New Law on Protection of the Population from Communicable Diseases (2026): Expanded Sanitary Supervision and New Employer Obligations

The Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on Protection of the Population from Communicable Diseases (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 002/26 of January 9, 2026), which comprehensively regulates the system of prevention, monitoring, and control of communicable diseases within the territory of Montenegro.

This Law defines measures for preventing the occurrence and spread of communicable diseases, early detection and epidemiological monitoring, implementation of public health measures, as well as the state response to serious cross-border health threats of biological origin. At the same time, the Law significantly expands the obligations of business entities and institutions operating in activities of public health importance.

Upon the entry into force of the new Law, the previous Law on Protection of the Population from Communicable Diseases ceases to be valid, introducing a modernized and systemic approach to sanitary supervision.

Expanded definition of facilities under sanitary supervision

One of the most important novelties relates to the redefinition and expansion of the concept of facilities under sanitary supervision. The new Law introduces a broader approach covering a significantly larger number of activities than before.

Facilities now subject to sanitary supervision include those where the following activities are performed:

• healthcare activities,
• production and trade of medicines, medical devices, and cosmetic products,
• food handling at all stages of production, processing, and distribution,
• tourism and hospitality activities,
• public drinking water supply,
• personal care and beauty services and non-medical procedures affecting skin integrity,
• educational activities and collective accommodation of children, adults, and elderly persons,
• culture, sports, and recreation,
• public transport.

It is particularly significant that, for the first time, facilities handling food throughout the entire production and distribution chain are clearly included, as well as the complete tourism and hospitality sector, both of which have a direct impact on public health.

General protection measures – obligation of continuous implementation

The Law introduces an obligation for the continuous implementation of general communicable disease protection measures in all facilities under sanitary supervision, as well as in other public spaces.

These measures primarily include:

• ensuring adequate hygienic and sanitary-technical conditions in accordance with the WASH plan,
• regular microbiological control of surfaces, equipment, air, and employees’ hands,
• continuous implementation of preventive disinfection,
• implementation of disinsection and deratization measures.

The legislator places emphasis on prevention, meaning the daily maintenance of hygiene standards as the primary line of public health protection.

Mandatory employee training on hygiene and communicable disease protection

A particularly important novelty relates to mandatory training of employees working in activities under sanitary supervision, especially in the food, tourism, service, and healthcare sectors.

The employer is obliged to:

• provide training before the employee starts work,
• repeat training at least every five years,
• keep certificates of completed training at business premises,
• make certificates available to the sanitary inspector upon request.

Training is conducted by the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro and health centres with organized hygiene-epidemiological services, while training costs are borne by the employer.

An exception applies only to employees with appropriate higher education qualifications in medicine, pharmacy, biology, food safety, and related sciences.

Personal hygiene as an employee work obligation

For the first time, the Law clearly defines non-compliance with personal hygiene measures as a violation of work obligations.

Employees are required to apply prescribed hygiene measures, while the responsible person or manager must supervise their implementation throughout the entire work process. Supervision may also be delegated to other employees in writing.

In cases of non-compliance, the employer is obliged to initiate procedures for determining employee responsibility in accordance with labour regulations.

Preventive disinfection, disinsection, and deratization

The new Law introduces more clearly defined obligations regarding preventive protection measures.

Preventive disinfection must be carried out daily and continuously in all facilities under sanitary supervision, including work surfaces, equipment, tools, and sanitary facilities.

At the same time, disinsection and deratization measures must be implemented at least twice a year — during spring and autumn — representing a joint obligation of local self-government units, business entities, private property owners, and competent state authorities.

These measures may only be performed by entities meeting legally prescribed conditions and holding authorization issued by the Ministry of Health.

Mandatory microbiological cleanliness control

Facilities under sanitary supervision are required to conduct mandatory microbiological cleanliness control of:

• surfaces and equipment,
• devices and tools,
• means of transport,
• employees’ hands,
• air in working premises.

The frequency of controls and permitted values will be further prescribed by secondary legislation of the Ministry of Health, upon proposal of the Institute of Public Health.

What the new Law means for businesses

The new Law on Protection of the Population from Communicable Diseases significantly increases the responsibility of business entities, particularly in tourism, hospitality, food production, service activities, and public transport sectors.

In practice, employers will need to:

• align internal hygiene procedures,
• organize employee training,
• introduce regular hygiene controls,
• document the implementation of sanitary measures.

The objective of the Law is not only supervision, but the establishment of a sustainable prevention system that reduces health risks and increases safety for service users and employees.

Entry into force

The Law enters into force on the eighth day following its publication in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro”, marking the beginning of the implementation of a new regulatory framework for the protection of the population from communicable diseases in Montenegro.