On Wednesday, 7 October 2026, a working meeting was held at the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports with Prof. Vinko Batinić, Ph.D., representing the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology at the University of Mostar, and Anka Raič, an international facilitator for the 2003 UNESCO Convention. Representing the Ministry at the meeting were Emilija Pavićević, Assistant Minister in the Sector for Cultural-Historical Heritage and Scientific Research, and Berisa Mehović, an expert advisor from the same sector.

On behalf of the Initiative Committee, Prof. Vinko Batinić, Ph.D., submitted the documentation and nomination file—including supporting materials—for the inscription of a new element of intangible cultural heritage, “sir iz mijeha” (cheese aged in a skin sack/Herzegovinian skin-aged cheese), onto the Open Preliminary List of Intangible Cultural Heritage maintained by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Prof. Batinić emphasized the need to protect and preserve the traditional craft of producing “sir iz mijeha,” a cheese that is an essential part of every holiday table and represents a distinctive gastronomic offering of Herzegovina. It is evident that sir iz mijeha (cheese matured in a skin sack) is a unique product that defines the local communities of the Herzegovina region, serving as an integral part of their cultural identity and customs.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Ministry and the associations regarding the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage, as well as the exchange of experiences and ideas to improve the implementation of projects aimed at safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Representatives of the Ministry emphasized that the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports remains open to all initiatives that promote cultural creativity and contribute to the development of culture in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.