FIRST MEETING OF REGULATORS FROM SEE COUNTRIES

1. FIRST MEETING OF REGULATORS FROM SEE COUNTRIES ALBANIAN PRESENTATION ON TECHNICAL REGULATIONS AND STANDARTIZATION

2. STEPS FOR INTEGRATION • WTO MEMBERSHIP • REGIONAL INITIATIVES – MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON LIBERALIZATION AND FACILITATION OF TRADE • STABILIZATION ASSOCIATION PROCESS

3. WTO MEMBERSHIP • GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF STANDARDS – has the responsibility to operate as Single Unit Enquiry Point in Albania, related to notifications on TBT and SPS measures. • On 1999, the order of Prime Minister “ON Creation of the Interagency Groups for Technical barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS)” that had to deal with the notifications of new measures.

4. WTO MEMBERSHIP • THE LAW ON STANDARTIZATION - 1999 • Four DECISION OF GOVERNMENT: • Code of Good Practices for Adoption and Application of Standards, May 1999. • Criteria and Competences in the Field of Standardization, Certification and Accreditations, August 1999. • Exchange of Information on Standards and Technical Regulations, August 1999. • The Preparation, Adoption and Application of Technical Regulations and Procedures for Assessment of Conformity with Technical Regulations and Standards, July 1999.

5. WTO MEMBERSHIP • Commitment to apply all obligations under the TBT and SPS Agreements without recourse to any transition periods. • The market is open for other third party certification bodies in addition to the national standards body. • The lack of implementing legislation of the WTO

6. Albanian’s Government Priorities • Elimination of unnecessary barriers, increase of quality of goods, expand of Albanian products to international markets. • Drafting implementing legislation of the WTO commitments on standardization • Building up a modern infrastructure in testing, certification and accreditation facilities. • Separation of the activities on accreditation and certification. • Adoption as many international and European standards • Approximation of legislation with those of EU

7. MoU on Trade Liberalization and Facilitation • Signature of 8 Bilateral Free Trade Agreements • Para. 8 of MOU – Cooperation in moving towards the implementation of standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment, testing, metrology and accreditation system, compatible with European and international principles.

8. MoU on Trade Liberalization and Facilitation - FTA • Impediments – lack of Mutual recognition Agreements in the field of Standardization. • Efforts to conclude Bilateral Agreements on “Standardization”, “Conformity”, “Metrology” and “Accreditation”, to support the Free Trade Agreement implementation – FTA with Macedonia.

9. STABILIZATION ASSOCIATION PROCESS • 2003 – the approval of the law “On Conformity Assessment” • This law establishes the principle of conformity assessment in regulated areas for the purpose of ensuring unified procedures in the conformity assessment of products, processes and services which hold potential risks to human health, public safety, the environment, and other public interests.

10. STABILIZATION ASSOCIATION PROCESS • 2003 – The law “On Accreditation” and the Government Decision “On Organization and Functioning of Accreditation Directorate ” • 2004 – establishment and functioning of Accreditation Directorate, which will split the function of accreditation from those of standardisation and certification.

11. STABILIZATION ASSOCIATION PROCESS • The General Directorate of Standards became a full member of the European Organisation of Testing and Certification (EOTC). • In the field of standards and certification, Albania has adopted 42% of European Standards, therefore meeting the target fixed in both the working programme of the General Directorate for Standardisation (GDS) and in the governmental action plan.