RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/ALB/40/Rev.1
16 August 1999
(99-3459)
Working Party on the
Accession of AlbaniaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF ALBANIA
Draft Laws
Revision
The Permanent Mission of Albania has supplied the following Chart on the Implementation of
Draft Laws, Amendments and Decisions of the Council of Ministers for Compliance with WTO
Agreements.
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Page 2 Chart on the Implementation of Draft Laws, Amendments, a nd Decisions of the Council of Ministers for Compliance with
WTO Agreements
Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to
WTO Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
Agreement on Agriculture
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Agriculture.  No
additional changes in laws or decisions of the Council of Ministers
are required for Albania to be in compliance with WTO.There are no laws or decisions being
drafted or amendedNot applicable.
Agreements on SPS
The following are separate drafts of Decisions of the Council of
Ministers:
1. "Criteria and Competencies in the Fields of Standardization,
Certification, and Accreditation"
2. "Exchange of Information on Standards and Technical
Regulations"3. "The Approval of the Code of Good Practices for Adoption,
Approval and Application of Standards", Decision of the Council of
Ministers, Number 242, dated 28.05.991-2. To be in compliance with SPS.
3. To be in compliance with SPS.1. At the end of October 1999.
2. At the end of October 1999.
3. In force since May 1999.
The following are amendments to legislation:
4. "On Some Changes to the Law Number 7643, On State Sanitary
Inspectorate"5. "On Some Changes to the Law on Food"4-8. To be in compliance with the
standstill and transparency provisions of
SPS.4-8. At the end of October 1999.WT/ACC/ALB/40/Rev.1
Page 3Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to
WTO Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
6. "On Some Changes to the Law on Albanian Veterinary Service",
Number 7941, dated 31.05.1995"
7. "On Some Changes to Decision of the Council of Ministers: On
Pesticides, Number 584, dated 06.12.1993"
8. "On Some Changes to the Law on Seeds and Saplings, Number
7659, dated 12.01.1993"
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Textiles andClothing.  No additional changes in laws or decisions of the Council
of Ministers are required for Albania to be in compliance with WTO.There are no laws or decisions being
drafted or amendedNot applicable.
Agreements on TBT
The following are separate drafts of Decisions of the Council of
Ministers:
1. "Exchange of Information on Standards and Technical
Regulations"2. "The Preparation, Adoption and Application of Technical
Regulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformity with
Technical Regulations and Standards", Number 323, dated
08.07.19991-2. To be in compliance with TBT. 1. At the end of October 1999.
2. In force in July 1999.
Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Trade-Related
Investment Measures.  No additional changes in laws or decisions of
the Council of Ministers are required for Albania to be in compliance
with WTO.There are no laws or decisions being
drafted or amendedNot applicable.WT/ACC/ALB/40/Rev.1
Page 4Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to
WTO Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994
The anti-dumping agreement is covered by the Law "On
Antidumping", Number 8466, dated 24.03.99.  The following are
separate drafts of Decisions of the Council of Ministers:
1. "The Organization and Function of the Anti-dumping Office"
2. "The Definitions and Fulfillment of the Application Forms"
3. "The Content of the Public Notice for the Initiation of the
Investigation"
4. "The Confidential Information"5. The Public File (Registry) of the Antidumping Office"
6. The Notice of the Final Decisions"The Council of Ministers is charged to
issue the bylaws related to the Law on
Antidumping.
1. By the end of 1999.
2. By the end of 1999.
3. By the end of 1999.
4. By the end of 1999.
5. By the end of 1999.
6. By the end of 1999.
Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994
"Customs Code", Law Number 8449, dated 27.01.99.
"Implementing Provisions of the Customs Code", Decision of the
Council of Ministers, Number 205, dated 13.04.99.
The Interpretive Notes of the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement
are part of the Implementing Provisions of the Customs Code, Annex
6, "Interpretive Notes for Customs Valuation"The Customs Code of Albania defines
Albania's customs procedures.The Decision of the Council of
Ministers, Number 205 are the
implementing provisions which are in
compliance with customs valuation
procedures.  Albania is in compliancewith the Customs Valuation Agreement
and the Implementation of Article VII
of GATT 1994.Albania is in compliance since May
15, 1999 with the adoption of theCustoms Code and the
Implementing Provisions of the
Customs Code.
Agreements on Pre-Shipment InspectionWT/ACC/ALB/40/Rev.1
Page 5Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to
WTO Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
Agreement on Rules of Origin
Rules of Origin are covered by the "Implementing Provisions of the
Customs Code", Decision of the Council of Ministers, Number 205,
dated 13.04.99.To be in compliance with rules of
origin.Implemented since May 1999.
