Overview
The project aimed to support the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Water Administration, along with Albania’s two key food safety laboratories (FSVI and NFA), to improve food safety across the entire food chain. The goal was twofold: to establish a cost-efficient laboratory network capable of providing timely, reliable information on food safety and animal health, and to enhance the laboratories' ability to monitor and analyse critical areas such as pesticide residues, microbiological diagnostics, food quality standards, and animal diseases. Before the project, Albania’s food safety system faced challenges in ensuring effective monitoring and compliance with international standards. The need for an upgraded laboratory network that could perform in-depth analysis and provide accurate, timely results was essential to safeguard public health and meet the growing demands of the food safety sector.
The project successfully established an efficient laboratory network, empowering Albania to meet global food safety standards and improve public health protection throughout the food chain.
Approach
To meet Albania's food safety challenges and strengthen its laboratory network, a multi-faceted approach was employed, focusing on cost-efficiency, capacity building, and advanced monitoring and analysis.
- Establishing a Cost-Efficient Laboratory Network:
- Developed a network of laboratories capable of delivering precise and timely information on food safety and animal health, ensuring effective monitoring across the entire food chain.
- Ensured the network’s cost-efficiency while upholding high operational standards for analysis and monitoring.
- Provided infrastructure upgrades and comprehensive training to support the implementation of best laboratory practices, ensuring sustainability and operational excellence.
- Enhancing Laboratory Capacities:
- Focused on improving the laboratories’ analytical capabilities for food and feed products, with a particular emphasis on pesticide residue analysis, microbiological diagnostics, and adherence to food quality standards.
- Strengthened the labs’ capacity to diagnose and monitor animal diseases, aligning their operations with international food safety and animal health standards.
- Delivered extensive training and provided necessary resources to enable laboratory staff to perform advanced diagnostic tests and conduct high-level research, thus increasing operational efficiency.
- Improving Monitoring and Analytical Processes:
- Introduced modern techniques and practices for monitoring and analysing food and feed safety, ensuring a more accurate detection of harmful substances.
- Enhanced the laboratories' ability to detect pesticide residues and other contaminants in food and feed products, improving safety and compliance.
- Established rigorous monitoring protocols, in line with international food safety regulations, to protect public health and ensure consistent adherence to regulatory standards.
Outcome and Benefits
The project successfully strengthened the food safety framework in Albania, providing the Ministry of Agriculture and the two key laboratories with the tools, capacity, and knowledge to meet international standards. With the establishment of a cost-efficient and highly capable laboratory network, Albania is now better equipped to monitor food safety and animal health effectively. The project’s emphasis on pesticide residue monitoring, microbiological diagnostics, food quality standards, and animal disease detection has significantly improved the safety of food and feed products, ensuring better protection for the population.
