RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/ALB/31/Rev.1
23 June 1999
(99-2546)
Working Party on the
Accession of AlbaniaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF ALBANIA
Memorandum on Compliance with the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Revision
The Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Trade of the Republic of Albania has submitted
the following revision to the Memorandum on Compliance with the Agreement on Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), with the request that it be circulated to members of the Working Party.
_______________
Memorandum on Compliance with the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
(SPS)
Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
1.  Standstill: the introduction of new standards, animal
health regulations and food safety regulations shallconform to SPS Agreement principles.  The currentregulations include:
"The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate", Number 7643,
dated 2.12.19921.  Generally agreed principle in
WTO accession negotiations.
2.  Article I, Section 1 and 6, of the Law on State SanitaryInspectorate states that the Ministry of Health serves as theinformation point for the WHO and related internationalorganizations.  The Directory of Veterinary Service andPlant Protection in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food
serves as the information point for questions related to
animal and plant inspection, control, etc.
By Order of the Prime Minister, Number 36, dated
06.05.1999, (Paragraph 7) it is officially established thatAlbania will have one inquiry point for information onstandards and technical regulations to be in compliancewith SPS and TBT.
Directorate for Standardization2.  Article 7 and Annex B.3WT/ACC/ALB/31/Rev.1
Page 2
Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
Rr. "Mine Peza", Nr. 143/3
Tirana, ALBANIA+ 355-42-47176 telephone+ 355-42-26255 fax
dsc@icc.al.eu.org e-mail
Commitment:  The Directorate of Standardization, with its authority and responsibility to operate a
single unit inquiry point, commits Albania to having a fully operational single unit inquiry point atthe time of accession.
3.  Transparency: notification and access to documentation:
(A) The Directorate of Standards is the authority
responsible for making notifications to the WTO andensuring transparency obligations are met on an ongoingbasis, Order of the Prime Minister, Number 36, dated06.05.1999, (as provided in Paragraph 7);
(B) there is nothing in the law at this time requiring
publication of proposed measures at an early stage forcomment;3.  Articles 7 and Annex B, Also
G/SPS/7
(A) Annex B.5.(b) and Annex B.10
(B) Annex B.5(a)
(C) there are no provisions in law or administrative
procedure at this time requiring that copies of proposedmeasure be provided to WTO Members; and
(D) at this time there is no requirement in law or
administrative procedure that specifies a reasonable period
of time for comment from Members and the public, and
establishment of a process to take comments into accountwithout discrimination.1(C) Annex B.5(c)
(D) Annex B.5(d)
Commitment:  For points 3. (B), (C), and (D) Albania is committed to draft or amend legislation to
be in conformity with SPS at the time of accession.
4.  The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Article I,Sections 5-8, and Article II) defines measures that applyonly to protect human, animal an/or plant health.  Allinspectors (chemical and physical laboratories,toxicological, bacteriological) operate according to this lawand inspections are based on scientific criteria.4.  Article 2.2
5. The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Article I,
Sections 5-8, and Article II) defines measures that apply
only to protect human, animal an/or plant health.  Allinspectors (chemical and physical laboratories,toxicological, bacteriological) operate according to this lawand inspections are based on scientific criteria.5.  Articles 2.2, 3.3 and 5.2
6.  The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Articles I-III)
provides for harmonization, i.e., will follow international
standards, guidelines, and recommendations in establishing6.  Articles 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4WT/ACC/ALB/31/Rev.1
Page 3
Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
SPS measures.
7.  The State Sanitary Inspectorate (Articles I-II) provide
for equivalence, i.e., recognizes different measures thatachieve the same level of protection.7.   Article 4
8.  The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Articles I-III)
provides for risk assessment by developing scientific
evidence and conducting risk assessments to ensure that
measures are based on science and applied only to theextent necessary to protect human, animal, plant health.8.  Article 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3
9.  The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Article I) and
the provides for consideration of regional conditions, i.e.,measures that take into account the regional characteristicsboth of the areas from which products originate and the
areas for which they are destined.9.  Article 6 and Annexes A.6 and
A.7
10. The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Articles I-II)provides for non-discrimination, i.e., measures do notarbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate between differentmembers or between domestic and foreign suppliers.  Sub-legal acts define how samples are taken, and the proceduresof an examination and its duration.  The practices are
transparent for all subjects that are under control.10.  Article 2.3, and Annex C.1(a)
and (d)
11.  The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate provides forthe control, inspection and approval procedures, e.g., toensure that procedures, including systems for approval ofthe use of additives or for establishing tolerances forcontaminants in foods, beverages or feedstuffs comply with
the Agreement.11.  Article 8 and Annex C
__________