Moldova moves forward on the path to EU integration with stricter food safety rules 

Moldova is making steady progress toward joining the EU by improving the way food products are monitored before they reach consumers’ tables.

In 2024, a key piece of legislation was adopted, which sets clear and harmonised rules for the inspection of food products. The law aims both to protect public health and to support local producers in adapting to European standards.

To help implement these rules, an EU-funded project – ‘Improving the Standards Compliance through Increased National Capacities for Residue Monitoring’ implemented by UNIDO – is providing support to Moldova’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) through the development of a new legislative package. These documents will help to turn reforms into action and focus on areas such as slaughterhouse operations, meat and fish production, inspection of dairy and mollusc products, and the use of pharmaceutical substances in livestock. The new measures aim to boost transparency, clarify responsibilities for those involved, and ultimately provide greater food safety for consumers.

One of the legislative initiatives sets detailed rules for inspections in slaughterhouses, and meat and fish processing facilities. It includes requirements for personnel training and specific regulations for wild game and mollusc harvesting.

A second initiative focuses on how products of animal origin  are inspected before they reach the market. It defines inspection frequency, traceability steps, labelling rules, and auditing procedures for production areas.

A third Government Decision addresses the control of pharmaceutical substances used in animals intended for food production. It outlines intervention measures in cases of misuse of veterinary drugs, procedures for the official detention of products, and steps for launching investigations.

To strengthen the capacity of the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) and ensure more consistent application of European food safety legislation, UNIDO experts also contributed to the development of four technical regulations. These aim to improve how the use of veterinary medicines and feed additives is controlled, introducing detailed procedures for inspections, testing, and sampling.

The new regulations also provide a clear framework for how national control plans should be developed, indicating when and where samples should be collected, which products should be tested, and how to assess the associated risks. 

With support from the EU and in partnership with national authorities, UNIDO is a key actor in transforming Moldova’s agri-food sector, offering expert guidance and technical support for sustainable and competitive industrial development. The legislative initiatives facilitated have direct impact on public health, aim to offer stronger guarantees for the quality and safety of food products on the market, while preparing Moldova’s meat industry for export to the EU.

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Press release