RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
23October 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4429)
Original: English
ACCESSION OFALBANIA
Additional Questions andReplies
Addendum
Thefollowing replies toadditional questions havebeenreceived fromtheMinistry ofIndustry,
Transport andTrade oftheRepublic ofAlbania.
_______________
II.A.2 Economic Policies
Question 1.
Aretheprices ofenergy usedbyindustry controlled? Arecontrolled prices below world
market levels? What plans arethere fortheremoval ofthese controls?
Answer.
Theprices ofenergy usedbyindustrial consumers arecontrolled onthebasis ofdifferential
tariffs which variate. Forsmall consumers inservice activities thetariffs arehigher. Theregulation
ofthose tariffs isdoneinconformity withthepolicies fortheprices ofenergy.
Theprice ofelectric energy inAlbania islower thatinthecountries oftheEuropean Union.
AccordingtotheRegulatoryLawofElectricEnergy,thepriceofelectricenergywillbeincreased
stepbystepinorder toachieve thecosts oftheenergy sector.
II.B.1 Special Customs Duties (question 5,page 6,WT/ACC/ALB/3)
Question 2.
Albania advises thatLawNo.7609"OnCustoms Tariffs" provided fortheuseofspecial
customs duties as(a)protective measures, when goods areimported insuchquantities thatthey
become athreat todomestic producers ofthesame orcompetitive goods, and(b)asprohibitive
measures incertain circumstances, including theprevention of"unjust competition, defined by
cases described inAlbanian laws". WenotethatAlbanian lawprovides foranti-dumping and
countervailing duties, butthere arenoregulations onhowsuch duties aretobecalculated
(WT/ACC/ALB/4, page 9,question 23).
Arethespecial customs duties different from anti-dumping andcountervailing duties?
Ifso,how? Could Albania clarify what ismeant by"unjust competition" interms of(b)above?WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page2
Answer.
Details onthecircumstances inwhich thespecial customs duties canbeimposed, aswellas
theirrelationship toanti-dumping andcountervailing duties, havenotbeendefined. These issues, as
wellasissues related toconformity withinternational rules, willbeaddressed when Albania develops
lawsandimplementing regulations fortherelevant parts oftheLawonCustoms Tariffs.
III.A.6 Quotas, Licences andOther Non-tariff Measures
Question 3.
Please supply information requested inthequestionnaire onimport licensing procedures.
With reference totheproducts listed intheanswer toquestion 11(WT/ACC/ALB/3) some
imports areprohibited forhealth reasons, e.g.inpesticides, medicines, seeds andseedlings. Are
thesame criteria applied todomestic products? Areequally stringent regulations alsoapplied
todomestic products?
Areanyproducts subject toimport quotas orimport licensing? Ifso,please listthe
products, describe therelevant procedures andindicate therationale forthemeasures.
Answer.
Thequestionnaire onimport licensing procedures hasbeensubmitted totheWorking Party
on18September 1996(WT/ACC/ALB/19). Thisinformation indicates theprocedures, listofproducts
subject tolicensing etc.
III.A.8 Customs Valuation
Question 4.
Please supply thetextofthedraft Customs Valuation Lawinanofficial WTO language
andinformation requested inthequestionnaire oncustoms valuation.
Answer.
Acopy ofthedraftCustoms Valuation LawinEnglish wasprovided totheWorking Party
attheApril 1996 meeting (WT/ACC/ALB/6). Answers tothequestionnaire oncustoms valuation
were submitted on18September 1996 (WT/ACC/ALB/16).
Question 5.
When willminimum prices beabolished?
Answer.
TheAlbanian Government intends toreplace thecustoms valuation based ontheminimum
prices withthecustoms valuation based onthetransaction value. AdraftlawonCustoms Valuation
hasbeenprepared andprovided totheSecretariat.WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page3
III.A.10 Preshipment Inspection
Question 6.
IstheAlbanian Government considering having recourse topreshipment inspection? If
so,please provide details ofthereasons forthisandtheservices thatwould beprovided.