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures
Albania will draft general legislation on import licensing procedures.
The following are laws that are to be amended:
1. "On Seeds and Saplings", No. 7659, dated 12.01.93
2. "Law on Veterinary Services", No. 7674, dated 23.02.93
3. "Law on Plant Protection Services", No. 7662, dated 19.01.93To be in compliance with WTO import
licensing procedures.
1-3. The changes in these laws are to
simplify the licensing procedures.At the end of October .
1. At the end of September.
2. At the end of September.
3. At the end of September.
Agreement on Subsides and Countervailing Measures
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Subsidies andCountervailing Measures.  No additional changes in laws or
decisions of the Council of Ministers are required for Albania to bein compliance with WTO.The drafting of a law on countervailing
measures has been suspended.  The
Republic of Albania will reconsider itsdecision to draft such a law after
accession; if Albania chooses to draft
this legislation it will be done according
to WTO procedures.Not applicable.
Agreements on Safeguards
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Safeguards.  No The drafting of a law on safeguards has Not applicable.WT/ACC/ALB/40/Rev.1
Page 6Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to
WTO Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
additional changes in laws or decisions of the Council of Ministers
are required or Albania to be in compliance with WTO.been suspended.  The Republic of
Albania will reconsider its decision to
draft such a law after accession; if
Albania chooses to draft this legislation
it will be done according to WTO
procedures.
General Agreement on Trade in Services
The following are laws that are being amended:
1. "Law on Insurance and Reinsurance Companies"2. "Law on Investment Funds"The following are draft laws:
3. "Law on Theatres"
4. "Law on Libraries"1. Eliminates the restriction on joint
ventures.
2. Seeks to improve the securities
regime, and provide a framework for
asset management.
3. To create conditions on market access
for private foreign and domestic service
providers on theatres, live bands,operas.
4. To create conditions on market access
for private foreign and domestic library
service providers.1. Two years from the time of
accession.
2. One year from the time of
accession.
3. At the end of October 1999.
4. At the end of October 1999.
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
Albania is in compliance with TRIPs.  The following have been
substantive changes in legislation to be in compliance.
The following are amendments to laws:
1. "On Copyright"Compliance with TRIPs
1. To be in compliance with
retroactivity of protection of works1. At the end of September.WT/ACC/ALB/40/Rev.1
Page 7Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to
WTO Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
2. "On Some Changes to the Law on Copyright"
The following are Laws and draft Decisions of the Council of
Ministers:
3. Law "On Protection of Topographies of Integrated Circuits"
Number 8488, dated 13.05.99
4. Law "On Some Changes and Supplements on the Law No. 7819,dated 27.04.94, For Industrial Property", Number 8477, dated
22.04.99related to Article 18 of the Berne
Convention.
2. To bring Albanian legislation in
compliance with the copyright
provisions of TRIPs.
3-4. To bring Albania patent and
trademark legislation in compliance
with TRIPs; 4.  Also creates theAlbanian Directorate of Patent and
Trademark.2-4.  Are already enforced and will
be in compliance with WTO TRIPs
Agreement.
Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Trade in CivilAircrafts.  No additional changes in laws or decisions of the Council
of Ministers are required for WTO compliance.There are no laws or decisions being
drafted or amendedNot applicable.
Agreement on Government Procurement
The following are separate drafts of Decisions of the Council of
Ministers:
1. "The Standard Tender Document for the Pre-Qualification of
Goods"2. "The Standard Tender Document for the Pre-Qualification of
Construction"
3. "The Standard Tender Document for the Procurement of Goods
(Those which are Large and Complex)"Compliance with government
procurement.
1-8. At the Council of Ministers;
approval expected at the end of1999.WT/ACC/ALB/40/Rev.1
Page 8Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to
WTO Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
Other Legislation
Excise taxes:
The following are laws that are being amended:
1. "On Some Changes to the Law Number 8437 (On Excise Taxes),
dated 28.12.98"To eliminate discriminating excise taxes
rates and categories.
1. Approved 07.07.99, Number
8507.
Export prohibitions:
All Decisions of the Council of Ministers on export prohibitions
related to tariff lines under Chapter 41.01-41.03, Chapter 72.04, and
Chapter 74.01-74.19 of the HS will be repealed.To be in compliance with rules on
exports Albania will lift exportprohibitions on the goods listed in the
relevant chapters.At the end of September 1999.
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