Montenegro’s Customs Administration stopped transit of 102,491.03 kg of beef in two cases at the Port of Bar, and found expired frozen meat in four containers there in September 2026. The cases involved different shipments, including meat from Brazil intended for the Kosovo market, and highlight customs checks on cargo moving through Montenegro.
The September discovery comprised 5,179 packages of frozen beef past its expiry date. Customs officers found that the original declarations and expiry dates had been altered. The shipment was referred to the Veterinary Inspection, the Police Directorate and the State Prosecutor’s Office for further action within their respective responsibilities.
The Customs Administration said it carried out 272 controls of meat consignments at Montenegro’s border crossings during 2025 and 2026. It did not specify how many shipments were stopped over that period or how many cases were referred to other bodies over suspected serious irregularities.
The customs checks are based on central and local risk analysis and the administration’s legal powers. The agency checks customs status, accompanying documents, declarations and compliance with customs rules, while the Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs Administration’s Veterinary Inspection is responsible for veterinary and health examinations and checking meat safety and quality.
Customs and veterinary responsibilities
Risk assessments consider the country of origin and dispatch, meat type, packaging and labelling, declared value, completeness and consistency of documents, transport route, shipper and importer details, and the results of earlier checks. Shipments can be selected for documentary or physical inspection based on a combination of those factors.
Customs officers compare the type and category of meat, quantity, package count, weight and value with declarations, invoices and transport documents. Common irregularities include missing veterinary documents, failure to meet import conditions and differences between the goods and their declared information.
If customs officers find irregularities in goods subject to veterinary controls, they suspend the customs procedure, temporarily hold the shipment and notify the Veterinary Inspection. Meat that does not meet veterinary requirements cannot be released into free circulation; the veterinary inspector decides whether to prohibit import and order the goods returned or destroyed.
At the Božaj border crossing, about 150 kg of meat was seized in separate cases of unlawful entry without required documents and a veterinary finding. Near Bijelo Polje, officers discovered 53.15 kg of meat in a passenger vehicle. The Customs Administration also said suspected false documents or declarations are checked, with other competent bodies involved when necessary; breaches of customs rules can lead to misdemeanour proceedings and fines.