Answer.
Thepreparation ofthelawonpreshipment inspection isunder consideration bytheAlbanian
Government.
III.A.12 Sanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
Question 7.
Does Albania foresee anyproblem regarding theapplication ofthisAgreement?
Answer.
Albania doesnotforesee anyproblems regarding theapplication ofthisAgreement.
III.B.4 Export Licensing System
Question 8.
Regarding export ofdual-use (civil andmilitary) commodities andtechnology, which are
theexisting international agreement onexport control taken asabasis byAlbanian authorities
forinternal regulations?
Answer.
There arenointernal regulations addressing theexport ofdual-use (civil andmilitary)
commodities andtechnology.
Question 9.
Weunderstand thatexport prohibition nowexists onallwood andwood products, with
theexception offurniture andcharcoal (decision oftheCabinet of12.02.96). When willexport
prohibitions onwood andwood products andmetal waste andscrap beabolished?
Answer.
TheMinistry ofIndustry, Transport andTrade incooperation withtheMinistry ofAgriculture
arepreparing thestrategies fortherational exploitation offorestries andthedevelopment ofwood
industry. There arenorecent plans forabolishment ofexport prohibitions onwood andwood products
asforthemetal waste andscrap.WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page4
III.D Trade inTransit
Question 10.
AlbaniaisaContractingPartytothe1975TIRConvention.WouldtheAlbanianauthorities
indicate whether thetransit permits fortheTIRaregranted freeofcharge oronpayment? If
there isaceiling forthepermits granted freeand,ifso,what arethecriteria fortheirassignment?
Answer.
Albanian isaContracting Party tothe1975TIRConvention. Thetransit permits fortheTIR
aregranted onlyonpayment, conform theinternational fee.There arenotransit permits fortheTIR
granted freeofcharge andnooneceiling forthepermits granted free.
IV.B State-trading Enterprises
Question 11.
Please supply theinformation requested intheState-trading questionnaire.
Answer.
Thequestionnaire onState-trading enterprises wasprovided totheWorking Party inSeptember
1996 (WT/ACC/ALB/13).
IV.G Foreign Investment Policy
Question 12.
Could Albania explain what ismeant when itadvises thatinsome instances itgives "the
better ofnational treatment orMFN"? Could Albania giveexamples?
Answer.
Intheareaofforeign investment, foreign investors aresubject tofewer exchange controls than
Albanian nationals suchasrepatriation ofprofits andcapitals etc.
Question 13.
Could thedelegation ofAlbania provide information onthedistribution offoreign direct
investment flows invarious fields oftheAlbanian economy, withspecial emphasis onthesituation
intheheavy industry which isretaining acrucial roleintheAlbanian economy (Chapter IV.G
oftheMemorandum)?
Answer.
Thesituation inheavy industry covered bytheMinistry ofMineral Resources andEnergy is
described below. ThisMinistry covers these sectors inparticular:WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page5
- fuelandgas;
- geology, mines andmetal processing;
- production, transmission anddistribution ofelectric energy.
FuelandGas
Thesector ofresearch, production andprocessing ofthefuelisorganized bythecorporation
Albpetrol, which operates onthebasis foralicence issued bythenational Agency ofHydrocarbons
asanentity depending onthisMinistry andhastherighttonegotiate withtheinterested subjects, local
orforeign, inthefieldoffuelandgas.
Until nowthisAgency hasissued anumber oflicences fordifferent international companies
operating intheresearch ofnewzones forfuelindifferent parts ofAlbanian territory inthesea.
Research off-shore: Chevron (USA, Great Britain), Hamilton (Austria), Oxidental Petroleum
(USA), Demine (Germany), OMV (Austria), Agip (Italy), Shell (British-Dutch).
Research in-land: Ina-Naftaphlin (Croatia), Coparex (France).
