How much does the certification of organic exports cost us? - Hysenaj: Costs for new companies reach up to 10 thousand euros per year
The export of Albanian products to the European Union continues to face significant challenges, mainly related to the necessary standards and certifications. Although many Albanian companies have already complied with EU and US criteria, the cost and process of certification remain an obstacle for small businesses. Xhevit Hysenaj, President of the Association of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, emphasizes that the priority of companies should be the product itself, increasing its quality before thinking about certification.
"We will indeed enter the EU, but our products that we have exported to the EU have always been in EU standards, sometimes they have also been with US standards, and nothing has changed for us. Because those companies that have not been able to meet the standards, even if they have been presented with standards, have been returned to you because we have had many complaints, many Albanian products of Albanian agribusiness that have been returned from the US. Then the standards depend, if they want to export organic products, which fortunately our nature has been organic, but it is no longer because pollution is very pronounced. And if we have to export organic, there is an additional cost that ranges from 3 thousand to 7 thousand euros for an annual certification. It depends on how much it will affect, if a company wants to export 500 thousand euros a year, it is not profitable for it to make an export for one product. Organic products from Albania are not exported more than 8-11% of the products that we export, not to be confused with bioorganics with naturals."
But are certifications a big cost for small companies that want to export to EU markets?
"It is. The EU does not require any certification for normal products. It is enough to have quality. The main problem that does not improve certification is the product. First of all, the product must be certified, then it must be certified. The problem is not certification, it is the product in our country, and this is the main thing. For small companies, it is a high cost, there have been many donors who have tried, even through Albanian government programs, to certify farmers, and it is unattainable. Because for a farmer who exports for 30 thousand euros, 10 thousand euros of certification. A company of my level, it costs about 20 thousand euros of certifications per year, and there was no benefit."
According to Hysenaj, the focus should always be on increasing export standards, so that products reach their destination with the appropriate level of standards.
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