AGP Executive Report

Hotel Chemical Incident: A chemical reaction involving pool-maintenance products led to a hotel evacuation in Poreč on October 14. Twenty-one people sought medical help, with injuries described as minor; firefighters found most of the property safe. Food Safety: Salmonella-linked cherry tomatoes from Italy were distributed to five catering businesses in Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar. The establishments are closed, and authorities say they have received no reports of related illness. Environmental Health: Activists are calling for trial operations to stop at a planned poultry farm in Međimurje, warning that waste from a facility producing up to 1.8 million chickens a year could threaten air and water quality. Transplants: Croatia’s organ-transplant success has earned it a place among the world’s leading countries, according to recent coverage.

Health Insurance Reform: Croatia’s health ministry will join Slovenia and the EU in a two-year program to help Armenia build its universal health insurance system, focusing on financing, governance and institutional capacity. Environmental Health: Campaigners are calling for trial operations to stop at a planned Međimurje poultry farm set to produce 1.8 million chickens a year, warning of risks from manure and pollution; residents have reported strong odours. Food Safety: About 150 kilograms of cherry tomatoes linked to a salmonella outbreak in Italy reached five catering businesses in Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar. The venues are now closed, and inspectors have received no reports of related illness. Transplant Care: Croatia is highlighted among the world leaders in organ transplantation, reflecting the country’s strong transplant record.

Transplant Cooperation: Bosnia and Herzegovina is being urged to speed up its bid to join Eurotransplant. Supporters say Croatia and other regional partners are ready to help. Health System Reform: Croatia and Slovenia will share expertise in a two-year, EU-funded program supporting Armenia’s universal health insurance rollout. Environmental Health: Campaigners want trial operations halted at a planned chicken megafarm in Međimurje, citing residents’ complaints about odours and concerns over waste near the Mura River protected landscape. Food Safety: Salmonella-linked cherry tomatoes from Italy reached five restaurants in Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar. The venues are closed seasonally, and Croatian inspectors have received no reports of suspected food poisoning. Organ Donation: Croatia’s transplant program was highlighted among the world’s leading performers in recent coverage.

Food Safety: Salmonella-linked cherry tomatoes imported from Italy reached five restaurants in Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar, with 150 kilograms distributed. The venues are now closed, and Croatian inspectors say they have received no reports of suspected food poisoning. Environmental Health: Activists and local groups are demanding a halt to trial operations at a planned Međimurje poultry farm expected to produce 1.8 million chickens a year, citing concerns about manure, odours and risks to air, soil and water near the Mura River protected landscape. Wellbeing: Hvar hosts HVARMONY from October 15–18, a new event exploring longevity, nutrition, movement and mental resilience alongside Mediterranean approaches to living well. Transplant Care: Croatia’s organ-transplant success has been highlighted as placing the country among world leaders.

Food Safety: Salmonella-linked cherry tomatoes from Italy reached five restaurants in Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar, with 150 kilograms distributed. The businesses are now closed, and Croatian inspectors say no suspected illnesses have been reported. Vaccination Concerns: Croatia’s Health Ministry says two BCG vaccine reports listed doses ten times the prescribed amount, as Bosnia and Herzegovina suspends a Bulgarian vaccine pending a quality investigation. Environmental Health: Croatia has expanded its probe into alleged illegal hazardous-waste dumping, with 14 people and four companies now under investigation. Separately, Greenpeace and Croatian groups protested a planned poultry megafarm over concerns about animal waste threatening nearby water and wetlands. Wellbeing: Hvar will host HVARMONY from October 15–18, a new gathering on health, longevity, nutrition and mental resilience.

Food Safety: Salmonella-linked cherry tomatoes from Italy reached five restaurants in Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar, with about 150 kilograms distributed. The seasonal venues are closed, and inspectors have received no reports of illness. Vaccination: Croatia’s Health Ministry says two reports involving BCG vaccine listed doses ten times the prescribed amount, as neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina suspends a Bulgarian-made vaccine while it checks quality concerns. Environmental Health: USKOK has widened its probe into alleged illegal hazardous-waste dumping, adding five suspects and three companies to a case involving at least 35,000 tonnes of waste. Wellbeing: Hvar will host HVARMONY from October 15 to 18, with talks and activities on health, longevity, movement, nutrition and mental resilience. Transplant Care: Croatia remains among global leaders in organ donation and transplantation; liver transplant patients at Zagreb’s University Hospital Centre have a one-year survival rate above 95%, a senior surgeon says.

