MEAT Sector Analyse

Meat Sector Study
(Source: INSTAT (Living Standard Measurement Survey (LSMS), 2002, 2005 and Household
Budget Survey (HBS) 2006-2007)
This table gives details about the various types of meat consumption but does not explain the
remaining rest which was around 10 kg in 2007; most likely the given figures are based on
local production and the missing difference is covered by imports of live animals and meat,
often in deep frozen form. (See also below Table 13)
As comparison the total meat consumption (including poultry) in Austria was 2007 100.2 kg /
capita and 2008 98.4 kg / capita (Source: http://www.ama-marketing.at/home/groups/7/
Pro_Kopf_Verbrauch_Fleisch.pdf)
Actually the meat consumption is low, even compared to other countries on the Western
Balkans. One important reason for low meat consumption is the high cost of meat products
in comparison to other products; at the same time that explains why the consumption of
relatively cheap poultry meat is growing so fast.
The sheep and goat meat is expensive, mainly because keeping of small ruminants is not at
the state of the art; breeding is not consequently done, fertility and reproduction rate is low
and the slaughtering weight of lambs is too low; often just 11 kg – especially before religious
holidays Furthermore as a result of migration – especially of young people - into the cities,
the interest in keeping small ruminants is declining. Successfully pilot projects - as presently
implemented by UNDP are supporting the establishment of a food chain for lamb meat – will
present new ways of income generating opportunities trough lamb meat. Traditionally on the
Western Balkans eat a lot of sheep and goat meat. Having in mind not so much the EU
figures of average sheep consumption of 2.3 kg/capita (2009) but more the consumption
habits in neighbouring Greece where the average sheep meat consumption reached 7.4 kg /
capita in 2007, there is potential for further increase.
The outlook for meat producers is very good if one assumes that the Albanian meat
consumption will get closer to the Austrian one; that means the consumption might more
than double in the future.
Legal framework for trade
Albania became in 2000 a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and in 2007 it
entered the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). Regarding the EU accession
Albania is a potential candidate country and submitted its application for EU membership on
28 April 2009.
The European Union generally allows imports of fresh meat and meat products into the
European Union if the veterinary certification is in place which is based on the recognition of
the competent authority of the non-EU country by the Directorate-General for Health and
Consumer Protection. This formal recognition of the reliability of the competent authority is a
pre-requisite for the country to be eligible and authorized for export to the European Union.
Legally legitimate and adequately empowered authorities in the exporting country must
ensure credible inspection and controls throughout the production chain, which cover all
relevant aspects of hygiene, animal health and public health.
For meat and meat products from all species, countries of origin must be on a positive list of
eligible countries for the relevant product. The eligibility criteria are:
• Exporting countries must have a competent veterinary authority which is responsible
throughout the food chain. The Authorities must be empowered, structured and
Meat Sector Study, page 36