TIRANA, June 15 – Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla and Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari visited the Qafë-Thana border point to North Macedonia. Representatives from the State Police, Customs and the National Food Authority joined the visit. The officials discussed stronger food safety controls and closer institutional coordination at one of Albania’s main trade gateways.
Salla said World Bank-backed investments will provide Qafë-Thana with modern storage infrastructure. The project will also create dedicated facilities for monitoring imports and exports. The minister said the National Food Authority will conduct food safety analyses at the border point. He added that the new facilities will reduce delays and strengthen consumer protection.
In addition, Salla announced plans to build seven new laboratories across Albania. The facilities will replace existing laboratories and expand testing capacity for imports and exports. According to Salla, the investment will support real-time analyses. It will also help ensure compliance with food safety standards.
Meanwhile, Lamallari stressed the importance of cooperation among institutions responsible for border management and food safety. The minister said Albania is working with North Macedonia to finalize an agreement on border procedures. The agreement aims to speed up the movement of passengers and goods while maintaining security standards.
Lamallari added that the State Police, Customs and the National Food Authority must work as a single mechanism. He said the cooperation will help prevent smuggling, tax evasion and the entry of unsafe products into the market. The inspection focused on stronger control mechanisms, modern border infrastructure and food safety standards aligned with European practices.
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