RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/ALB/35
30 March 1999
(99-1288)
Working Party on the
Accession of AlbaniaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF ALBANIA
Memorandum on Restrictions and Pr ohibition for Importable Products
The Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Trade of the Republic of Albania has submitted
the following Memorandum on Restrictions and Prohibition for Importable Products, with the request
that it be circulated to members of the Working Party.
_______________WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 2MEMORANDUM ON RESTRICTIONS AND PROHIBITIONS FOR IMPORTABLE PRODUCTS
Products Requiring Import Licensing, by Type: Ju stification, Licensing and other Requirements
Article and Description by Harmonised Code or
as Described by Law or International ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
RestrictionProcess to Obtain Licence, Type of Licence, and Duration
93.01 - 93.07 Arms and Munitions, Parts and
Accessories Thereof:  Military weapons,munitions such as bullets of all calibre's, missiles,
grenades, mines, fireworks of 180 mm, etc.
36.01 - 36.06.90.90 Explosives, Pyrotechnic
Products, Matches, Pyrophoric Alloys: military
explosives and powders such as TNT, egzogyn,dynamite, ammonite, etc.; all kinds of firearms
Regulation for the "Licensing of Trade and Sale
of Armaments", dated 10.09.1994 approved by
the Prime Minister;To protect the national security of the
Republic.The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has defined the procedures for
obtaining export licences for these products and is authorised toissue such licences.
There are two types of licences, one for armaments and one for
explosive materials.  For armaments, the licence is available for
juridical, public, private, Albanian, and foreigners.  The licence
is authorised by the Order by the MOD, No. 402, dated 1998.The licence is transferable and can be automatically renewed in
part or whole by the Minister.
The licensed enterprises or person(s) must have an Export
Authorisation by the MOD.  The authorisation is granted when
the following documents are supplied: legal registration of theenterprise or person, the right to excise the activity, and the
certificate of the end-user.
Decision of the Council of Ministers: On theExtermination and Sales of Armaments and
Munitions", No. 365, 6.6.1994
Decision of the Council of Ministers: "For
Working with Explosive Materials", No. 257,
16.4.1996For explosives, licences are issued under Order No. 402 by a
commission in the MOD.  A licence defines the purposes of the
activity, the date of issue, validity, the terms of renovation of the
licence and the registration number.  The licence is issued to
professionals and is non-transferable.  The licence is for two
years and is renewable.
28.44  Nuclear materials, radioactive materials,
sources for the radioactive radiation (including
radioactive waste), technologies, equipment and
plants, special non-nuclear materialsTo protect the national security of the
Republic, as well as to adhere to
international commitments related to
non-proliferation, mass destruction and
production of technologies thereof.The Ministry of Defence has defined the procedures for obtaining
import licensing for these products.WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 3Article and Description by Harmonised Code or
as Described by Law or International ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
RestrictionProcess to Obtain Licence, Type of Licence, and Duration
Non-dangerous waste: Waste from social and
economic activities and physically consumed
products that are not included in the definition of
dangerous waste (see prohibited section for the
definition of dangerous waste); these products
include waste from steel, foundry, copper, brass,
bronze, glass, paper and card board, wool andcotton fibres, fabrics of wool and cotton ;
contemporary productive technology (equipment,
methods, or new technologies that are used to
prevent or minimise the damage to the
environment); and urban waste from houses andsocial activities.To protect the life and health of the
population, and to protect the
environmentThe Ministry of Health and the Committee of Environmental
Protection has defined the procedures for obtaining import
licensing for non-dangerous waste.
To request a  licence one must be a physical and juridical
person(s), must provide a declaration that contains a list of the
waste to be imported, its quality and composition, its destination
within Albania, and an explanation of the purposes of its use (i.e.,if to be used in productive economic activity or as waste without
additional value-added activities).  The importer must respect all
standards of environmental protection.
Decision of the Council of Ministers: "OnDangerous and Non-dangerous Waste", No. 26,
dated 31.1.94The importer must have a declaration on waste provided by the
authorised institutions of the country of origin, certificates that
demonstrate that such waste are not dangerous, and that the
exporter have permission from the customs authorities of the
country of origin.  Finally, all transportation documents must
accompany the above-mentioned documents.
