Press Conference of the EU Hygiene Standards Project for Farmers and Food Processors
The opening press conference of the “Technical Assistance Project for Raising Awareness of Farmers and Food Processors on IPARD Supports, EU Environmental and Hygiene Standards”, co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Turkey and implemented by the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution (ARDSI), was held on 17 January 2019 in Ankara.
The project, which will be implemented over a 12-month period, aims to raise awareness among farmers and food processors within the scope of the IPARD II Programme regarding compliance with EU standards in areas such as food hygiene, environmental protection, and animal welfare. It also seeks to contribute to the institutional capacity strengthening of ARDSI.
The opening speeches were delivered by ARDSI President Hakan Kalender and Director General of Livestock of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Zekeriya Erdurmuş. In his address, Hakan Kalender emphasized that ensuring compliance with EU hygiene and animal welfare standards in enterprises established through IPARD support is a primary goal. He noted that approximately 3,000 livestock farms and 700 processing facilities have achieved EU-level standards, adding that the project outcomes would serve as a reference guide for farmers and food processors and that it covers 42 provinces where the IPARD Programme is implemented.
Among the project activities are needs assessments and gap analyses to identify the requirements of food processors and farmers regarding food hygiene, environmental protection, and animal welfare practices, the preparation of a strategy and roadmap on the topic, as well as the organization of training sessions and awareness-raising seminars.
The press conference was attended by representatives from the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey, the Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution, and members of the press.
