./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/2/ALB/1
22 February 2002
(02-0899)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
Notification under Article 5.2 of the Agreement
ALBANIA
The following communication, dated 20 February 2002, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of Albania.
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New import licensing procedure for used tyres
Based on the Council of Ministers Decision "For the Invalidation of Decision No. 433 dated
3 September 1993" concerning the "Prohibition of Importation of Used Tyres" and by the Council of
Ministers Decision No. 154 of 7 April 2000 "For the Licensing of Production Activities in the Non-Food Industry", there are five juridical subjects licensed by the Ministry of Public Economy and
Privatization to exercise the activity of retreading used tyres.
The raw materials for these subjects that retread used tyres are imported tyres because
domestic used tyres do not satisfy the technical requirements for retreading.
The new Decision No. 433 is necessary as it gives the subjects already licensed to exercise the
activity of retreading of used tyres the possibility of obtaining import licenses for used tyres.  These
subjects through their activities, created new employment, favoured the purchasing power and gave
the market the possibility of obtaining tyres of good quality at reasonable prices.  As a result of this
domestic production, the need for imported new tyres is reduced and consequently the amount of
foreign exchange going out of the country is also reduced.
The retreading of used tyres has no negative effect on the environment because the retreading
of used tyres is a result of the science of environmental studies which involves monitoring of the reuse
of these tyres to ensure that it does not cause environmental pollution.
Licences for the import quota of used tyres, valid for a period of three months, will be granted
according to point 3 of this Decision.
Taking into consideration the above-mentioned reasons and the fact that the investments are
made and the control of this activity has not resulted in environmental pollution, import licences forused tyres will be granted only to those who use these products as raw material for retreading.G/LIC/N/2/ALB/1
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Notification on changes to the Memorandum on Restrictions and Prohibitions for importable products
Article and product
description by
Harmonized System
Code or as described by
law or international
conventionJustification/rationale
of the restrictionLicensing procedures
4012. Used tyres
and rubber material
Law on "Prohibition of
the Importation of Used
Tyres" No. 319 of23 June 2000.To protect the
environment.  Themeasure is intendedto prevent theimportation of used
tyres such that they
do not end up inlandfills or that theyare resold withoutmeeting the technical
specifications for
retreaded used tyres.The Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization has
defined the procedures for obtaining import licences forused tyres and rubber materials and authorized to issue suchlicences.
Prior to applying for a licence to import used tyres and
rubber material, a person or ente rprise must be registered in
the Court of First Degree to become a natural or juridicalsubject, and then be registered with the Tax Office.  The taxregistration process registers the individual/firm as having
the right to engage in specific trading activity (production,
sales and other domestic marketing activities).
Having been registered with the Court and the Tax Office,
natural or juridical subjects with the right to engage in theactivity can apply for a licence to import. At this point, the
subject must present an application for a licence at the
Directorate of General Industry in the Ministry.  To requesta licence, the subject must provide the followingdocuments: a letter of request for obtaining an importlicence;  a table presenting the quantity of used tyres andrubber material which are to be used for retreading
activities during the first three months the goods enter
Albania;  a certification from Customs for previouslyimported used tyres or rubber material;  certification fromthe Tax Office that taxes have been paid on the previouslyproduced quantity (e.g., if there were previously importedmaterials).
The licences are valid for up to three months.  Each time
used tyres and rubber material are to be imported, theimporter must go to the Ministry of Public Economy andPrivatization to receive a new licence.  The licences arenon-automatic.  The process of applying for an importlicence is the same for both foreign and domestic subjects.
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