The Ministry of Health or Committee on Environmental
Protection must issue or refuse a licence within 30 working days
after the submission of the application.  Licences are valid for
one year and are non-automatic.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substancesrefer to the list in accordance with the
Conventions of 1961 and 1971.  See Annex 2 ofthis table, titled “ List of Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances which require import
Licensing and Special Import Authorisation to be
imported in Albania”.To control narcotics through import
quotes as well as the controlling of the
whole import process.Medicines are permitted to circulate in the Republic of Albania
after they have been registered.  Both local and foreign products
are subject to registration which. Once registered, imports ofmedicines occur according to the following procedure:WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 4 Article and Description by Harmonised Code or
as Described by Law or International ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
RestrictionProcess to Obtain Licence, Type of Licence, and Duration
Law: "On Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances, No. 7975, dated 26 July 1995.
This law was drafted in accordance with the
Convention on “Narcotic Drugs” 1961 and
Convention on “Psychotropic Substances” 1971,
and the Adjournments of 1993.To protect the life and health of the
population and to adhere to
international conventions to which
Albania is a signatory.If the medicines are either narcotic or Psychotropic for use in the
medical science, in addition to the registration, the importer is
required to obtain a licensing from the Ministry of Health, which
defines the procedures for obtaining import licensing for such
products.  A licence can be issued only for medical and scientific
purposes.  To request for a licence, the importer, either a
producer or a party authorised by him, must provide the nameand address of the technical director (i.e., a licensed pharmacist
registered in Albania), define the scope of the activities, the
countries with which trade will occur, and provide a list of the
name and quantities of the substances.
The licence is non-automatic, non-transferable and valid for oneyear. Upon expiry of this term, the importing entity should apply
for a new import licence. Upon issuing of the import licensing,the importer of narcotic or Psychotropic medicines may import
such medicines only after being issued an authorisation from
Ministry of Health (that is issued within five days) and a
concession from the Directory of Pharmaceutics. To receive both
documents, the importer should present a request that includesthe name and address of the exporter, the name of the recipient of
the cargo (importer in Albanian), the joint international name, the
name of the medicine in the tables included the international
conventions, the quantity of each medicine, the time period when
the import is due, the mode of transport and the point of
destination within the Republic of Albania.WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 5Article and Description by Harmonised Code or
as Described by Law or International ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
RestrictionProcess to Obtain Licence, Type of Licence, and Duration
The authorisation is based on the sample compiled by the
Narcotic Medicines Commission of the Economic and Social
Council of United Nations. The authorisation is passed by the
Albanian importer to the foreign producers (the respective
exporter) who presents it to the Control Bodies of his country
and the latter presents this authorisation to the International
Board of Narcotic Control (INCB) to carry out the necessaryverifications. After approval from the latter, the exporting
country issues to the producer the export authorisation. This
document should be together with the cargo and upon arrival at
the destination, a copy of it is sent to the Albanian control
authorities, which confirm the arrival of the cargo to thegovernment of the exporting country.
Upon the arrival of cargo in Albania, the respective importconcession is issued in same mode as proceeded for other
medicines (refer to the following paragraph).
30.00 Pharmaceutical products
Law on “Medicaments”, No. 7815, dated
20.04.1994To protect the life and health of the
population.Medicines are permitted to circulate in the Republic of Albania
after they have been registered.  Both local and foreign products
are subject to registration.  Upon registration, the importing ofmedicines occurs under the following procedure:WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 6 Article and Description by Harmonised Code or
as Described by Law or International ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
RestrictionProcess to Obtain Licence, Type of Licence, and Duration
If ordinary medicines are going to be imported, a request for
concession to import is deposited by the importer at the
Pharmaceutics Directory within Ministry of Health. This request
should include the list of medicines to be imported, the
international collective name (INN) and the commercial name,
the quantity to be imported for each separate medicine, and the
Albania CIF price. Upon completion of this procedure, theimport marketing authorisation is issued (which serves as a
document to check the quality and quantity of the medicine) by
the Ministry of Health and is presented to the custom authority.
The term of issuing such a concession is five days.
12.00  Seeds and seedlings
Law: "On Seeds and Saplings", No. 7659, dated
12.01.1993.
