb export rules with Tunisia

• Tunisia frozen beef imports doubled since 2020

• Seven countries supplied Tunisian market in 2024

Serbia’s Ministry of Agriculture announced on Feb. 21 that it has aligned veterinary certification requirements for the export of beef and lamb to Tunisia. The announcement marks the regulatory opening of the Tunisian market to these two categories of red meat from the European country.

“The harmonization of certificates is the result of close cooperation between the competent authorities of both countries and confirms that Serbia's veterinary control system meets high standards of food safety, animal health and traceability,” the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

In Tunis, the approval allows for an expansion of the list of meat suppliers on the international market, particularly as beef imports have grown steadily in recent years. Data from the Trade Map platform show that the North African country doubled its frozen beef imports, which rose from 816 tonnes in 2020 to 1,618 tonnes in 2024.

Meanwhile, spending on these imports more than tripled over the same period, increasing from $3.2 million to $10.7 million. In 2024, seven countries supplied frozen beef to the Tunisian market: Brazil, Paraguay, India, Argentina, Australia, Poland and Ireland.

At the same time, Tunisia’s stated aim of expanding its supplier base suggests an effort to secure red meat supplies. These products are among the most widely consumed during the month of Ramadan, which is expected to run from Feb. 19 to March 19.

Stéphanas Assocle