Albania

This draft Instruction of Minister aims to establish detailed rules for:organic production of plants and plant products, including plant reproductive material;conversion of plant production to organic production;derogations from the rules on organic plant production;organic mushroom production;organic wild plant collection.This draft lays down the general requirements to be applied to organic plant production, prohibitions, and some derogations and detailed rules on conversion, origin of plants including plant reproductive material, use of in-conversion and non-organic plant reproductive material, rules on soil management and fertilization, pest and weed management and products used for cleaning and disinfection.Regarding the derogations from production rules, it is established the procedure on granting the derogations or authorization by control body for operators under their control system, for using the in-conversion or non-organic plant reproductive material. In addition, the detailed rules for specific plants and plant products such as rules on mushroom production and the collection of wild plants are defined.

The draft law aims to sets out the general and specific rules, principles, and requirements related to official controls and other official activities, and it defines the responsibilities, financing, and procedures for carrying out official controls. Its overarching purpose is to guarantee a high level of protection for human health, animal health and welfare, and plant health, while also safeguarding the environment and consumer interests. The draft law provides a comprehensive legal framework for the performance of official controls and other official activities, which are essential to verify compliance with national legislation throughout all stages of food and feed production and distribution, including rules related to organic production, animal welfare, plant health, and geographical indications.To achieve its objectives, the draft law establishes a harmonized and integrated system of official controls conducted by designated competent authorities. These authorities are required to be adequately resourced, trained, and supervised to ensure the effectiveness, impartiality, and consistency of controls. The draft law introduces multi-annual national control plans, which must be regularly updated and cover all relevant sectors of the agri-food chain. These plans allow for a risk-based approach, ensuring that resources are focused where they are most needed.Furthermore, the draft law foresees the use of a computerized information management system, enabling efficient exchange of data and coordination among the competent authorities and with the European Commission before day of accession. In cases of non-compliance or serious risk, the regulation outlines clear enforcement mechanisms, including immediate corrective actions and sanctions. Through these mechanisms, draft law establishes a strong and coherent system that enhances transparency, strengthens trust in the Albanian food safety and regulatory systems, and ensures that consumers across the country are equally protected.The draft law “On official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of rules on food and feed, animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products in the Republic of Albania" is approximation of the Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

This regulation defines detailed rules on organic livestock, included general production rules for animals and detailed production rules for the species: bovine, equine, cervine, porcine, ovine, caprine, poultry, rabbits and bees.Draft instruction "On detailed rules on organic livestock" is approximated with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007.

Amendment of the model of certificates BOV-X, BOV-Y, OVI-X, OVI-Y, POR-X, POR-Y and SUI, according to Part 2 of order No. 328, dated 22 November 2011, for the approval of the regulation “On determining the criteria and requirements for the veterinary certification of certain types of animals and their fresh meat, which enter in the Republic of Albania from certain countries, as well as from other territories, in the administration of these states”.

The object of this law is the determination of public health and animal health rules for animal by-products and derived products. The aim is to prevent and minimize risks to public and animal health arising from these products, and in particular to protect the safety of the food chain and foodstuffs.1. This law applies to: a) by-products of animal origin and derivative products produced from their processing which are excluded from human consumption according to the legislation; b) the following products, which after the irrevocable decision taken by the food business operator are no longer used as human food. These products are: i) products of animal origin that were intended for human consumption according to the requirements of food legislation; ii) raw materials for the production of foods of animal origin.This Draft Law is approximated with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (Animal by-products Regulation).