Decision of Council of Ministers: "The Setting up
of the State Entity of Seeds and Saplings
(SESS)", No. 447, dated  3.09.1993To control the import of seeds and
seedlings to ensure the quality of seeds
and saplings through controls over thewhole import process.  To protect plant
health, to protect the life and health of
the population and to adhere to
international organisation to which
Albania is a signatory.Licences are issued by the State Entity of seeds and saplings
based on the regulation of the law on the seeds and Saplings”
Number 7659, dated January 12, 1993.  Licences are issued tojuridical persons, domestic or foreign, who possess the necessary
technical qualification (university diploma in agronomy) or have
employed in their companies such a qualified person.  Licences
are annual and are automatically renewable each year.  Before
being issued a import concession, one should have received anactivity licence for producing and/or trading seeds.WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 7Article and Description by Harmonised Code or
as Described by Law or International ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
RestrictionProcess to Obtain Licence, Type of Licence, and Duration
Decision of Council of Mi nisters  “On Approving
the Regulations for the Production, Reproduction,
Treatment, Assessment, Trade, Control of Seeds
and Sapling s and for Protection and Treatment of
Genetic Material of Plants”, No. 552, dated
14.11.1994Persons who possess the above-mentioned licences can obtain a
concession from the SESS, which serves the purpose of
providing statistical information.  Such a concession contains
technical information on the seeds group, the name of the seed,
its origin, and the quantity and quality of the seeds.  The
elimination of such a concession is anticipated with the
improvement of the information and communication systembetween the central Service in Tirana and those in districts within
Albania and the customs point of entry.  Efforts are under way to
improve and adopt the legislation to conform with international
regulations on production, registration and trade of the seeds and
saplings.
Only seeds registered in the official catalogue of the Seeds Entityand that meet Albanian standards are permitted to be importedinto Albania. The Albanian standards, in addition to the
international standards such as the DHS test (visibility,
homogeneity and stability) require an additional test of the
agronomic and technological value (Value of Cultivation and
Use).  Additional tests are necessary because there aredistinctions among seeds from countries with similar climate and
soil conditions. (the distinction for seeds of EU with similar
climacteric and territorial characteristics, because these countries
have similar conditions with Albania, either from standard or
climatic and territorial point of view.)
31.00 Pesticides
Decision of the Council of Ministers: "On
Fertilisers", No. 584, dated 6/12/1993To control the import of fertilisers as
well as the controlling of the wholeimport process.  To protect plant health
, to protect the life and health of the
population and to adhere to
international organisation to which
Albania is a signatory.Only fertilisers registered in Albania are allowed to be imported.
Registration requirements and international criteria are the samefor both domestic and foreign products. The registration
requirements comply with the IPPC (International Plant
Protection Convention).WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 8 Article and Description by Harmonised Code or
as Described by Law or International ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
RestrictionProcess to Obtain Licence, Type of Licence, and Duration
There are two types of licences for importing and trading. The
Ministry of Agriculture and Food issues import licences, which
are in accordance with the Agreement on Import licensing
procedures of GATT 1994.  Licences are for a one-year period,
are non-automatic, and are issued within two month from the
application according to Article 14.
1.00 - 2.00 Live animals and products
Law on “ Albanian veterinary service”, No. 7674,
dated 23.2.1993To control the import of live animals
and products, to protect animal health
and spread of disease though oversightof the whole import process.  To protect
plant health, to protect the human life
and health and to adhere to international
organisation to which Albania is a
signatoryLicensing for live stock
To obtain a licence one must receive a concession is issued by
the Directory of Veterinary Service based on the Law on theAlbanian Veterinary Service.  Concessions are issued to both
local and foreign juridical and natural persons who apply and
have the following:
a certificate of origin, a Sanitary and Veterinary Certificate and
that pass quarantine conditions.