Geology andMinerals
Allenterprises inAlbania areorganized inasolecorporation GJEOALBA, which deals with
research ofminerals inalltheterritory ofAlbania. Thiscorporation iscooperating withsome Canadian
companies intheresearch fieldsuchasNebex, Royal Roads andWinter Roads.
Chrome
Thechrome industry isorganized intheALBKROM corporation, which includes allchrome
mines, processing andsmelting factories. Thiscorporation hassigned andagreement withtheGerman
company Preussag forthedirection of8'%ofAlbrkrom wealth. Another agreement withtheItalian
company Acciaerie Venete isexpected tobesigned fortheremaining part.
Copper
Thecopper industry, withallitsmines andtheenreaching smelting andproduction factories
isorganized intheAlbbaker corporation. Thiscorporation isworking injoint-venture commitments
withagroup ofItalian companies.
Other mines
Thisgroup ofmines includes: coal, ferro-nickel, baoxides, dolomites, etc.depending from
theMinistry ofMineral Resources andEnergy.
Foreign companies seem tobeinterested inthese mines, which aresubject toprivatization
indifferent forms. Fortheferro-nickel mines anAustralian company, BHP, isshowing interest in
cooperating from themines uptothefinalproduct -purenickel.
Electric Energy
Production ofelectric energy byhydro andthermic plants, itstransmission byhighvoltage
linesandthedistribution totheconsumer isdirected bytheAlbanian Electroenergetic Corporation
(KESH).WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page6
Fortheorganization, restructuring andrehabilitation ofdifferent sectors ofthiscorporation
anumber offeasibility studies havebeencarried outwhich arenecessary fordifferent investment
projects. Inthisfieldseveral projects areimplemented bycredit linesorgrants frommany countries
andinternational financial institutions suchastheWorld Bank, EBRD, Italy, Switzerland, Austria,
etc.
Intheframe ofprivatization ofthefirststepshasalready begun commencing withprivatization
ofthedistribution ofelectric energy. Thenecessary financing inthisfieldisdirected bytheWorld
Bank bymeans ofdifferent credit lines. Fortheattraction offoreign investors whowillparticipate
infullprivatization ofthissector, therespective procedures fortenders which willbeorganized are
being prepared.
Distribution ofForeign Direct Investment inAlbania
(inmillion USD)
Year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996-Q1
FDI 20.0 58.0 52.9 70.0 18.0
Thenumber ofjoint ventures andcompanies totally owned byforeigners attheendof
1995 is:
Joint Venures Foreign Companies
Agriculture 26 7
Industry 292 123
Construction 71 53
Trade 1002 592
Transport 64 48
Servcies 77 67
Total: 1532 890
Asforthegeographical distribution ofForeign investments, themajority (more that50%
isfrom Italy, about 20%from Greece, from Germany, Arab countries, andtherestoftheworld.
IV.L FreeZones
Question 14.
Could Albania explain inmore detail thefunctioning oftheindustrial parks foreseen by
theDecision approved inJune 1994, withparticular regard totheindustrial park thataccording
tothedecision, would becreated inthetown ofDurres?
Answer.
Based ontheDecision approved inJune1994, theterritory oftheindustrial partinDurres
(22.2 hectare) hasbeendefined. TheEuropean Bank forReconstruction andDevelopment hasopened
thetender for"thedeveloper" oftheindustrial park, sending theinvitation overtheworld.WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page7
TRIPs
Question 15.
Does Albania require, asacondition ofapproving themarketing ofpharmaceutical or
agricultural chemical products which utilize newutilities, thesubmission ofundisclosed testor
other data, theorigination ofwhich involves aconsiderable effort? Ifso,howdoesAlbania plan
toprotect suchdataagainst unfair commercial use?
Answer.
Albania doesnotrequire thesubmission ofundisclosed testorother data, theorigination of
which involves aconsiderable effort, asacondition ofapproving themarketing ofpharmaceutical or
ofagricultural chemical products.
Copyright
Question 16.
Does Albania 'slawoncopyright include theprotection ofphonogram producers?
Answer.