Environmental Health: Croatia’s USKOK has widened its probe into alleged illegal hazardous-waste dumping, adding five suspects and three companies. Authorities say the network may have dumped at least 35,000 tonnes across several sites, including near Benkovac and Velebit Nature Park. Transplant Care: Croatia remains among the world leaders in organ donation and transplantation, with liver transplant patients at Zagreb’s University Hospital Centre reporting more than 95% survival one year after surgery. Homelessness and Health: About 2,000 people in Croatia lack housing, while 15,000 more live in insecure or inadequate homes. A Zagreb conference called for better links between hospitals and shelters, noting that patients can have nowhere to go after discharge; shelters offer only about 450 places nationwide. Vaccine Safety: Croatian reports flagged BCG vaccine doses recorded at ten times the prescribed amount. The Health Ministry has addressed the reports as Bosnia and Herzegovina temporarily suspended a Bulgarian BCG vaccine while it checks possible quality concerns.

Transplant Care: Croatia ranks among the world’s leaders in organ donation and transplantation, with liver-transplant patients at Zagreb’s University Hospital Centre recording more than 95% survival after one year. Housing and Health: About 2,000 people in Croatia are homeless and 15,000 more live in insecure or inadequate housing. The country’s shelters have only 450 places, and experts say gaps in healthcare and discharge support leave people at risk. BCG Vaccine Checks: Croatia’s Health Ministry says two reports recorded BCG doses ten times the prescribed amount. Separately, Bosnia and Herzegovina has paused a Bulgarian BCG vaccine pending investigation; its medicines agency says asymptomatic children need no special measures. Drug Discovery: Croatian scientist Adrijana Vinter, formerly a senior leader at Selvita, has been appointed CEO of UK-based Concept Life Sciences.

Transplant Care: Croatia ranks among the world’s leaders in organ donation and transplantation, with liver transplant patients at Zagreb’s University Hospital Centre reporting more than 95% survival after one year. Surgeons stressed that the system depends on donors and families’ consent. Homelessness and Health: About 2,000 people in Croatia have no roof over their heads, while 15,000 more face inadequate or insecure housing. A Zagreb conference highlighted barriers to healthcare and the difficulty hospitals face discharging patients with nowhere to go; shelters have just 450 places nationwide. Vaccine Safety: Croatia’s Health Ministry says two reports listed BCG vaccine doses ten times higher than prescribed. Separately, Bosnia and Herzegovina suspended a Bulgarian BCG vaccine pending investigation, with the manufacturer disputing quality concerns. Environmental Health: A report says radioactive strontium in Gospić rose sharply; the available coverage did not provide further details.

Homelessness and Health Care: About 2,000 people in Croatia are homeless and 15,000 more live in inadequate or insecure housing, a Zagreb conference heard. Shelters have just 450 places, and hospitals can struggle to discharge patients who have nowhere to go. Chemical Exposure: An EU expert committee recommended classifying TFA, detected in blood samples from all 110 people tested—including 10 Croatians—as toxic to reproduction. The recommendation is not yet law. BCG Vaccine Checks: Croatia’s Health Ministry reported two cases in which BCG vaccine doses were recorded as ten times the prescribed amount. Bosnia and Herzegovina has suspended a Bulgarian vaccine pending an investigation; its medicines agency says asymptomatic children need no special measures. Environmental Alert: A report says radioactive strontium levels in Gospić rose sharply, renewing questions about potential health risks.

Homelessness and Health: About 2,000 people in Croatia have no roof over their heads, while another 15,000 face inadequate or insecure housing. Shelters offer just 450 places, and hospitals can struggle to discharge patients who have nowhere to go. Researchers are calling for social workers in every healthcare institution and better coordination with shelters. Chemical Safety: An EU risk committee recommends classifying trifluoroacetic acid and its salts as toxic to reproduction. The compound was detected in blood samples from all 110 people in a recent study, including 10 participants from Croatia; the recommendation is not yet binding. Vaccine Reports: Croatia’s Health Ministry says two reports listed BCG vaccine doses ten times the prescribed amount, as regional authorities investigate concerns about a Bulgarian-made vaccine.

