RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/807/17
30 March 2001
(01-1616)
Working Party on the Accession of the
Former Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Communication from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Plan of Legislation Activities
The Government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has submitted the following
Plan of Legislation Activities.
_______________WT/ACC/807/17
Page 2Subject Legislation Agency in Charge Status
New
Law on Foreign Exchange Operations
Liberalization of capital transactions, simplification of
the foreign investments registration procedure, and
unimpeded transfer of capital.Ministry of Finance
National Bank of RMDraft in existence.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by April  2001.
NewLaw on Payment Transactions
Reforms in the payment system to permit commercial
banks to conduct direct transfers of funds for all legal
entities (at the present time such transfers must be made
through a specialized payment operations office).Ministry of Finance Draft in existence.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by July 2001.Economic, monetary and fiscal
policy
New
Law on Excise TaxesMinistry of Finance Draft in existence.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by July 2001.
NewLaw on Construction Land
Long-term (99 years) land  leases for the building
construction  by foreigners.Ministry of Transport and
CommunicationsDraft in existence.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by June 2001.
New
Law on Ownership
Establishment of a contemporary system of ownership
rights.Ministry of Justice Enacted by the Parliament in
February 2001.
Published in Official Gazette
18/01Property ownership and
leasing; contracts
New
Law on Obligations
Establishment of a contemporary system of contracts.Ministry of Justice Enacted by the Parliament in
February 2001.
Published in Official Gazette
18/01.
Registration requirements Amendments
Law on Trade Companies (Official Gazette 28/96, 7/97,
21/98, 37/98, 63/98, 39/99, 81/99, 37/00)
Simplification of registration procedures for commercial
entities.Ministry of Economy
Ministry of JusticeBeing drafted.
Intended  to be enacted by the
Parliament by July 2001.WT/ACC/807/17
Page 3Subject Legislation Agency in Charge Status
National tariff Amendments
Customs Tariff Law (Official Gazette 38/96, 45/97,
54/97, 61/97, 26/98)
Reduction of customs rates.Ministry of Finance Enacted by the Parliament in
February 2001.
Published in Official Gazette
15/01.
English translation submitted to
the WTO Secretariat.
Other duties and charges Amendments
Law on Customs (Official Gazette 21/98, 26/98, 63/98,
25/00)
Article 8 of the amendments provides for the abolition
of the 1% customs services fee starting January 1, 2002.Ministry of Finance Enacted by the Parliament in
December 2000.
Published  in Official Gazette
109/00.
English translation submitted to
the WTO Secretariat.
Import licensing procedures New
Law on Trade
Improve the regulation of domestic and international
trade.
Abolish the 0.1% export promotion charge.Ministry of Economy Planning stage.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.WT/ACC/807/17
Page 4Subject Legislation Agency in Charge Status
New
Law on Standardization
This law lays down the objectives and principles for the
Macedonian national standardization system, the status
of the Macedonian national standards body, itsresponsibilities, membership and funding, and regulates
the preparation,, adoption and application of
Macedonian national standards.Ministry of Economy
Bureau for Standardization and
MetrologyEnactment dependent on the
enactment of the Law on Public
Institutions.
Draft submitted to the WTO
Secretariat as part of the revisedAnnex 2 (WT/ACC/807/13).
NewLaw on Metrology
Regulation of the metrological system of the Republic
of Macedonia.Ministry of Economy
Bureau for Standardization and
MetrologyEnactment dependent on the
enactment of the Law on Public
Institutions.
Draft submitted to the WTO
Secretariat as part of the revisedAnnex 2 (WT/ACC/807/13).
NewLaw on Accreditation
This law establishes a national accreditation service;
determines its structure, powers and obligations and
specific areas in which  the accreditation procedure shallapply.Ministry of Economy
Bureau for Standardization and
MetrologyEnactment dependent on the
enactment of the Law on Public
Institutions.
Draft submitted to the WTO
Secretariat as part of the revisedAnnex 2 (WT/ACC/807/13).TBT Agreement
New
Law on Technical Requirements of Products and
Conformity Assessment
Technical requirements products should meet before
placed on the market and  procedures for conformityassessment of productMinistry of Economy
Bureau for Standardization and
MetrologyEnactment dependent on the
enactment of the Law on Public
Institutions.
