. /.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/ALB/31
30 March 1999
(99-1289)
Working Party on the
Accession of AlbaniaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF ALBANIA
Memorandum on Compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
The Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Trade of the Republic of Albania has submitted
the following Memorandum on Compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), with
the request that it be circulated to members of the Working Party.
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Memorandum on Compliance with 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 shall conform toSPS Agreement principles.   The current regulations include:
"The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate", No. 7643, dated
2 December 19921. Generally agreed principal in WTO
accession negotiations.
2. Article I, Section 1 and 6, of the Law on State SanitaryInspectorate states that the Mini stry of Health serves as the
information point for the WHO and related internationalorganizations.  This Inspectorate will be the Contact Point for theWTO.  The Directory of Veterinary Service and Plant Protectionin the Ministry of Agriculture and Food serves as the information
point for questions related to animal and plant inspection,
control, etc.  According to the Law on Standardisation, thegovernment has the authority to produce sub-legal acts toestablish a single unit that will serve as the contact point.  Basedon Article No. 15 of the law, we need about 2 years toimplement the setting up of that unit2. Article 7 and Annex B.3.
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 law and inspections arebased on scientific criteria.4. Article 2.2.WT/ACC/ALB/31
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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 apply only to
protect human, animal an/or plant health.  All inspectors(chemical and physical laboratories, toxicological,bacteriological) operate according to this law and inspections arebased on scientific criteria.5. Articles 2.2, 3.3 and 5.2.
6. The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Articles I-III)
provides for harmonisation, i.e., will follow international
standards, guidelines, and recommendations in establishing SPS
measures.6. Articles 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4.
7. The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Articles I-II)
provides for equivalence, i.e., recognises 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 evidenceand conducting risk assessments to ensure that measures arebased on science and applied only to the extent necessary to
protect health.8. Article 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.
9. The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate (Article I)
provides for consideration of regional conditions, i.e., measuresthat take into account the regional characteristics both of theareas from which products originate and the areas for which theyare 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 not arbitrarilyor unjustifiably discriminate between different members or
between domestic and foreign suppliers.  Sub-legal acts define
how samples are taken, and the procedures of an examinationand its duration.  The practices are transparent for all subjectsthat under control.10. Article 2.3, and Annex C.1(a) and
(d).
11. The Law on State Sanitary Inspectorate provides for thecontrol, inspection and approval procedures, e.g., to ensure thatprocedures, 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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