The spring water “Rugove” is regularly tested in the laboratories of the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo (IKSHPK), and no harmful bacteria have ever been detected, says Ergyl Binçe, Director of the Water and Food Analysis Laboratories at the institute.
His statement was obtained by Radio Free Europe a day after the Food and Veterinary Agency of North Macedonia announced that it is inspecting all shipments of spring water from Kosovo following previous analyses that reportedly detected coliform bacteria in a water sample.
Several media outlets in North Macedonia published the agency’s decision, stating that the affected samples belong to “Rugove” water.
The Kosovar company confirmed to Radio Free Europe that its product meets quality standards and that sales in North Macedonia are continuing without interruption.
The Food and Veterinary Agency of Kosovo did not respond to inquiries from Radio Free Europe regarding the concerns raised by its counterpart agency in North Macedonia. Similarly, the Sanitary Inspectorate, which operates under the Ministry of Health and is responsible for certifying the quality of bottled water in Kosovo, has not issued a response.
Binçe confirmed that the Rugove water company regularly conducts analyses at IKSHPK, including for stock that is exported abroad.
He believes that the claims made by North Macedonian authorities regarding the “presence of coliform bacteria” in bottled “Rugove” water are unfounded.
“We have never found this bacteria, not only in ‘Rugove’ water but in any of the bottled water products from other Kosovar companies,” Binçe stated.
He also emphasized the importance of the Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency taking a more active role, including sending independent inspectors to North Macedonia to verify the source of the issue directly.