labelling, and marketing. This legal foundation ensures basic consumer protection and market functioning. Complementing this are a whole set of legal acts22 on organic production, labelling and control which provides a normative framework for ecological and sustainable farming practices—key components of sustainable gastronomy. The whole legal framework on food is being amended due to the obligations Albania has on the negotiation process with the EU.23 However, the cornerstone of the legal protection of gastronomic identity lies in a set of instruments aligned with the European Union acquis, particularly in the field of agricultural and food product quality schemes.24 Such a legal framework provides for Geographical Indications (GIs), Designation of Origin (DO), as well as protected GIs and DOs (PGI, PDO), and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSGs). Its importance lies in formally linking specific foods to their place of origin and production method, providing legal recognition and protection to traditional knowledge and practices. Considering the common dimension of gastronomy,25 the new EU Regulation 2024/1143 has recognised the importance of collective property and allows association of producers to have certain rights and participate in policy making.26 It also emphasises the inclusion of sustainability practices in food products specifications,27 understood as the contribution of a practice to broader social, environmental, and economic OG 29/2022, OG 192/2024. 22 Law no 106/2016 “On organic production, labelling of organic products and their control”, OG 217/2016. 23 See for example draft law “On official controls” <https://www.konsultimipublik.gov.al/Konsultime/ Detaje/866> accessed 26 August 2025. This draft aims to transpose Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, pp. 1–142. 24 Law no 8/2019 “On quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs” OG 33/2019. This legal act transposes Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, pp. 1–29, which is now repealed by Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms for agricultural products, amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2019/787 and (EU) 2019/1753 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, OJ L, 2024/1143 which is expected to be reflected into Albanian legislation soon. 25 See Christian Barrère, Quentin Bonnard, Véronique Noblot Chossat. Food, gastronomy and cultural commons. In E.E. Bertacchini, G. Bravo, M. Marrelli and W. Santagata. Cultural Commons: A new perspective on the Production and Evolution of Cultures, Edward Elgar, pp.129-150, 2012. 26 Art 33-34 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143. 27 Art 7 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 highlights the importance of sustainability principles and encourages the inclusion of related commitments within product specifications. Under the proposed framework, producer groups—particularly those recognised at national level—may agree to adopt sustainable practices in the production of geographically indicated products. These practices should exceed the minimum environmental, social, economic, or animal welfare standards established under Union or national law. 474 NADA DOLLANI
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