FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS: A PRIORITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VEGETABLE SECTOR AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

This study focuses on food safety standards in the vegetable sector, using Albania as a case study, and emphasizes the sector’s development as a national priority for ensuring consumer protection. The research is based on primary data collected in the field from three major counties, where a random sampling method was applied for the year 2025. The selected sample includes vegetable farmers engaged in the cultivation of fresh produce from the counties of Tirana, Fier, and Berat.
The sampling process was conducted randomly and relied on a structured questionnaire composed of closed-ended questions, divided into two main sections. The first section assesses whether the interviewed farmers implement food safety standards such as HACCP, ISO 22000, and Global GAP, or do not apply any standard at all. The second section focuses on government support in the vegetable sector, specifically in terms of subsidies, farmer training, provision of agricultural materials, and access to technical consultancy. A total of 150 farmers were interviewed, with 50 participants from each district. The methodology adopted is descriptive, incorporating comparative statistical analyses expressed in percentages (Bajraktari & Deda, 2024).
The primary aim of this research is to evaluate the level of compliance with food safety standards among farmers cultivating fresh vegetables—whether in open fields or greenhouses—in order to safeguard consumer health. Additionally, the study proposes several governmental policy recommendations to enhance future support programs for farmers and reinforce consumer protection mechanisms.