Albania’s Council of Ministers has approved changes to the organisation and operation of the Food Safety and Veterinary Institute (ISUV) to strengthen laboratory capacity and improve controls over veterinary health, food safety and plant health.

Under the decision, ISUV will conduct laboratory tests under national programmes, sectoral strategies, monitoring plans, surveillance programmes and authorised official controls.

The changes also provide for confirmatory testing by accredited and authorised laboratories in EU member states when disease outbreaks, epidemics or quarantine pests affect plants, plant products or other relevant items. These tests will help verify findings and support responses to potential threats.

The decision also replaces the abbreviation OIE with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) throughout the existing legislation.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and ISUV will oversee implementation. The decision will enter into force upon publication in the Official Gazette.