TIRANA, April 21 /ATA-By Maela Marini/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Tuesday that the government has a concrete investment plan to accredit laboratories for testing milk and its by-products.
Rama said that if Albania were currently a member of the European Union, the dairy sector would struggle to meet required standards.
“The entire chain must be guaranteed. I have seen some factories with state-of-the-art machinery that are certified in certain aspects, but the chain is incomplete. We must complete the entire chain,” Rama said.
He added that work should begin immediately with a gradual plan and a clear understanding of the steps required.
“This is also the state’s responsibility; it is not a separate exercise. It is not something for you and others in the sector to handle while we simply carry out inspections. Inspections are meant to support you, which is why we have developed a strategy under which they will not be punitive,” he said.
“They will not be missions of punishment, but a national mission, a joint effort.”
Rama said inspections should serve to protect the public interest while also supporting businesses that comply with the law but need to improve standards.
“Our laboratory capacities must be strengthened to better serve businesses, to be closer to them and better organised across the territory, so that analyses are not delayed for days. Border inspection points are another weak spot,” he said.
“We therefore have a concrete investment plan for accrediting laboratories, improving border inspection points and developing digital infrastructure to meet system needs and facilitate interaction with relevant entities.”
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