RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/ALB/32/Rev.1
23 June 1999
(99-2547)
Working Party on the
Accession of AlbaniaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF ALBANIA
Memorandum on Compliance with the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
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 Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT), with the request that it be circulated to members of the Working Party.
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Memorandum on Compliance with the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)
Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
1.  The Law on Standardization provides for Standstill: the
introduction of new standards, technical regulations and
conformity assessment procedures should be fully compatible
with the TBT Agreement principles.1.  Generally agreed principle in WTO
accession negotiations.
2.  The Law on Standardization and the four Decisions of theCouncil of Ministers that follow assure compliance with TBT:
(1) the "Code of Good Practice for the Adoption and
Application of Standards", Decision of the Council ofMinisters, Number 242, dated 28.05.99; (2) Criteria and
Competencies in the Fields of Standardization, Certification,
and Accreditation; (3) Exchange of Information on Standardsand Technical Regulations; and (4) the Preparation, Adoption
and Application of Technical Regulations and the Procedures
for Assessment of Conformity with Technical Regulations andStandards2.  Article 15.2 and TBT Committee
Decision (G/TBT/1)
Commitment: Albania commits to having the final three Decisions approved and implemented at the time ofaccession.
3.  By Order of the Prime Minister, Number 36, dated06.05.1999, (Paragraph 7) it is officially established that
Albania will have one enquiry point for information on
standards and technical regulations to be in compliance withSPS and TBT.  The location of the enquiry point is as follows:
Directorate for Standardization
Rr. "Mine Peza", Nr. 143/3
Tirana, ALBANIA3.  Articles 10WT/ACC/ALB/32/Rev.1
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Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
+ 355-42-47176 telephone
+ 355-42-26255 fax
dsc@icc.al.eu.org e-mail
4.  Relevant ministries (Ministry of Agriculture and Food,Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Immigration,
Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, Ministry of
Education and Science) will be the authorities responsible for
notification, publications and other internal procedures to
ensure that transparency obligations are met on an ongoingbasis:4.  Article 2,3,5,7,10,15.2,
Annex 3 and G/TBT/1
(A) the Decision of the Council of Ministers on thePreparation, Adoption and Application of TechnicalRegulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformitywith Technical Regulation and Standards will define thepublications where notices of proposed technical regulationsand conformity assessment procedures will appear;
(B) the Directorate for Standardization will be the authority
responsible for making the notifications to the WTO, Order of
the Prime Minister, Number 36, dated 06.05.1999, (Paragraph
7);
(C) the Decision of the Council of Ministers on the
Preparation, Adoption and Application of TechnicalRegulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformitywith Technical Regulation and Standards will give guidancefor ensuring non-discrimination consideration of comments inthe preparation of a final regulation and will define theresponsible authority; and
(D) the Decision of the Council of Ministers on the
Preparation, Adoption and Application of TechnicalRegulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformitywith Technical Regulation and Standards will define a
reasonable period of time between the final publication of a
technical regulation and conformity assessment procedure andits entry into force so that suppliers can adapt;
(E) with regard to standards, the adopted code, letter "J", will
be published by the Directorate of Standardization will provide
notification of draft standards and provide an opportunity forpublic comment.(A) Articles 2.9.1,3.1,5.6.1,7.1,10.1.5
(B) Articles 2.9.2, 2.10.1, 3.2,3.3,5.6.2,
5.7.1,7.2,7.3,10.7,10.10
(C) Articles 2.9.4,2.10.3,3.1,3.35.6.4,5.7.3,
7.1,7.3
(D) Articles 2.11,2.12,3.1,5.8,5.9, 7.1
(E) Article 4, Annex 3 (J,K,L,N,O); Article
8.1
5. Development and Application of Technical Regulations and
Conformity Assessment Procedures: existence of legal and/or
administrative underpinnings (or "reasonable measures" as
appropriate) to ensure ongoing compliance with provisions of
the agreement concerning, in particular:
(A) the Albanian Law on Standardization, Article 4, provides
for non-discrimination with respect to treatment of productsand the Decision of the Council of Ministers on the
Preparation, Adoption and Application of Technical
Regulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformitywith Technical Regulation and Standards;5.  Articles 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
(A) Articles 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1WT/ACC/ALB/32/Rev.1
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Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
(B) the Albanian Law on Standardization, Article 4, and the
Decision on the Preparation, Adoption and Application of
Technical Regulations and the Procedures for Assessment ofConformity with Technical Regulation and Standards provides
for the prohibition of unnecessary obstacles to international
trade and the consideration of le ss trade-restrictive alternatives
to fulfilling legitimate objectives;
(C) the Decision on the Preparation, Adoption and Application
of Technical Regulations and the Procedures for Assessment of
Conformity with Technical Regulation and Standards willprovide for ongoing review of technical regulations to ensure
they are appropriate to achieve the desired legitimate objective;
(D) the Law on Standardization, Article 4, and the Decision on
the Preparation, Adoption and Application of TechnicalRegulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformity
with Technical Regulation and Standards provides for the
consideration of appropriate international standards, guidesand recommendations as a basis for technical regulations and
conformity assessment procedures;
(E) the Decision on the Prepar ation, Adoption and Application
of Technical Regulations and the Procedures for Assessment ofConformity with Technical Regulation and Standards will
provide for the consideration of equivalent technical
regulations of other Members;
(F) relevant ministries can take the decision to accept the
results of conformity assessment procedures conducted by
bodies in an exporting Member country as well as the Decision
on the Preparation, Adoption and Application of TechnicalRegulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformity
with Technical Regulation and Standards; and
(G) relevant ministries will implement a non-discriminatory
and a cost-based fee structure as well as the Decision on the
Preparation, Adoption and Application of Technical
Regulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformity
with Technical Regulation and Standards.(B) Articles 2.2, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1
(C) Articles 2.3, 3.1, 7.1
(D) Articles 2.4, 3.1, 5.4, 7.1
(E) Articles 2.7, 3.1, 7.1
(F) Articles 6, 7.1
(G) Articles 5.2, 7.1, 10.4
6.  Development and Application of Standards and Conformity
Assessment Procedures: Existence of legal and/or
administrative underpinnings (or "reasonable measures" as
appropriate) to ensure ongoing compliance with provisions ofthe agreement concerning, in particular:
(A) the Law on Standardization, Article 4, and the Adopted
Code provide for non-discrimination with respect to the
treatment of products;
(B) the Law on Standardization, Article 4, and the Adopted
Code provide for the prohibition of unnecessary obstacles tointernational trade;
(C) the Law on Standardization, Article 4, and the Adopted6.  Article 4 and Annex 3, Article 8
(A) Annex 3 (D), Article 8.1
(B) Annex 3 (E), Article 8.1
(C) Annex 3 (F), Article 8.1WT/ACC/ALB/32/Rev.1
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Albanian Compliance Requirements under the WTO
Code provide for the consideration of appropriate international
standards, guides, and recommendations as basis for standards;
(D) the Adopted Code provides non-discriminatory and cost-
based fee structure.(D) Annex 3 (M), Annex 3 (P), Articles 8.1,
10.4
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