10%

Moldova works to ensure all food is safe

National food control authorities are better equipped and more knowledgeable than ever before, thanks to a comprehensive project from FAO

By FAO Europe and Central Asia

March 26^th, 2018

getting serious about food safety

People everywhere want their food to be safe – free of harmful toxins, viruses, bacteria, veterinary drugs, or excess additives. For the past two years, Moldova has been working with FAO to modernize its national food safety system.

a young institution strives to improve

Moldova’s food safety agency was established in 2013 as a single food safety control authority for the entire food chain. Along with the Ministry of Agriculture – the main policy maker – this young institution was the FAO project’s main beneficiary.

The building that houses the National Food Safety Agency laboratories - Republican Veterinary Diagnosis Center, Chisinau, Moldova.

Entrance to the radiology section, National Food Safety Agency laboratories in Chisinau, Moldova.

logical starting point

The effort began with a careful assessment of Moldova’s food safety system. Using an approach developed by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO), the assessment looked at Moldova's food safety laws and regulations, infrastructure and equipment, qualification of personnel, import and export controls, surveillance of food-borne diseases, information flows, relations with the private sector, and the food control authority's capacity to collect and analyze data.

Seeding of products of animal origin on a nutrient medium. National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Chisinau, Moldova.

Hg measuring, atomic absorption method. National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Chisinau, Moldova.

Measuring fat content using the Soxhlet method. National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Chisinau, Moldova.

Sample preparation for seeding in microbiological tests. National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Chisinau, Moldova.

technical training, equipment

Veterinary and food safety control inspectors received specialized training in the use of state-of-the art testing equipment, and on how to analyze and interpret results.

Seeding on SVR medium for diagnosis of bacterial diseases such as salmonellosis, colibacillosis, rujet, or anthrax. Chisinau, Moldova.

Reactants necessary for performing analyses, National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Chisinau, Moldova.

Diagnosing brucellosis. National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Republican Veterinary Diagnosis Center , Chisinau, Moldova.

Detection of antibodies using ELISA Method. Virology Section, Viral serology lab, National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Moldova.

Detecting antibiotics in honey. National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Chisinau, Moldova.

Detecting heavy metals such as Pb, CD, using the AAS method. National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Moldova.

target groups

Food service operators such as restaurants – along with small-scale milk producers – were two food sub-sectors targeted for special attention. Romanian-language guidelines published as part of the project are helping to convey food safety requirements and good practices to these groups.

Samples brought to the radiology department, National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Moldova.

Lab staff receive samples of pathological material, at the National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Moldova.

Bacteriological room of the National Food Safety Agency laboratories, Republican Veterinary Diagnosis Center, in Chisinau, Moldova.

Biochemical examination (API 20E) for diagnosis of bacterial diseases (salmonellosis, colibacillosis).

risk analysis, emergency preparedness

A national food safety emergency response plan, and regulations to strengthen the food recall system, were drawn up as part of the FAO project. Risk analysis and risk-based inspections, foresight and intelligence in the food chain, and early reaction to food safety threats are essential capacities for a national food safety system.

Food safety risk is reduced by applying good practices and the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) all along the food chain – from farm to consumer.

A local pension in Lalova, Rezina offers fresh, traditional Moldovan foods.

A pot of homemade sarmale -- grape leaves filled with minced meat, rice, and other ingredients.

Traditional foods prepared by a pension in Lalova, Rezina, Moldova. Central is the corn porridge called mămăligă.

benefits for everyone

“Improvements achieved as a result of this project will benefit Moldovan consumers, producers, processors, food service business, food safety authorities, and policy makers,” said Tudor Robu, Assistant FAO Representative in Moldova. "Safety and quality of food is an important area of work and expertise for FAO. It relates directly to nutrition, food security, responsible use of natural resources, and economic growth."

Tudor Robu, FAO Assistant Representative in Moldova.

VIDEO (3'02")

FAO food safety and nutrition officer Eleonora Dupouy talks about food safety threats and how Moldova is coping with them.

Footnotes

All photos: ©FAO / Dorin Goian. Story by FAO senior communication officer Sharon Lee Cowan.

FootNotes

All photos: ©FAO / Dorin Goian. Story by FAO senior communication officer Sharon Lee Cowan.

© 2026 FAO Europe and Central Asia

Story Told With

Start publishing stories like this

Loading, please hold on.