ANGJELINA VUKSANI1, BESKIDA DORDA1, GJOKË VUKSANI2*
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1Barleti University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tourism and Sports, Tirana, Albania 2Agricultural University of Tirana, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Tirana, Albania
Abstract Bovine meat production in Albania has steadily declined since 2018, indicating a reduced capacity within the sector to meet supply demands. This study evaluates Albania’s readiness to integrate into the EU market and the requirements for export certification by analyzing 31 health certification criteria based on EU standards for bovine slaughter (BOV-X/Y family models). The evaluation used a normative-evidence-based audit feasibility framework. The findings reveal a 19.3% decrease in total live-weight meat production from its peak of 161,000 tons in 2018, dropping to 130,000 tons. Notably, more than half of the certification criteria were classified as Not Applicable (NA), highlighting a significant lack of standardized, verifiable, and auditable evidence required for compliance with EU veterinary certification standards. While some partial regulatory alignment is present, it is inadequate. The lack of robust central audit trails, consistent laboratory-confirmed disease surveillance measures, effective residue management systems, and an EU-equivalent register of export-approved slaughter establishments severely undermines the validity of certification. To achieve compliance with the 2030 EU integration timeline and improve the viability of export certification, it is crucial to enhance the legal framework and implement standardized, auditable systems that link evidence to certification. Keywords: bovine animals, health certification, legal approximation, transport welfare, veterinary auditability. |
