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EU for Food Safety

Summary

The Multi-Donor Action “EU for Food Safety” (EU4FS) is jointly co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ as part of the BMZ programme “Socio-ecological economic transformation in Albania”.

The Action aims to support Albania’s ambition to fulfil Chapter 12 on food safety and directly contributes to meeting EU integration benchmarks. With targeted Team Europe support, this initiative has the potential to become a benchmark for a modern food control and consumer information system in the Western Balkans and serve as a front-runner project within the Berlin Process.

The Action will support the alignment of Albania’s food safety system with the EU acquis by strengthening legislation, institutional coordination, inspection systems, and laboratory capacities in line with EU standards. The intervention aims to improve the effectiveness of official food controls across the country, strengthening cooperation among competent authorities, and enhancing transparency and consumer information to help ensure that food placed on the market is safer and more reliable for consumers.

Particular attention will be given to strengthening the capacities of competent authorities and laboratory networks, including border inspection points. The intervention will support the development and implementation of standard operating procedures, control plans, and technical methodologies aligned with EU requirements. Support will also be provided to food production establishments in preparing for compliance with EU food safety standards and requirements.

By doing so, the Action is expected to contribute to safer and more reliable food for consumers in Albania, while improving transparency, consumer confidence, and public health protection. At the same time, it will support Albania’s progress towards EU accession and the establishment of a more modern and effective food safety system.

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the Action is to protect the health and interests of the consumers by approaching EU food safety policies to guarantee the highest level in food safety, animal health and welfare, as well as plant health standards.

Expected Results

  • Output 1: The legal framework and related public communication are aligned with Chapter 12 of the EU acquis, with due consideration for gender equality and the inclusion of public communication. 

  • Output 2: Plans to realign the institutional and organizational framework for a cost-efficient and inclusive food control and consumer information system in accordance with EU standards are in implementation by the Albanian competent authorities.

  • Output 3: The national capacities of the competent institutions are enabled to implement and apply the Chapter 12, based on standard operating procedures and control plans. 

  • Output 4: Albanian food production establishments are prepared to align standards in accordance with Chapter 12 of the EU acquis. 

  • Output 5: The laboratory network, including the border inspection points, is capacitated to perform in line with EU standards.

Activities

Key Activity 1: Support the preparation and alignment of legislation and by-laws in key areas of Chapter 12 of the EU acquis, including regulatory impact assessments and transparent consultation processes involving public institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

Key Activity 2: Support the establishment of an EU-compliant food control and consumer information system, including strengthened institutional arrangements, official controls, crisis management mechanisms, and consumer information practices.

Key Activity 3:Support the development of training and qualification strategies, strengthen the capacities of competent authorities for the implementation and enforcement of EU-compliant legislation, and support the alignment of operational control plans with EU requirements in key areas defined by the log frame.

Key Activity 4:Support the establishment of EU-aligned risk-based categorization systems for food establishments and food business operators, including the development of digital tools, inspector training, establishment assessments, awareness-raising activities, and modernization planning for priority high-risk sectors.

Key Activity 5: Support the strengthening and modernization of the laboratory and border inspection system in Albania in line with EU and international standards, including capacity building for laboratory and border inspection staff, improvement of diagnostic and analytical capacities, accreditation of laboratory methods, upgrading of border inspection points, and provision of relevant laboratory equipment.