TIRANA, September 29 /ATA/ – “Good news for food safety and European standards in Albania”—this is how the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla appreciated the expansion of the accredited testing range at the Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary (ISUV) to include 354 new tests.
With this new expansion, ISUV reaches a total of 2,299 laboratory tests accredited under the international ISO 17025:2017 standard, following the successful completion—with zero non-conformities—of the assessment process conducted by the General Directorate of Accreditation.
“By expanding accreditation, we are increasing our capacity to better monitor food safety and quality, animal health, veterinary drug residues, pesticides, aflatoxins and food microbiology, as well as olive oil quality,” emphasized Salla.
According to the minister, the increased number of accredited tests means more analyses conducted according to European standards, more reliable results and strengthened controls throughout the entire agri-food chain.
“This means more analyses meeting European standards, reliable results and stronger controls along the agri-food chain—from farm to table. It is another concrete step toward fulfilling the obligations of Chapter 12 as Albania moves closer to European Union membership,” he stated.
The expansion of accreditation contributes to strengthening the national control and monitoring system and enhancing the reliability of ISUV laboratory results, thereby protecting consumers and aligning with European standards.
“Food safety is not merely a standard to be met, but a guarantee we must provide to citizens and consumers every day,” Minister Salla concluded. /p.s./
