The Intergovernmental Committee for the Preservation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at its 17th session held in Rabat, Morocco, inscribed sljivovica on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The inscription of "Social practices and knowledge related to the preparation and use of the traditional plum spirit - sljivovica" on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list significantly contributes to increasing its visibility at the national and local level, as well as to the international promotion of the "living heritage" of Serbia.
The Ministry of Culture nominated sljivovica in 2021, and the nomination was prepared by the Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade with the participation of heritage holders, local communities, institutions and non-governmental organizations, associations, and the proponents are the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade and the Cacak National Museum.
The elements on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage from Serbia are Slava – celebration of family saint patron’s day (2014), Kolo - a traditional folk dance (2017), Singing to the accompaniment of the Gusle (2018) and Zlakusa pottery making (2020).
From January to September 2022 the export of rakija increased around 30%. Serbia recorded highest exports to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Germany and USA.
The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, estimated that in 2022 the production of plums will be higher by 15% compared to last year, which would have a positive impact on the further growth of the production and export of fruit rakija, taking into account the fact that around 70% of the plums are processed into rakija.
*The information in this announcement does not represent legal advice and is provided for general informational purposes only.
02/12/2022
