Notifications for Albania (32 notifications)

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).

This law defines the rules for the prevention and control of animal diseases that are transmissible to animals or humans.This law aims to determine:(a) the organization according to the priorities of the classification of diseases and the definition of responsibilities in the field of animal health (Part I: Articles 1 to 17);(b) timely detection, notification and reporting of diseases, surveillance, eradication programs and disease-free status (Part II: Articles 18 to 42);(c) awareness, preparation and disease control (Part III: Articles 43 to 83);(d) registration and approval of establishments and transporters, movements and traceability of animals, reproductive material and products of animal origin within the territory of Albania (Part IV: Articles 84 to 228; and Part VI: Articles 244 to 248 and 251 to 255);(e) the entry of animals, reproductive material and products of animal origin into Albania and their export from Albania (Part V: Articles 229 to 243; and Part VI: Articles 244 to 246 and 251 to 255);(f) movements for non-commercial purposes of companion animals entering or leaving the country, from another country or its territory (Part VI: Articles 244 to 255);(g) emergency measures to be taken in the event of an emergency situation relating to a disease (Part VII: Articles 256 to 261).Draft Law “On Animal Health Law” is approximated with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’).

The draft law aims to determine the rules for determining phytosanitary risks from pests and to guarantee the protection of the plants health, plant products and other objects in Albania. The main purpose of this draft law is to take care of the health and conservation of these important resources, as well as to prevent the entry and spread of quarantine and regulated non-quarantine pests in the territory of the country.This measure aims to ensure that plants, plant products and other objects are protected from pests that can destroy these resources or reduce their quality. This is an important step in conserving biodiversity and securing natural resources that are essential for food, the environment and the economy.To achieve this goal, this draft law aims to create a strong and effective legal basis to protect the health of plants, plant products and other objects. In particular, this draft law aims to ensure an effective system of monitoring and control of pests, as well as to establish the necessary measures to prevent their entry into the country's territory.This draft law considered as an important link in the food chain and in the preservation of the environment. Through the rules and measures defined in this draft law, it is intended to ensure that plants and plant products are safe and healthy for consumers and remain sustainable resources for the future.The draft law "On plant health" is approximation of the Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

The purpose of this regulation is to prevent the entry and spread of quarantine pests and non-quarantine pests in the territory of Albania, to ensure the best possible protection of plants, plant products and other objects that are the object of phytosanitary control.

Law 105/2016 "On Plant Protection" has two main pillars, plant health and plant protection products. The amendments regulate only issues related to plant health. This law makes some legal adjustments, making it possible to fully or partially align the EU Aquis in this area through the by-laws in its implementation. Based also on the fact that since 14 December 2019, new EU legislation in this field came into force, with substantial changes from the previous legislation. On the other hand, during the practice of implementing the law, it was found that the law needs some legal adjustments related to the lack of space to issue by-laws, adjustments which become urgent after the changes that the European legislation underwent at the end of 2019. The approval of this law makes possible for the first time the registration of professional operators who have activity within the territory of Albania in relation to plants, plant products and other objects. It makes it possible to complete the legal framework for the implementation of the Plant Passport.

Based on Article 102, point 4 of the Constitution, Article 43, of Law No. 10465, dated 29 September 2011 "On the veterinary service in the Republic of Albania", as amended, the import and transit to the territory of Albania of all live animals of the domestic and wild pigs, their products, biological material and embryos of live pigs, fresh meat and their by-products of pigs are baned, according to notifications received from the official website of WOAH and ADIS, respectively from the following administrative divisions of North Macedonia: Ularci, Delcevo, Karbinci, Kočani, Kratovo, Gostivar, Gradsko, Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, Dolno Konjare, Ljubodrag, Tabanovce, Recica, Moshtica, Preseka, Glavovica, Novo Selo, Drenok, Shtalkovica, Stalkovica, Rankovce, Staro Nagoričane, Arbanasko, Tromegja, Štip, Vinitsa, Vinicka Krshla, Vrapčište, Novatsi, Kavadartsi, Pehčevo, Zajas, Makedonski Brod, Vraneštica, Čaška, Oslomej.Permitting the import and transit to the territory of Albania, of all domestic and wild pigs, their products, biological material and live embryos of the pig species, fresh meat and their by-products of all types of pig animals, from the administrative divisions of the state of North Macedonia which are not cited above, not infected by the disease of African Swine Fever (ASF), if the conditions defined in Chapter 151.1 of the Terrestrial Code of WOAH are met.

