RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/ALB/31/Rev.2
6 September 1999
(99-3689)
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.
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Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
1.  Standstill: the introduction of new standards, animal
health regulations and food safety regulations shall conform
to SPS Agreement principles.   The current regulationsinclude:1.  Generally agreed principal in WTO
accession negotiations.
"Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate", Number 7643, dated2.12.1992;
"The Law on Food"; Number 7941, dated 31.05.1995;
"Law on Seeds and Saplings", Number 7659, dated12.01.1993;
"Law on Albanian Veterinary Services", Number 7674,
dated 23.02.1993;
Decision of the Council of Ministers, "On Pesticides",
Number 584, dated 06.12.1993;Decision of the Council of Ministers, "On Approving the
Regulation for the Production, Reproduction, Treatment,
Assessment, Trade, Control of Seeds and Saplings and for
Protection and Treatment of Genetic Material of Plants",
Number 552, dated 14.11.1994;
"Law on Plant Protection Services", Number 7662, dated
19.01.1993
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 international
organizations.  The Directory of Veterinary Service and
Plant Protection in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food
serves as the information point for questions related to
animal and plant inspection, control, etc.2.  Article 7 and Annex B.3WT/ACC/ALB/31/Rev.2
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Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
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 on
standards and technical regulations to be in compliance with
SPS and TBT.
Directorate for Standardization
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 and ensuring
transparency obligations are met on an ongoing basis, Order
of the Prime Minister, Number 36, dated 06.05.1999, (asprovided in Paragraph 7);3.  Articles 7 and Annex B, Also
G/SPS/7
(a) Annex B.5.(b) and Annex B.10
(b) an Order of the Prime Minister, to be approved by the
September, will require publication of proposed measures atan early stage for comment;(b) Annex B.5(a)
(c) an Order of the Prime Minister, to be approved by the
September, will require that copies of proposed measure beprovided to WTO Members; and(c) Annex B.5(c)
(d) an Order of the Prime Minister, to be approved by the
September, will specify a reasonable period of time for
comment from Members and the public, and establishment
of a process to take comments into account without
discrimination.(d) Annex B.5(d)
Commitment:  For points in number 3. (b), (c), and (c) Albania is committed to draft or amend
legislation to be in conformity with SPS at the time of accession.  There will be a Order of the PrimeMinister that will require by law that drafts be provided prior to publication for comments at an early
stage and notification of new measures for all existing laws related to SPS (i.e., those listed in 3. (a)
and any other that may have relevance to SPS).  The Decision will also be valid for future lawsaffecting SPS.
4.  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.  All
inspectors (chemical and physical laboratories,toxicological, bacteriological) operate according to this lawand inspections are based on scientific criteria.4.  Article 2.2WT/ACC/ALB/31/Rev.2
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Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
5. 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.  All
inspectors (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 internationalstandards, guidelines, and recommendations in establishing
SPS measures.6.  Articles 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4
7.  The State Sanitary Inspectorate (Articles I-II) provide for
equivalence, i.e., recognizes different measures that achievethe 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 the extent
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 characteristics
both of the areas from which products originate and theareas 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 different
members or between domestic and foreign suppliers.
Sub-legal acts define how samples are taken, and the
procedures of an examination and its duration.  The
practices are transparent for all subjects that are undercontrol.10.  Article 2.3, and Annex C.1(a) and
(d)
11.  The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate provides for the
control, inspection and approval procedures, e.g., to ensure
that procedures, including systems for approval of the use of
additives or for establishing tolerances for contaminants in
foods, beverages or feedstuffs comply with the Agreement.11.  Article 8 and Annex C
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