Perception of small and medium-sized pork producers in the Republic of Moldova on food safety regulations and economic sustainability

Abstract

The paper analyzes the perceptions of local pork producers and consumers in the Republic of Moldova about the regulations governing food safety and their role in economic development. The study refers to the importance of complying with standards, the impact of implementing standards on production costs, and the analysis of the competitiveness of the Republic of Moldova's market, which is currently in the process of gradual alignment with European Union norms. Through a mixed approach, data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with the main actors: small and medium-sized producers, traders and consumers. The quantitative data were statistically analyzed, and the qualitative data were thematically coded to highlight major attitudes and challenges. The results show that although most producers recognize the importance of compliance, they consider the implementation of regulations to be costly and insufficiently supported institutionally. Consumers associate compliance with standards with higher product quality, but show limited information. The study concludes that institutional support, targeted training, and consumer education are essential for balancing regulatory enforcement with long-term economic sustainability in the pork sector in the Republic of Moldova.