960 Uncured Hams Without Documentation Discovered Near Drniš
The State Inspectorate found nearly 10 tons of meat products in an illegal facility in the Radonić hamlet. All products will be destroyed due to the inability to establish traceability.
The State Inspectorate found nearly 10 tons of meat products in an illegal facility in the Radonić hamlet. All products will be destroyed due to the inability to establish traceability.
A day after the State Inspectorate discovered an illegal ham production facility in the Radonić hamlet near Drniš, new details revealing the scale of the case were published on Saturday. Inspectors found 960 hams and other meat products weighing a total of 9,800 kilograms in the unregistered facility, and the owner, a 74-year-old man, was under electronic surveillance at the time of the inspection.
The inspection followed reports from citizens. Inspectors determined on the spot that the facility was not registered and lacked the necessary permits from the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as any documentation regarding the origin of the products. Gordan Jerbić, head of the Veterinary and Food Safety Inspection Sector at the State Inspectorate, provided specific figures.
"During the inspection, a large quantity of products of animal origin was found for which the facility has no valid traceability documentation. I can say that meat products weighing 9,800 kilograms were found. Due to the lack of traceability and documentation, the veterinary inspection ordered their destruction through an authorized concessionaire," Jerbić said.
In addition to the hams themselves, additional quantities of already prepared product ready for distribution were found in the facility. "I wouldn't talk about the value now. I said that these are mostly hams, 960 of them, ham halves, and an unspecified quantity of already prepared product with some labels-sliced ham and pancetta that were ready for distribution," Jerbić added, confirming that the products were intended for catering establishments.
According to police information, the owner of the illegal facility is a 74-year-old man. When inspectors arrived at the location, they also called police officers. An interesting detail is that the owner was wearing an ankle bracelet at the time, meaning he was under electronic surveillance.
The Šibenik-Knin Police Department conducted an investigation but found no grounds for further action. "The investigation did not establish elements of a misdemeanor or a criminal offense," the police stated. A report on all established facts will be submitted to the competent state attorney's office in Šibenik.
Inspectors determined that the hams were sourced from multiple places, partly in Croatia and partly abroad. Due to the complete lack of documentation and the inability to establish traceability, the entire quantity of 9,800 kilograms will be destroyed through an authorized concessionaire.
This case is not isolated. The State Inspectorate emphasizes that the veterinary inspection conducts regular checks, and during this tourist season alone, more than 10,000 kilograms of products of animal origin without the necessary labels have been seized. The seizure includes a wide range of products, from fresh meat to dried meat delicacies such as ham.