Yes. Section 36oftheAlbanian lawincludes theprotection ofphonogram producers.
Question 17.
TheTRIPs Agreement (Article 14)setsoutthespecific protection thatmember countries
arerequired toafford toperformers, producers ofphonograms andbroadcasting organisations.
Nomention ofsuchprotection ismade intheAlbanian documentation.
Willtheprotection oftherights ofperformers phonograms producers andbroadcasting
organisations beinconformity withArticle 14oftheTRIPs Agreement? When willthelegislation
ontheprotection ofthese rights beintroduced?
Answer.
Albania'scopyrightlawprovidestheprotectionoftherightsofphonogramproducers.Section35
includes thefollowing actsthataskfortheauthorization oftheperformers:
- thebroadcasting oftheirperformers, except where thebroadcast ismade from arecording
oftheperformance, other thanarecording orwhere thebroadcasting isarebroadcasting
authorized bytheorganization initially broadcasting theperformance;
- thecommunication tothepublic oftheirperformance, except where thecommunication ismade
from arecording oftheperformance orismade from abroadcast oftheperformance.
Theprotection under thissection shallexpire attheendofaperiod of50years computed from
theendoftheyearinwhich theperformance tookplace.WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page8
Section36ofAlbanianlawincludesthefollowingactsthataskfortheauthorizationofProducers
ofPhonograms:
- directly orindirectly reproducing hisphonogram:
- importing anycopies ofhisphonogram;
- renting orpublicly lending anycopies ofhisphonogram.
Theprotection referred tointhisparagraph shallexpire attheendofaperiod of50years
computed from theendoftheyearinwhich thephonogram wasinitially made.
Section 38ofAlbanian lawincludes thefollowing actsthataskfortheauthorization of
Broadcasting Organizations:
- thebroadcasting ofitsbroadcasts;
- therecording ofitsbroadcasts;
- thereproduction ofarecording ofitsbroadcasts.
Theprotection under thissection shallexpire attheendofaperiod of50years computed from the
endoftheyearinwhich thebroadcast tookplace.
Question 18.
Which isthebody responsible inAlbania forcopyrights andrelated rights?
Answer.
TheMinistry ofCulture, Youth andWomen istheresponsible institution fordrafting the
legislation forcopyrights andrelated rights. Bytheother sideAlbanian lawdefines theright of
establishment oftheauthors 'organizations toprotect theirrights inconformity withthelaw. There
isonlyoneorganization called "Albautor" dealing withtheproblems ofcopyrights.
Question 19.
Istheprotection ofcopyrights andrelated rights inAlbania fully inlinewith the
articles 9-14oftheTRIPs Agreement?
Answer.
Albania hasbeenamember oftheBerne Convention since 1993, asarticle 9oftheTRIPs
Agreement requires.
Question 20.
Itappears thatcompilations ofdata which should beprotected inaccordance with
Article 10(2) oftheTRIPs Agreement donotenjoy copyrights protection under Albanian law.
Answer.
Albanian copyright lawprovides thesame protection tocomputer programs andthedata
compilation required byArticle 10(2) oftheTRIPs Agreement. Thecomputer programs under Albanian
lawareprotected asliterary works under theBerne Convention.WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page9
Question 21.
Doesthecopyright legislation ofAlbania provide forrental andlending rights? Whomay
enjoy these rights andtowhat extent?
TheTRIPs Agreement (Article 11)requires member countries toprovide authors with
rental rights inrelation tocomputer programs andcinematographic works. Nomention ofsuch
rental rights ismade intheAlbanian documentation.
Answer.
Article 5bofAlbanian copyright lawprovides forrental andlending rights, included there
astheeconomic rights oftheauthor. Thisarticle defines thattheauthor hastheexclusive rights on
his/her work inallowing therentorlending ofthiswork. Chapter IVoftheAlbanian lawdefines
theterms ofprotection forcopyright works. According tothelawtheeconomic rights areextended
for70years afterthedeath byhissuccessors intitle,andmoral rights areprotected forever.
