MEAT Sector Analyse

Meat Sector Study
There has been some progress as regards water quality. Two wastewater treatment plants
became operational, work on another one was completed and three more are under
construction. However, surface waters are still affected by uncontrolled discharges of solid
waste. The national strategy for water supply and sewerage has not been adopted.
Implementing legislation and action plans for legislative approximation to the Water
Framework Directive and the Nitrates and Urban Waste Water Directives are pending
adoption.
There was some progress on nature protection. The total coverage of protected areas
increased to 12.58 % of the territory with the designation of the ‘Bredhi Hotoves-Dangelli’
ecosystem as a national park. In January 2009 the government approved a decree on the
criteria for the establishment of the biodiversity inventory and monitoring network.
There was no progress as regards industrial pollution control and risk management. No
developments can be reported in the area of chemicals and genetically modified organisms.
Efforts are required to enhance inter-ministerial coordination to monitor the use of chemicals
present on the market. There is no central register of chemicals and genetically modified
organisms.
Efforts continue to be required to strengthen the administrative capacity of all institutions
involved in environmental policy making and to implement the 2008 cross-cutting strategy for
the environment. Inter-institutional cooperation and coordination remain poor. Additional
monitoring and inspection capacity continue to be required at regional level. Overall, there
have been some positive legislative developments but implementation and enforcement
remain weak. Preparations in the field of environment are advancing slowly but remain at an
early stage for a number of sectors.
Summarising one might say that there are no rules and regulations in place to improve
environmental standards on farms in Albania. The CAP ensures that its rules are compatible
with environmental requirements and that CAP measures promote the development of
agricultural practices preserving the environment and safeguarding the countryside. Farmers
are encouraged to continue playing a positive role in the maintenance of the countryside and
the environment.
This is achieved by a) targeting aid at rural development measures promoting
environmentally sustainable farming practices, like agri-environment schemes and b)
enhancing compliance with environmental laws by sanctioning the non-respect for these laws
by farmers through a reduction in support payments from the CAP.
Especially with regard to the storage of manure and slurry the level of environment protection
is very low in Albania. Several visited farms had not adequate storage places for manure or
slurry. First of all creating awareness on this issue by information and training will be
necessary. But also on the processing side the handling of solid and liquid waste is in a poor
state as there is usually no waste disposal system in place; leftovers are dumped into illegal
landfills and run into nearby rivers. Finally it must be mentioned that Albania has no
rendering or incineration plant!
Food safety
For the time being the national food hygiene laws and regulations in the Albanian meat
sector are defined by the following laws and orders:
• Law No 9308 from 4 th November 2004 “For the veterinary service and inspectorate”
(Mbi sherbimin dhe inspektoriatin veterinar) which regulates hygienic conditions and
food safety aspects;
Meat Sector Study, page 40