RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/ALB/40
23 June 1999
(99-2541)
Working Party on the
Accession of AlbaniaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF ALBANIA
Draft laws
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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 Chart on the Implem entation of Draft Laws, Am endments, and 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 arerequired 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. "On Some Changes to the Law Number 7643, On State Sanitary
Inspectorate"
4. "The Approval of the Code of Good Practices for Adoption,Approval and Application of Standards", Decision of the Council ofMinisters, Number 242, dated 28.05.991-2. To be in compliance with SPS.
3. To be in compliance with the standstill and
transparency provisions of SPS.4. To be in compliance with SPS.1. At the time of accession.
2. At the time of accession.
3. At the time of accession.
4. At the time of accession.
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
No additional changes in laws or decisions of the Council of Ministersare 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:WT/ACC/ALB/40
Page 3Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to WTO
Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
1. "Exchange of Information on Standards and Technical Regulations"
2. "The Preparation, Adoption and Application of TechnicalRegulations and the Procedures for Assessment of Conformity withTechnical Regulations and Standards"1-2. To be in compliance with TBT. 1. At the time of accession.
2. At the time of accession.
Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Trade-RelatedInvestment Measures.  No additional changes in laws or decisions of theCouncil of Ministers are required for Albania to be in compliance with
WTO.There are no laws or decisions being drafted
or amendedNot applicable.
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 Fulfilment of the Application Forms"3. "The Content of the Public Notice for the Initiation of theInvestigation"
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 onAntidumping.
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. The Customs Code of Albania defines
Albania's customs procedures.Albania is in compliance since May 15, 1999
with the adoption of the Customs Code and theWT/ACC/ALB/40
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Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to WTO
Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
"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 Decision of the Council of Ministers,
Number 205 are the implementing provisionswhich are in compliance with customsvaluation procedures.  Albania is incompliance with the Customs ValuationAgreement and the Implementation of Article
VII of GATT 1994.Implementing Provisions of the Customs Code.
Agreements on Pre-Shipment Inspection
Pre-shipment inspection is covered by the Customs Code, Article 11(4),
last sentence of the paragraph.Provision on pre-shipment inspection. No further action required.
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. At the time of accession.
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 23.02.933. "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 time of accession.
1. At the time of accession.
2. At the time of accession.3. At the time of accession.
Agreement on Subsides and Countervailing Measures
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Subsidies andCountervailing Measures.  No additional changes in laws or decisionsThe drafting of a law on countervailing
measures has been suspended.  The RepublicNot applicable.WT/ACC/ALB/40
Page 5Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to WTO
Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
of the Council of Ministers are required for Albania to be in compliance
with WTO.of Albania will reconsider its decision to draft
such a law after accession; if Albania choosesto draft this legislation it will be doneaccording to WTO procedures.
Agreements on Safeguards
Albania is in compliance with the Agreement on Safeguards.  Noadditional changes in laws or decisions of the Council of Ministers arerequired or Albania to be in compliance with WTO.The drafting of a law on safeguards has been
suspended.  The Republic of Albania willreconsider its decision  to draft such a law
after accession; if Albania chooses to draft
this legislation it will be done according to
WTO procedures.Not applicable.
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 forprivate foreign and domestic service providerson 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 time of accession.
4. At the time of accession.
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspect s of Intellectual Property Rights
Albania is in compliance with TRIPs.  The following have been Compliance with TRIPsWT/ACC/ALB/40
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Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to WTO
Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
substantive changes in legislation to be in compliance.
The following are amendments to laws:1. "On Copyright"
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 22.04.991-2. To bring Albanian legislation in
compliance with the copyright provisions ofTRIPs.
3-4. To bring Albania patent and trademark
legislation in compliance with TRIPs; 4.  Alsocreates the Albanian Directorate of Patent andTrademark.1-4.  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 ofMinisters 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. At the Council of Ministers awaiting
approval.2. At the Council of Ministers awaitingapproval.3. At the Council of Ministers awaitingapproval.
4. "The Standard Tender Document for the Procurement of Systems
(Those which are Large and Complex) for Telecommunication,
Information Technology, etc."These Decisions will provide transparent rules
for submission of tenders in the specified4. At the Council of Ministers awaiting
approval.WT/ACC/ALB/40
Page 7Draft Laws, Amendments, or
Decisions of the Council of MinistersRelevance of the Law or Decision to WTO
Compliance, by AgreementDate of Implementation
5. "The Standard Tender Document for the Procurement of
Construction (Those which are Large and Complex)"6. "The Standard Tender Document for the Procurement of WholeServices (Those which are Large and Complex)"7. "The Standard Tender Document for the Procurement of ComplexServices (for which the Value and Duration are Specified)
8. "The Standard Tender Document for the Procurement of Basic
Services (for which the Value and Duration are Specified)"areas. 5. At the Council of Ministers awaiting
approval.6. At the Council of Ministers awaitingapproval.7. At the Council of Ministers awaitingapproval.
8. At the Council of Ministers awaiting
approval.
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. At the time of accession.
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 Chapter74.01-74.19 of the HS will be repealed.To be in compliance with rules on exports
Albania will lift export prohibitions on the
goods listed in the relevant chapters.At the time of accession.WT/ACC/ALB/40
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ANNEX
Albania is submitting two documents related to  proposed legislation in Albania for its
compliance with WTO.  The first (WT/ACC/ALB/33 /Rev.2) is an update of WT/ACC/ALB/33.  This
document provides an updated status of legislation that was reported in 30 March 1999.  The list of
legislation in the first column is the same as provided in ALB/33.  The second column merges the
information that was presented in ALB/33 columns entitled "Status of Legislation" and "ExpectedApproval Date" columns of ALB/33.  The new information is provided in a third column entitled
"Status of the Legislation as of June 1999".  Most  of the proposed legislation is now Albanian law.
In a second document (WT/ACC/ALB/40) Albania created a chart on the status of the
implementation of draft laws, amendments, and decisions of the Council of Ministers according to therelevant WTO Agreements.  The chart includes all proposed legislation, the relevance of the
legislation for full compliance with WTO, and the date of its implementation.
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