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Andis Salla "challenges" the EU - The Minister of Agriculture is not implementing the decision to ban uncontrolled meat from Brazil!

2026-08-03 13:41:32Investigim SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Andis Hall

Albanians will continue to be flooded with uncontrolled meat from Brazil even after September 3, 2026, even though the European Union has decided to ban the export of meat from the South American country after this date, arguing that it harms public health. But, for our Minister of Agriculture, Andis Salla, such a decision is not a problem at all, as long as he continues calmly and does not issue any orders or regulations on how such meat will continue to arrive in Albania!

Of course, lobbying by interest groups seems to be more important than the health of the population, especially after a very important decision by the European Union, which states that "Brazilians use antibiotics indiscriminately in livestock farming." In this case, Minister Salla should only "notarize" the EU decision and not ignore it, as he has done so far, given that the deadline is very tight, as we still have 1 month left to decide what to do with these products.

And if it does not act, as is very likely to happen, the entire market and the population will be in an abnormal situation, with the consumer feeling the risk of an unsuitable product and businesses starting campaigns that "meat is healthy". The regulator in this case is only the firm of Minister Salla, who seems to be facing two very important elections, which will most likely also mark the continuation of his career in politics.

A surreal situation, as the import of beef and poultry from Brazil risks being left without an enforceable legal basis as of September 3, while veterinary certificates for pork continue to be frozen since 2006. The Ministry of Agriculture must now decide whether to align with the new requirements of the European Union, or whether to allow imports to continue in a legal gray area, at the expense of the consumer?!

The order from 20 years ago!

According to information available to Vox News, the basis of the case lies in the ministerial order number 294, dated June 13, 2006, 'on the import of meat from the Federative Republic of Brazil'. This act, adopted twenty years ago within the framework of a bilateral agreement between the Albanian and Brazilian veterinary authorities, has so far allowed the entry into Albania of beef, pork and poultry from Brazil.

"The legal mechanism for beef and poultry meat was based on a single condition: production had to come from establishments and areas approved by the European Union. This was the 'entry ticket'; if a Brazilian slaughterhouse or factory was certified to export to the EU, it automatically met the conditions for the Albanian market as well," the agreement stated.

But this mechanism has now fallen into place. With the new EU implementing regulation, 2026/1189, which amends the 2021 regulation, the European Commission has decided that, “as of 3 September 2026, Brazil will no longer be listed as an authorised country for the export of beef and poultry to the EU.”

According to them, the reason is related to the lack of guarantees required under European legislation to restrict the use of certain veterinary antimicrobial products. “Practices related to the use of antibiotics in livestock farming, a growing concern for public health at a global level,” the decision said.

Currently, the consequence for Albania is direct, since no Brazilian establishment will be approved by the EU for these categories anymore, the condition imposed by the 2006 Order remains practically unenforceable. In simple terms, Albanian law will continue to require something that will no longer exist!

AKU alarm

The situation has not gone unnoticed by the control structures, as the National Food Authority sent the Ministry of Agriculture, on July 24, 2026, letter number 4095, expressly requesting measures to be taken through a new ministerial order to decide how import procedures at border inspection posts (BIPs) will continue after September 3.

According to information available to Vox News, the AKU bases its request on Article 47 of Law No. 9863, dated January 28, 2008, "on food", which gives the responsible minister the authority to order a temporary ban on imports from a certain country when food poses a serious risk to human health or when measures are required to guarantee food safety.

The fact that such a request comes only about 40 days before the entry into force of the European change suggests a narrow time window for administrative decision-making, which normally requires time for inter-institutional consultations and diplomatic notification. Minister Salla is now faced with a choice; to be with the consumer or to side with interest groups, to allow “rotten” meat on the tables of Albanians?!

(Continued...)

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