Safe food is essential for protecting public health, building consumer trust, and creating new opportunities for farmers and businesses. To support these goals, the European Union, together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, today launched the EU4Food Safety project.

With a total budget of EUR 13.5 million, funded by the European Union (EUR 12.5 million) and the German Government (EUR 1 million), the project will help Albania strengthen its food safety system and bring it closer to European Union standards. The initiative is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The launch coincides with World Food Safety Day, celebrated this year under the theme “From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere.” The theme highlights the importance of practical action to ensure that consumers can trust the food they buy and eat, while helping producers meet high standards that open doors to new markets.

As part of the event, visitors were able to explore a mini food fair featuring Albanian products that have successfully entered the EU market by meeting European food safety requirements. Producers shared their experiences and demonstrated how investing in quality and safety can create new business opportunities.

Speaking at the launch event, Andis Salla, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that: “Food safety is an essential pillar for public health, consumer protection, and the sustainable development of the agri-food sector. It is also a key element in increasing the competitiveness of Albanian producers and bringing them closer to the European market.

In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development remains fully committed to building a modern, reliable system aligned with European Union standards.”

Silvio Gonzato, Ambassador of the European Union to Albania emphasized: “Food safety is, above all, about protecting people's health, and I am proud that we are supporting Albania in achieving the standards expected of an EU Member State in the field of food safety. Over the next five years, the project will help improve controls throughout the food chain, strengthen the capacity to identify and manage risks, and ensure that Albanian people consume safe food. Our shared objective is clear: to help Albania build a modern, efficient, and reliable food safety system that protects consumers, supports businesses, and creates new opportunities for farmers and producers.”

Karl Bergner, German Ambassador to Albania, said: Food safety is fundamental for public health and consumer protection. It protects families, strengthens confidence in institutions, and supports sustainable economic development. It also creates new opportunities for Albanian producers, allowing them to become more competitive and access the European Single Market.

At the same time, safe food in Albania means safe food for future EU citizens and consumers across Europe. This makes food safety a shared European responsibility.

Albania has set itself an ambitious goal: EU membership by 2030. Achieving this goal requires determination, commitment and continuous reform efforts.

Supporting Albania's journey towards EU food safety standards

The EU4Food Safety project will support Albania in building a modern, transparent and effective food safety system that protects consumers and helps businesses grow.

The project will work with national institutions to strengthen food safety controls, improve consumer information, and align legislation and procedures with EU requirements. It will also support the modernization of laboratories and border inspection services that play a key role in ensuring the safety of food products entering and leaving the country.

Training and technical assistance will help authorities improve inspections and enforcement, while food producers and businesses will receive support to better understand and implement EU standards.

By strengthening food safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health systems, the project contributes directly to Albania’s EU accession process and to the long-term protection of consumers.

The overall objective of the project through 2030 is to help Albania progressively align with EU food safety policies and standards, ensuring a high level of protection for consumers while creating a stronger and more competitive agri-food sector.