Draft submitted to the WTO
Secretariat as part of the revisedAnnex 2 (WT/ACC/807/13).WT/ACC/807/17
Page 5Subject Legislation Agency in Charge Status
New
Law on Food
Complete harmonization of food safety legislation with
the SPS Agreement (Codex Alimentarius standards)Ministry of Health Being drafted.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.
Amendments
Law on Veterinary Health (Official Gazette 28/98)
International harmonization of existing legislation.Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water EconomyBeing drafted.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.
New
Regulations for implementation of the Law on
Veterinary HealthMinistry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water EconomyBeing drafted.
Intended to be completed by
December 2001.
NewRegulations for implementation of the Law on Plant
ProtectionMinistry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water EconomyBeing drafted.
No definite date for completion.SPS Agreement
New
Law on Ratification of the International Plant Protection
Convention
IPPO membershipMinistry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water EconomyIntended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.
New
Law on Support of Agriculture
The aim of this law is to resolve critical issues in the
agricultural sector of Macedonia and to alleviate the
conditions of Macedonian agricultural producers.Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water EconomyBeing drafted.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.Agreement on Agriculture
New
Law on Agricultural Fund
This law establishes an agricultural fund and introduces
procedures for its appropriation sources and application.Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water EconomyDraft in existence.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by July 2001.WT/ACC/807/17
Page 6Subject Legislation Agency in Charge Status
Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights -TRIPSAmendments
Law on Copyrights and Related Rights (Official Gazette
47/96, 3/98)
Further harmonization of the copyrights legislation with
international requirements.Ministry of Culture Planning stage.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by April 2002.
NewLaw on Patents
Modernization of the patent regime and its
harmonization with international requirements.Ministry of Economy
Industrial Property ProtectionOfficePlanning stage.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.
New
Law on Trademarks
Modernization of the trademarks regime and its
harmonization with international requirements.Ministry of Economy
Industrial Property Protection
OfficePlanning stage.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.
New
Law on Industrial Design
Harmonization of the legislation on industrial designs
with international requirements.Ministry of Economy
Industrial Property Protection
OfficePlanning stage.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.
NewLaw on Geographical Indications and Appellations ofOrigin
International harmonization of existing legislation.Ministry of Economy
Industrial Property ProtectionOfficePlanning stage.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.WT/ACC/807/17
Page 7Subject Legislation Agency in Charge Status
General Agreement on Trade
in Services – GATSNew
Law on Bar
Professional requirements for attorneys, and the scope
and manner of their professional activitiesMinistry of Justice Being drafted.
No definite date for enactment.
Amendments
Law on Accounting (Official Gazette 42/93, 48/93,
6/95, 3/96, 32/98, 39/99)
Introduction of modern concepts in accounting services.Ministry of Finance Draft in existence.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by March 2001.
New
Law on Agricultural Activity
Definition of the agricultural activity, who and under
which conditions can perform it, registration
requirements.Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water EconomyDraft in existence.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by July 2001.
NewLaw on Postal Services
The establishment of new criteria  for postal and courier
services.Ministry of Transport and
CommunicationsDraft in existence.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by May 2001.
Amendments
Law on Telecommunications (Official Gazette 33/96,
17/98, 22/98,28/00)
These amendments will introduce the necessary
adjustments resulting  from the privatization of the
incumbent operator.Ministry of Transport and
CommunicationsBeing drafted.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by November 2001.
Amendments
Law on Broadcasting (Official Gazette 20/97)
Harmonization of existing legislation with EU
requirementsMinistry of Transport and
CommunicationsPlanning stage.
No definite date for enactment.WT/ACC/807/17
Page 8Subject Legislation Agency in Charge Status
Amendments
Law on Insurance (Official Gazette 49/97, 79/99)
Further liberalization in the insurance sectorMinistry of Finance Enacted by the Parliament in
February 2001.
Published in Official Gazette
13/01.
English translation in process.
New
Law on Capital-Funded Pension System
Introduction of a capital-funded pension system.Ministry of Labor and Social
PolicyIntended to be enacted by the
Parliament by September 2001.
NewLaw on Health Protection
New approach in regulating the health sector.Ministry of Health Being drafted.
No definite date for enactment.
Amendments
Law on  Road Transport (Official Gazette 63/95, 15/97,
29/98, 7/99, 34/00)
Harmonization of the legislation with European
countries.Ministry of Transport and
CommunicationsBeing drafted.
Intended to be enacted by the
Parliament by December 2001.
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