Prison Health: Croatia’s Helsinki Committee warns overcrowding is worsening hygiene, privacy and access to healthcare. The prison system was 126% full at the end of 2025, with Osijek at 205% capacity. Vaccine Safety: Croatian reports flagged BCG doses ten times the prescribed amount, according to the Health Ministry. Bosnia and Herzegovina has paused use of a Bulgarian BCG vaccine while it investigates; quality concerns remain unconfirmed. Chemical Exposure: EU experts recommend classifying TFA, found in blood samples from Croatian participants, as toxic to reproduction. The recommendation is not yet legally binding. Gospić Monitoring: Radioactive strontium-90 in soil rose sharply in recent measurements, but authorities say there is no confirmed link to nearby illegal waste or evidence that residents’ health is endangered.

Chemical Safety: EU experts recommend classifying trifluoroacetic acid, found in blood samples from all 110 people in a recent study—including 10 Croatians—as harmful to reproduction. The recommendation is not yet law. Vaccine Review: Croatia’s Health Ministry says two reports listed BCG doses ten times the prescribed amount; the children were asymptomatic, and the medicines agency says no special measures are needed. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Federation has temporarily paused distribution of the Bulgarian-made vaccine while it investigates reports from Croatia. Gospić Monitoring: Strontium-90 readings in surface soil rose sharply, from 24.5 to 260 becquerels per square metre between 2023 and 2025. Officials say there is no evidence linking the rise to nearby illegal waste or indicating a health threat to residents.

Gospić Monitoring: Strontium-90 in a soil sample rose sharply between 2023 and 2025, but authorities have found no link to nearby illegal waste or evidence that the change threatens residents’ health. BCG Vaccine Review: Croatia’s reports of bone inflammation after vaccination prompted a precautionary pause on a Bulgarian-made BCG vaccine. Bulgaria says two reports list doses ten times the prescribed amount and one case was ruled unrelated; investigators have not established a vaccine quality problem. Bosnia and Herzegovina also paused distribution pending checks. Zagreb Air Quality: Elevated fine-particle readings accompanied unpleasant odours reported across several neighbourhoods. The source remains unknown; weather and the start of the heating season are among possible factors.

Environmental Health: Strontium-90 measured in soil at a Gospić site rose nearly elevenfold from 2023 to 2025. Officials say there is no evidence linking the increase to nearby illegal waste or showing that residents’ health is at risk. Vaccine Safety: Croatia has paused distribution and use of a Bulgarian-made BCG vaccine after four reports of bone inflammation in children. Two reports listed doses ten times the prescribed amount; investigators have not established a direct link to the vaccine. Bosnia and Herzegovina also suspended use as a precaution. Zagreb Air Quality: Residents reported a strong odour across several neighbourhoods as monitoring stations recorded elevated fine particles. The source remains unknown; experts say weather and the start of the heating season may contribute. Chemical Exposure: A small study found “forever chemicals” in blood samples from all 10 Croatian participants, raising concerns about exposure but offering a limited snapshot.

Gospić Radiation Readings: Strontium-90 in soil at a Gospić measuring point rose sharply in 2025, but authorities say there is no confirmed link to nearby illegal waste and no indication residents’ health is at risk. BCG Vaccine Review: Croatia has suspended a Bulgarian-made tuberculosis vaccine while suspected adverse reactions are investigated. Two of four reports recorded doses ten times the prescribed amount; a direct link to the vaccine has not been confirmed. Bosnia and Herzegovina has also paused its use as a precaution. Zagreb Air Quality: Residents reported an unpleasant smell as city monitors recorded elevated fine-particle levels. The source remains unknown; weather and the start of the heating season may be factors. Forever Chemicals: A recent report says PFAS were found in blood samples from all 10 Croatian participants tested, a small study that warrants attention but cannot establish how widespread exposure is.