The Law No. 10.465, dated 29 September 2011, "On Veterinary Service in the Republic of Albania" has been amended on articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 48, 51, 54, 61, 62, 63, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 102, 105, 106, 108, 109, 112, 113, 114, 116, 120, 122, 123, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 134, 134/1, 135, 137; addition of articles 20/1, 64/1, 129/1; and repeal of article 117.

The Order of Minister has been amended as follows:Changes on the model of veterinary health certificate for BOV‑X and BOV-Y;Changes on the model of veterinary health certificate for OVI-X and OVI-Y;Adding on the list of the third countries North Macedonia and Serbia that are allowed to import live animals and fresh meat into Albania (for the veterinary health certificate models BOV-X, BOV‑Y, OVI-X, OVI-Y, POR-X, POR-Y, RUM, SUI, BOV, OVI, POR, EQU, RUF, RUW, SUF, SUW).

This Order of the Minister has been approximated with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 139/2013 of 7 January 2013 laying down animal health conditions for imports of certain birds into the Union and the quarantine conditions thereof.This regulation lays down the animal health conditions for imports of certain birds into Albania, from other countries and parts thereof referred to in Annex I of this regulation, and the quarantine conditions for such imports.It describes approval of establishments keeping such birds, import conditions, quarantine centers', transport of birds, monitoring of transport of birds, quarantine measures, examination, samples and tests carried out for such birds, measures taken in case of suspicion of any disease, measures taken in positive cases of any disease and the model of import veterinary health certificate for birds.

The aim of the regulation is to define the rules for the movement of wild live animals inside and outside the territory of Albania. It describes the transport and the movement of wild live animals, general conditions for their movement, import of wild live animals into Albania, export permission of wild animals, trade control, certificate for movement, export and import of wild live animals, certificate of exhibitions, fairs and other activities for wild live animals and individual certificate for wild animals.

This Order of the Minister has been approximated with Council Directive of 25 September 1989 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species (89/556/EEC).This regulation defines the animal health conditions governing trade in and importation from other countries of fresh and frozen embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species. It describes health conditions that affect trade and use of embryos of live bovine animals, collections, transport, processing and storage of bovine embryos and the model of veterinary health certificate of bovine embryos.

This Order of the Minister has been approximated with Council Directive 2009/156/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing the movement and importation from third countries of Equidae.This regulation lays down animal health conditions for the movement and importation from other countries of live Equidae. It describes rules for the movement of Equidae from different countries, their import to Albania, identification of African Equidae disease and test for the diagnosis, tests procedures, tests results, diseases that must be notified and import model of veterinary health certificate for Equidae.

This Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Management provides some protective measures against the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 disease in the region indicated in point 4. A ban has been placed on the imports of all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova and by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8, from the territory described in point 4, to the Albanian territory. In addition, the veterinary certificate should guarantee their origin. The measures also consist in stopping the import of unsterile biological materials originating from all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova and by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in the territory described in point 4, to the Albanian territory.

This Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Management provides some protective measures against the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 disease in the regions indicated in point 4. A ban has been placed on the imports of all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova and by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8, from the territories described in point 4, to the Albanian territory. In addition, the veterinary certificate should guarantee their origin. The measures also consist in stopping the import of unsterile biological materials originating from all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova and by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in the territories described in point 4, to the Albanian territory.

This Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Management provides some protective measures against the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 disease in the regions indicated in point 4. A ban has been placed on the imports of all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova and by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8, from the territories described in point 4, to the Albanian territory. In addition, the veterinary certificate should guarantee their origin. The measures also consist in stopping the import of unsterile biological materials originating from all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova and by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in the territories described in point 4, to the Albanian territory.

This Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Management provides some protective measures against the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 disease in the regions indicated in point 4. A ban has been placed on the imports of all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova & by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8, from the territories described in point 4, to the Albanian territory. In addition, the veterinary certificate should guarantee their origin. The measures also consist in stopping the import of unsterile biological materials originating from all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova & by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in the territories described in point 4, to the Albanian territory.