Food safety control system in Moldova to be improved with EU support

Chisinau, 10 February /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Pavel Filip today participated in launching EU Twinning Project “Support to the National Food Safety Agency of Moldova”. It aims at building a uniform system of food safety control in Moldova and adjusting the work of operators in the agri-food sector to the European standards, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

“The project will ensure adjusting Moldova to the rigors of the Community acquis in the food safety,” he said. At the same time, he urged ANSA to prove responsibility in the project’s implementation, given the benefit of Moldovans.

The premier noted that last year, wine exports to EU increased by 20 per cent against 2015. Export of grain and grapes has significantly increased. In this regard, “the government will be guided by the provisions stipulated in the “food safety” of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. A priority is reconstruction and international accreditation of the national network of laboratories, a process due to be completed by late 2017”, he said.

Attending the event, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said ANSA represented business card of local producers, and the institution reform implementation would bring added value to the economy and would help promote local products on international market.

“Statistics of export of local products to EU market shows an impressive development, but above statistics is their quality. Implementing food safety control management directly ensures public safety”, Tapiola added.

The above-mentioned project is amounted to 2 million euros and will last 2 years, with the support from the consortium of three EU member states, namely: State Food and Veterinary Service of Lithuania, Food and Veterinary Service of Latvia and Swedish Board of Agriculture.