The Only One in BiH: DermaLab Receives Organic Certification for the First “Made in BiH” Black Cumin Oil

The effort and investment in quality are exemplified by the young entrepreneur Hanifa Nurikić Balta, who received organic certification for the first cold-pressed domestic black cumin oil.

This entrepreneur has walke long road paved with patience, effort, and dedication to quality.

The knowledge she acquired at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Sarajevo, where she graduated in 2015, was translated into DermaLab in 2019, a company that produces cold-pressed oils. Their most well-known product is cold-pressed organic black cumin oil made

from Egyptian seeds.

To produce this organic black cumin oil, they sourced seeds from Egypt, a country with the most favorable climatic conditions for growing this plant. Because of this, they had to undergo numerous inspections, which lasted for months. They did not give up but patiently went through all the procedures to achieve their goal of producing a domestic product labeled “Made in BiH.” After that, they took it a step further and received another confirmation of the quality of this oil.

“Although we were confident in the exceptional quality and uniqueness of the raw materials we use to produce this oil, without passing the inspections and obtaining official confirmation from the certification body that everything complies with organic standards, we did not have a solid argument to produce a product that no one else in BiH has. Therefore, the significance of the organic certification for us is indisputable. It adds additional market value to this product, and I believe it will provide us with numerous new opportunities for collaboration and business improvement,” said Hanifa Nurikić Balta, the technology expert and owner of DermaLab.

Although the process of obtaining organic certification is complex and extensive, this young entrepreneur did not give up and successfully passed all inspections.

“If I look at the entire pro

cess of preparation for certification, aligning all details with the requirements of organic standards, I can say that the process is truly demanding and complex. That desire existed from the very beginning of launching DermaLab production, but at that time it seemed unfeasible. However, a clear goal, dedicated work, and perseverance led to the desired result. After that, the pride and satisfaction with what we achieved are much greater,” emphasizes Hanifa.

To maintain the organic certification, they must not deviate from the rules of organic production.

“If any deviations are found in the production or finished product from organic principles, this certification can be revoked. Therefore, it is very important that the production is managed by employees who have developed awareness of the importance of organic production and preventing contamination. Fortunately, DermaLab has that, so I sincerely believe that maintaining the certification and re-certification will be the least of our problems,” explained the owner of DermaLab.

DermaLab offers various cold-pressed oils such as black cumin, almond, coconut, argan, pumpkin, and sesame.

Their plan is to raise awareness about the benefits of this type of product, expand the assortment, stabilize their position in the domestic market, and then seize export opportunities.