TIRANA, January 25 /ATA/ Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Frida Krifca presented today the certification of the first 4 products of origin, which according to her promotes the “Made in Albania” brand.
“Today, we are happy to present the satisfactory result of a long work to identify, register, protect in the market and offer to the consumer the first four products certified for geographical indications, designation of origin and guaranteed traditional specialty”, said she.
The minister said that, “In recent years in Albania, the consumers are getting to recognize more and more the traditional products. Moreover, the development of agri-tourism as a sustainable trend has influenced the development and promotion of traditional products, creating a natural link between agri-tourism, tourist farms and local producers”.
She added that this is the reason why for us the quality products, which are produced in a certain territory or through a traditional method, are really at the core of our efforts to strengthen the economic sustainability of farms in rural areas.
“In-depth studies have shown that the price difference, which a consumer is willing to pay for products that come from a certain territory or that are the product of a traditional production method, is in the countries of the European Union at the level of 10% up to 30% more than conventionally produced products”, emphasized Krifca.
The minister said that, “Economic analyses in Albania show that consumers are willing to pay 30-50% more for products that come from an area identified for the special quality of the products. For specific products such as honey, e.g. this difference in price is even higher”.
Krifca informed that, “The work has already begun with the first 4 products, which have been registered in the relevant registers in the Ministry and in the Directorate of Industrial Property, and have passed the process of verifying the compatibility with the product characteristics, thus enabling the national logo and their presentation in the market”.
Accordingly, these products, which we will have the opportunity to see concretely today, are:
“Mishavina of Kelmendi Highlands” cheese (Designation of Protected Origin);
Sage Honey, Përmet (Traditional Specialty Guaranteed);
Melted cheese, Hot, Malësi e Madhe (Traditional Specialty Guaranteed);
Goat cheese, Rrunja mountains, Dibra (Traditional Specialty Guaranteed)./p.s./
