Producers from Criuleni requested preservation of district phytosanitary laboratories

Chisinau, March 30 /MOLDPRES/- The need to maintain phytosanitary laboratories at the district level and obtaining certificates for export were pressing topics for agricultural producers, discussed yesterday in Criuleni, at a meeting with Vasile Şarban, state secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA).

According to the farmers from Criuleni, the phytosanitary control procedure has become complex, following the reformation of the National Food Safety Agency and the reduced number of staff.

The parties agreed to intensify their dialogue, including through sectoral advisory councils, to ensure effective cooperation between authorities, professional associations and economic agents involved in agricultural activity.

At the beginning of this year, the Government decided to reform the National Agency for Food Safety. The reorganization of ANSA sees  the optimization of territorial subdivisions. From the 23 currently existing units, 10 subdivisions without legal personality are to be created, following the model of the State Chancellery (territorial offices). Consequently, the number of management positions will be reduced by around 100 positions, from 244 positions to 145. Thus, the share of management positions will be reduced from 20% to 12%. At the same time, the agency will strengthen its functional attributions related to the execution of controls and ensuring food safety. The attributions of the management of the territorial structures will be taken over by the central apparatus of ANSA, the internal managerial control system in the field of institutional integrity being strengthened.

Photo: MAIA