Albanian lawoncopyrights protects themoral aneconomic rights ofananonymous work or
ofawork under apseudonym for70years fromthedateofthefirstlegalpublication. Italsoprovides
theprotectionforthemoralandeconomicrightsofaphotographicworkoraudiovisualworkfor70years
fromthedatewhen thework waspresented tothepublic or70years fromthedateofcreation ofsuch
works. Theartworks areprotected for25years from thedateorcreation (production).
Asrequired byArticle 13oftheTRIPs Agreement, thelimitations andexceptions arealso
included inAlbanian copyright legislation, respectively articles 6,7,8,9,12,14,15,16.
Question 22.
How aredatabases protected andtowhat extent?
Since computer programs areexcluded from patentability, doesAlbanian national law
provide foranalternative protection?
Answer.
Thecomputer programs areincluded intheAlbanian copyright law. Section 13ofthislaw
defines therights ofthelawful owner ofacopyofacomputer program, without theauthor authorization
tomake acopyoranadoption ofsuchaprogram incases when thisadoption isindispensable forthe
utilization ofthecomputer program forthepurpose ofwhich theprogram hasbeenlawfully obtained;
andforarchival purposes andifnecessary forthereplacement ofthecopylawfully obtained.
Section 14defines theconditions inwhich theauthorization oftheauthor willnotberequired.
Enforcement (questions 114,128,129,WT/ACC/ALB/4)
Question 23.
How doestheGovernment ofAlbania intend toimplement PartIII(enforcement) ofthe
TRIPs Agreement?WT/ACC/ALB/8/Add.9
Page10
Dojudicial authorities have theauthority toorder inunctions orprovisional measures
against infringements ofintellectual property rights, asprovided forinArticles 44and50ofthe
TRIPs Agreement? What exact measures arepossible andwhat istheprocedure tofollow? Do
administrative authorities enjoy similar authority?
Which arethecriminal procedures andpenalties available against infringements of
intellectualpropertyrights?Doforeignersenjoythesametreatmentasthenationalsinthisrespect?
Arethese procedures inconformity withArticle 61oftheTRIPs Agreement?
Answer.
TheAlbanian Penal Code provides criminal procedures andpenalties available against
infringements ofintellectual property rights. Infringements ofintellectual property rights aresubject
topenalties andpenal legalprovisions (3years prison) etc.According toAlbanian legislation inthis
field, foreigners enjoy thesame treatment andthesame terms ofprotection asAlbanian nationals.
Therelevant articles intheAlbanian Penal Code (147, 148, 149) define thepenalties forthe
infringements ofintellectual property rights.
Question 24.
DoesAlbania already haveinplace asystem ofenforcement atborders against intellectual
property rights infringements inaccordance withArticles 51-60 oftheTRIPs Agreement? Ifso,
what exact rights arecovered bysuchasystem? Does itcover goods forexportation andgoods
intransit? Ifnosuchsystem isinplace, arethere plans toadopt one?
Dojudicial authorities have theauthority toadopt provisional measures inaudita altera
parte?
Inthelastsentence oftheresponse toquestion 128,theGovernment ofAlbania notes that
iftheowner ofthepatent proves imminent infringement, thecourt shall grant aninjunction to
prevent infringement andanyother remedy provided inthegeneral law. Isthepreliminary relief
mentioned hereavailable toowners ofother forms ofintellectual property, i.e.those other than
patent owners?
Answer.
Thejudicial authorities havetheauthority toadopt provisional measures inaudita altera parte
incases ofimminent infringements.
Question 25.
What system ofenforcement atborders doesAlbania intend tointroduce?
Please provide amore complete description oftheAlbanian enforcement system regarding
intellectual property rights, including anyborder enforcement thatisavailable. Inaddition, please
provide copies ofthelawsinquestion totheSecretariat forreview bytheWorking Party.
Answer.
There isnoonesystem ofenforcement atborders inAlbania, butthepreparation ofthissystem
isunder consideration.