Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic said today that the fear of a shortage of essential food products is entirely unfounded as this year's yield of basic agricultural products in Serbia has been satisfactory.

Milosavljevic told Tanjug news agency that milk is currently the only product lacking in the market, noting that the shortage primarily refers to UHT milk.

He recalled that less than two weeks ago the government adopted a decree according to which producers must process at least 40% of raw milk into pasteurised and sterilised milk every day.

At the government session on 21 October a proposal was put forward suggesting several possibilities for solving the milk shortage issue for the next two months through import, he recalled.

Milosavljevic added that the government is yet to speak out on the proposal, noting that it will depend on its decision whether any milk will be imported or not.

As for other essential food products, there are no problems or delays in supply, the Minister concluded.