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| Food safety expert Ana Vuksani speaks during a broadcast interview, highlighting the urgent need to restructure Albania's fragmented food safety and regulatory framework. |
Speaking to local media, food safety expert Ana Vuksani said Albania needs an urgent restructuring of its entire food safety framework, arguing that responsibility is being lost across multiple institutions instead of being clearly coordinated.
"The situation is extremely delicate"
Vuksani said concerns over food safety are not new and noted that even Prime Minister Edi Rama publicly acknowledged about a year ago that the system requires fundamental reform.
"Food safety in Albania is in a very delicate situation and requires a restructuring of the entire system," Vuksani said during the interview.
According to her, the overhaul must begin with legislation and extend to the institutions responsible for monitoring and guaranteeing the safety of food products across the country.
Responsibility goes far beyond the Food Authority
Vuksani argued that public debate often places the blame solely on Albania's National Food Authority (AKU), while the reality is far more complex.
She explained that the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for drafting food safety policies, while enforcement and oversight are divided among four separate institutions:
- National Food Authority (AKU)
- National Agency for Plant Protection and Veterinary Services
- Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary (ISUV), which serves as the national reference laboratory
- Fisheries Agency
This fragmented structure, she said, makes it difficult to ensure traceability and respond quickly when contaminated food reaches the market.
Fragmented institutions mean fragmented accountability
One of the biggest challenges, according to Vuksani, is that institutional fragmentation also fragments responsibility.
"When it comes to tracing contaminated food or minimizing potential risks, responsibilities become divided in exactly the same way, and so do the consequences faced by consumers," she said.
The expert warned that without stronger coordination between institutions, Albania will continue to struggle with preventing food safety incidents and protecting public health.
Growing pressure for reform
The debate over food safety has intensified in recent months as concerns over product quality, inspections and consumer protection continue to dominate public discussion in Albania.
Vuksani believes meaningful reform will require coordinated legislation, institutional restructuring and clearer accountability throughout the country's food safety chain.