Regina Pope
In Albania, the debate over food safety returns whenever news of a product with problems circulates. But beyond sporadic cases, the data point to a more serious problem: the way the entire chain functions, from production to control.
According to data provided by the National Food Authority, during 2025, 26 cases of returned exports from European Union countries were recorded. Of these, only 5 were destroyed and 4 were re-exported. The rest, with a mass of about 130 tons, was returned to the domestic market.
This fact alone is enough to raise questions about how products that do not meet standards are treated abroad.
"If products that have been returned from the EU are released onto the market, this is alarming, regardless of the reason," says Granit Sokoli, director of the ALERT center.
One of the most common problems cited by experts is the lack of information for the public.
In cases where problematic products are identified, the National Food Authority publishes general announcements, without details on the subject, brand, or distribution of the product.
From a request for information on the names of the entities, the response was refusal, with the argument of "trade secrets".
According to Sokol, this approach is contrary to European practices.
"In the risk communication that food safety authorities in EU countries and Kosovo do, every detail is given. You have to give the name of the entity and the brand, so that the consumer knows exactly what to avoid," he explains.
The lack of this information creates a chain effect: suspicion spreads to the entire domestic product.
Rozana, a resident of Shkoza, describes her experience as a consumer this way:
"Whenever I buy fruit, I try to choose the smallest ones. They say they're better, but the worry remains."
While confidence in domestic products is shaken, data shows an increase in imports.
According to INSTAT, from 2020 to 2024, imports increased by about 28.5%. At the same time, the difference between imports and exports remains large.
This development is related not only to market demand, but also to the perception of safety for domestic products.
On the other hand, health experts emphasize that the risk should not be absolutized.
Endocrinologist Tea Shehu explains that the impact of products with residues depends on several factors.
"Regarding fruits and vegetables with residues, health problems can occur in case of excessive consumption or in people with pre-existing hormonal diseases," she says.
According to her, the most sensitive groups are children, adolescents and people with hormonal disorders.
"This does not mean a complete ban, but moderation and personalized advice," adds Shehu.
Limited laboratory capacities
Product control relies on food safety laboratories, but capacities remain limited.
The Food and Veterinary Institute is the main reference laboratory in the country. However, according to experts, the number of samples analyzed is not sufficient to have a complete picture.
"This results in overload and a very small number of samples, which are not a sufficient indicator to see whether all the goods are problematic or not," explains Sokoli.
There are 7 laboratories operating in the country and some investments have been made in equipment and specialization, but some of them are still in the development phase.
Food safety expert Renata Kongoli emphasizes that shortcomings remain evident.
"There is an urgent need to improve control, traceability and laboratory equipment to ensure that the food that reaches the consumer is safe," she says.
What happens to returned products?
One of the most sensitive issues is the treatment of products returned from export.
According to NFA data, most of them are not destroyed, but are returned to the market or re-exported.
In some cases, the reason is related to labeling. The NFA has clarified that only two cases were due to labeling deficiencies.
But for experts, this does not alleviate the problem, on the contrary.
"There is a risk that they will be redirected to the domestic market if strong supervision is not exercised," Kongoli warns.
Farmer between cost and market
In this chain, the farmer has a key role.
Mirlind Saraçi, a farmer from Lushnja, talks about the daily difficulties in production.
"Costs have gone up for everything, while profits have halved. Fertilizers, pesticides, oil, everything is more expensive," he says.
He adds that control on the ground is almost absent.
"I haven't seen the AKU, not just in mine, but in any greenhouse."
According to him, the lack of control harms regular farmers.
"If a product comes out with pesticides above the norm, it is not known who is responsible. It is sold at the same price for everyone."
"The government should set up a laboratory, if the analysis does not come out clean, destroy the product, and raise awareness among farmers," he says.
A very important link that is missing in our country is the role of the agronomist, without whose signature no cargo should be sent anywhere. But his job is not only to check shipments, see documents and analyzes. The agronomist must follow the progress of production from planting, to recommend the right fertilizers for the soil and the plant.
"The Lushnja Agriculture Directorate has 20 agronomists, but I don't know any of them, they don't go out into the field," the farmer says. For years now, he has been buying pesticides and other crystalline fertilizers to nourish the soil from Italy with the company he worked for years before in emigration. According to him, and because prices have increased, these inputs are not of high quality and do not perform their function, so he has been forced to buy them from abroad at a higher cost to be safe.
In theory, the agronomist should follow the production process and guarantee standards. In practice, this often does not happen.
A request for information addressed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the number of agronomists in the country has not received a response as of the publication of this article.
"Farmers get advice from agricultural input stores, which often have commercial interests," says Eduard Sharka, Honorary President of the Farmers' Union.
Pesticides are not prohibited for use, but fruits and vegetables are prohibited from being harvested before the pesticide's expiration date, after which it no longer poses a health risk. When farmers see that the market price has increased, they rush to harvest it to sell, turning a blind eye to this rule. "This is regulated by increasing the responsibility of the agronomist, who will not sign the certificate of origin if he violates the exemption," explains Sharka.
The creation of the agronomist order is a necessity, according to Sharka, especially at a time when interest in the profession is very low.
"It is one of the most discriminated professions," says Sharka, comparing it to countries in the region, but also to the support that farmers receive in comparison to the profit they bring to the state budget.
As an economist, he mentions billions for soft loans without being used, 1.5% of the state budget that goes to agriculture and about 20% of the GDP that is generated from it. 20% of the Ministry of Agriculture's budget goes to direct salaries, while the region provides 80%, and half of the profit generation that agriculture brings to Albania. Agriculture gives a lot and takes little.
All these elements are interconnected.
Lack of information, limited laboratory capacity, weak field control, and economic pressure on farmers create a system with many gaps.
These gaps are not always visible, but their effect is tangible for the consumer.
In the end, he is left between doubt and choice.
And the question that remains is: do we really know what we are consuming?acqj.al