For livestock that are imported for breeding purposes, it isnecessary to obtain a document issued from the CentralCommission of Breeding Improvement, the commission
responsible for genetic improvement. In CCIR is charged with
providing or rejecting permits related to the acceptance of a
breed according to their characteristics and adaptability to the
climatic conditions of Albania. Such a concession is not
necessary for breeds that are already approved and known in
Albania.WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 9Article and Description by Harmonised Code or
as Described by Law or International ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
RestrictionProcess to Obtain Licence, Type of Licence, and Duration
B-Licensing of the live stock products
Import licences are issued to juridical subjects, both local and
foreign, who have the following documentation:
the certificate of origin (according to International Organisation
of Epizootic) of the product to be imported and a certificate from
the Sanitary and Veterinary Service.  Licences are issued on the
basis of the application which includes the above-mentioneddocuments. The licence is automatic and is issued within 10
days.  Concessions are expected to be eliminated in 1999 with
the improvement of the information and communication system
between the central veterinary system and the veterinary
inspection service in Albanian cities as well as at the customsentry points.WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 10Prohibitions on Importable Products, by Type: Justification, and Phase-out Period
Article and Description by Harmonised Code
or as Described by Law or International
ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
ProhibitionPhase-out Period
Dangerous waste: Dangerous waste are defined
as: toxic corrosive, residual waste fromexplosives, carcinogens and radioactives,
catalysts that endanger human, plant and
animal and the environment, (see complete list
in WT/ACC/ALB/25, pages 6-7)To protect human, plant, and animal
health and the environment.To make changes to this list of products (or a change in the
definition of dangerous waste) the Council of Ministers mustmake an approval.  The reported changes can be made
available by the Ministry of Health and the Committee of
Environmental Protection.
Decision of the Council of Ministers: "On
Dangerous and Non-dangerous Waste", No. 26,
dated 31.1.94In the case where an importer is found to be receiving
dangerous waste (i.e., prohibited waste) rather than non-
dangerous waste, then the importer is required to obtain anexport licence provided by the Committee for Environmental
Protection so that these prohibited wastes can be returned to the
country of origin.
Military poisoning substances, chemicalweapons, other strong poisons, and the devicesfor the protection from such substances and
chemicals
International Convention on the Prohibition of
the Development, Production, Storage, and
Usage of Chemical Weapons and Their
Extermination (List Number 2 and 3) which
has been ratified by the Albanian Government.To protect the national security of the
Republic.There is no specific law on the trade of Chemical Weapons.
The government is in the process of developing legislation todefine the trade regime of such products.  The Ministry of
Defence will be the responsible authority for such matters.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances,
refer to the list provided in WT/ACC/ALB/25,pages 6-7, and the Convention on “Narcotic
Drugs” 1961,  Convention on “PsychotropicTo control the importing of narcotics
in the territory of Republic ofAlbania.  To protect the life and
health of the population and to adhereWT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 11Article and Description by Harmonised Code
or as Described by Law or International
ConventionJustification/Rationale of the
ProhibitionPhase-out Period
Substances” 1971, and the Adjournments of
1993.
Annex 1 of this table titled  “ List of Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Prohibited
to enter, to be produced or used in Albania” .to international conventions to which
Albania is a signatory.
Law: "On Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances, No. 7975, dated 26 July 1995.
This law was drafted in accordance with theConventions of 1961and 1971,and the
Adjournments of 1993.
Animal products of the infected and penalisedcountries by OIE (Organisation International
Epizootic); pesticides which are not registered
in the Albanian catalogue on pesticides; seeds
and seedlings which are not certified andregistered in the Albanian catalogue
Law: "On Seeds and Saplings", No. 7659 dated
12.01.1993.To control the importing of infecting
products in the Albanian territory, in
order to protect human, plant, and
animal and the environment.  To
protect the life and health of thepopulation and to adhere to
international organisation to which
Albania is a signatory.
Decision of Council of Ministers No. 447 dated3.09.1993 on “The setting up of State Entity of
Seeds and Saplings”.
Decision of Council of Ministers: "OnApproving of the Regulatory” on “ Production,
Reproduction, Treatment, Assessment, Trade,Control of Seeds and Saplings and for
Protection and Treatment of Genetic Material
of Plants", No. 552, dated 14.11.1994WT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 12ANNEX 1
List of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Prohibited to Enter, to be Produced or Used in Albania
(Annex of Law No. 7975, of 26 July 1995)
TABLE I
SCHEDULE IV (CONVENTION OF 1961)
Acetorfine Acetyl - alpha - methyl - Methyl - 3 - fentanyl
Cannabis and fentanyl Methyl - 3 - thio -
cannabis resin Alphacetylmethadol fentanyl
Desomorphine Alpha - methylfentanyl MPPP
Etorphine Beta - hydroxyfent anyl Para - fluorofentanyl
Heroin Beta - hydroxy - methyl - 3 PEPAP
Ketobemidone - fentanyl Thiofentanyl
SCHEDULE I (CONVENTION OF 1971)
Brolamphetamine MDA Psilocybine
Cathinone Mescaline Rolicyclidine
DET Methyl - 4 aminorex STP, DOM
DMA MMDA Tenamphetamine
DMHP N - ethyl MDA Tenocyclidine
DMT N - hydroxy MDA TetrahydrocannabinolDOET Parahexyl TMA
Eticyclidine PMA
( + ) - Lysergide Psilocine, psilotsinWT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 13ANNEX  2
List of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances which Require Import Licensing and Special Import Authorisation to be Import ed into Albania
(Continues Annex of Law No. 7975, of 26 July 1995 )
TABLE II
SCHEDULE I (CONVENTION OF 1961)
Acetylmethadol Drotebanol nitrogen morphine
Alfentanil Ecgonine, its derivatives
Allylprodine esters and Morphine-N-oxide
Alphameprodine derivatives MyrophineAlphamethadol Ethylmethyl - Nicomorphine
Alphamethylthio - thiambutene Noracymethadol
fentanyl Etonitazene Norlevorphanol
Alphaprodine Etoxeridine Normethadone
Anileridine Fentanyl NormorphineBenzethidine Furethidine Norpipanone
Benzylmorphine Hydrocodone Opium
Betacetylmethadol Hydromorphinol Oxycodone
Betameprodine Hydromorphone Oxymorphone
Betamethadol Hydroxypethidine Pethidine
Betaprodine Isomethadone Pethidine
Bezitramide Levomethorphan intermediate  AClonitazene Levomoramide ( 4 - cyano-1-methyl
Coca (leaf ) Levophenacylmorphan - 4-phenyl-piperidine)
Cocaine Levorphanol Pethidine
Codoxime Metazocine intermediate  B
Concentrate of poppy Methadone ( 4 - phenylpiperidine
Straw
Methadone intermediate - 4 -  carboxylic acidWT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 14Dextromoramide ( 4 - cyano - 2 - dimethyl - ethyl ester )
Diampromide amino - 4, 4 – diphenyl Pethidine
Diethylthiambutene butane ) intermediate  C
Difenoxin Methyldesorphine ( 1 - methyl - 4 -
Dihydromorphine Methyldihydrom orphine phenylpiperidine - 4 -
Dimenoxadol Metopon carboxylic acid)Dimepheptanol Moramide Phenadoxone
Dimethylthiambutene Morpheridine Phenampromide
Dioxaphetyl butyrate Morphine Phenazocine
Diphenoxylate Morphine methobromide Phenomorphan
Dipipanone and other pentavalent PhenoperidinePiminodine Racemethorphan Thebacon
Piritramide Racemoramide Thebaine
Proheptazine Racemorphan Tilidine
Properidine Sufentanil Trimeperidine
SCHEDULE II (CONVENTION OF 1961)
Acetyldihydrocodeine Eth ylmorphine Pholcodine
Codeine Nicodicodine PropiramDextropropoxyphene Nicodine
Dihydrocodeine Norcodeine
SCHEDULE   II ( CONVENTION OF 1971)
Amphetamine Methamphetamine Phenmetrazine
Dexamphetamine Methamphetamine racemate Secobarbital
Fenetylline Methaqualone
Lavamphetamine Methylphenidate
Mecloqualone PhencyclidineWT/ACC/ALB/35
Page 15SCHEDULE III (CONVENTION OF 1971)
Amobarbital Cathine Pentazocine
Buprenorphine Cyclobarbital Pentobarbital
Butalbital Glutethimide
SCHEDULE IV (CONVENTION OF 1971)
Allobarbital Cloxazolam Halazepam
Alprazolam Delorazepam HaloxazolamAmphepramone Diazepam Ketazolam
Barbital Estazolam Lefetamide
Benzphetamine Ethchlorvynol Loprazolam
Bromazepam Ethinamate Lorazepam
Butobarbital Ethyl loflazepate LormetazepamCamazepam Etilamphetamine Mazindol
Chlordiazepoxide Fencamfamin Medazepam
Clobazam Fenproporex Mefenorex
Clonazepam Fludiazepam Meprobamate
Clorazepate Flunitrazepam Methylpheno -Clotiazepam Flurazepam barbital
Methylprylon Pemoline Pyrovalerone
Midazolam Phendimetrazine Secbutabarbital
Nimetazepam Phenobarbital Temazepam
Nitrazepam Phentermine Tetrazepam
Nordazepam Pinazepam Triazolam
Oxazepam Pipradrol VinylbitalOxazolam Prazepam
__________