Annual progress report 2015 albanian contribution – input I september 2014 – may 2015 table of contents

While performing inspections in the entire chain of production and distribution of planting and propagating material, pursuant to the Law No. 10416, of 07. 04. 2011 “On Planting Propagating Herbal Material” amended, the NFA inspectors have paid special attention to the certification of orchards and parent plants that serve as the basic material for breeding, draft certification documentation, completion of record held in each link of PPM production and trading.

Pursuant to Law No. 10416 dated 07. 04.2011" On Planting Propagating Herbal Material " during November - December 2014 by Order No. 4665 Prot. of 10.11.2014 of the Director General of the NFA was adopted an Action Plan for the control of all business operators that produce, process, market and import Planting and Propagating Plant material throughout the territory of the Republic of Albania.
The inspectors in regional directorates in implementation of the Action Plan have taken and sent to the State Laboratory for Seeds and Seedlings a total of 176 samples. 160 samples analyzed resulted with quality indicators within the official rate allowed and 16 samples resulted in qualitative indicators below the official rate allowed.
For 16 lots of seeds that resulted in qualitative indicator below the official rate permitted by NFA inspectors, a blocking measure was taken for trading as defined in the legislation in force until their disposal by the competent authorities.
National Food Authority for the first time drafted an Annual Plan for Official Controls and Risk – Based Sampling Plan for 2015.The Plan on Official Controls and Risk Based Sampling is sent for approval to the MARDWA and the Central Inspectorate. The annual risk-based plan will enable official controls carried out by European standards. This plan is an innovation in the functional performance of NFA and aims at providing a methodology for prioritization of risk – based controls, determining the appropriate frequency of official controls on the level of risk, available resources and determination of control objective.
On 10.12.2014, NFA organized the first conference on "Consolidation of Food Safety, a Challenge for the Future" aiming not only at informing on the work done so far but also to identify the problems encountered in the field and defining objectives and appropriate mechanisms to guarantee food security through a traceability system functioning at all levels of the food chain from farm to table. Consumer awareness was an important element in the discussions of this conference where was clearly stated that no consumer awareness is possible if you don’t have food security.

The General Directorate of NFA in cooperation with the company AQSCERT, accredited by international organizations in ISO 22000 standards, organized on 28^th -29^th January 2015 training sessions with the participation of 80 inspectors from all regions. In this training were addressed these key issues:

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  HACCP system, basic principles;
  

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  Preliminary programs, a condition for the application of HACCP;
  
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  Risks in foods, their nature;
  
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  Risk assessment methods in food products;
  
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  Assessment and verification of the HACCP system:
  
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  Drafting of documents;
  
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  Inspection check lists.
  

During the reporting period, the following legal acts were approved:

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  Order of Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration No.538, of 21.11.2014 “On the minimum level of checks to be carried out in relation to the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals”, partially approximated with the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1505/2006 of 11 October 2006 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 as regards the minimum level of checks to be carried out in relation to the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals
  
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  Order of Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration No 475, of 09.10.2014 “On implementing rules as regards the control, monitoring, surveillance and restrictions on movements of certain animals of susceptible species in relation to bluetongue” partially approximated with the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 of 26 October 2007 on implementing rules for Council Directive 2000/75/EC as regards the control, monitoring, surveillance and restrictions on movements of certain animals of susceptible species in relation to bluetongue
  
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  Order of Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration No 222, of 07.04.2015 “On minimum standards for the protection of pigs”, partially approximated with the Council Directive no 2008/120/EC ““On minimum standards for the protection of pigs”.
  

The following legal acts are in the approval process:

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  Law “On Order of Veterinarian”; expected to be approved within the year 2015
  
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  Regulation of Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration “On laying down a list of third countries, territories, zones or compartments from which poultry and poultry products may be imported into and transit through the Albania and the veterinary certification requirements” partially approximating Albanian law with the Commission Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 of 8 August 2008 laying down a list of third countries, territories, zones or compartments from which poultry and poultry products may be imported into and transit through the Community and the veterinary certification requirements; Veterinary Directorate has completed adoption. Remarks from the Legal Directory are expected. The Regulation should be approved in month May 2015
  
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  Regulation of Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration as regards methods for the identification of equidae, partially approximated with the Commission Regulation establishing the identification document (passport) accompanying registered equidae no 504/2008/EEC of 6 june 2008 implementing council directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC as regards methods for the identification of equidae and Commission Decision of 20 October 1993 establishing the identification document (passport) accompanying registered equidae 93/623/EEC.
  
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  Regulation of Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration “Establishing a model health certificate for the importation for trade of dogs, cats and ferrets” partially approximated with the Commission Decision of 29 July 2004 2004/595/EC
  

The national program of veterinary prophylaxis includes vaccination of animals against anthrax, vaccination of small ruminants against Brucellosis as well as vaccination against Classical Swine Fever.

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  Anthrax: during 2014, approximately 60.935 bovines and 424.455 heads of small ruminants were vaccinated against anthrax and during this period are vaccinated 935 heads of bovines and no small ruminants;
  
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  Brucellosis in Small Ruminants: in collaboration with PAZA project was carried out the vaccination of replacement small ruminant in Albania. In total 587.000 sheep and goats were vacinated, during this period are vaccinated 21.207 heads sheep and goats;
  
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  Classical Swine Fever: For CSF in total about 43.819 pigs were vaccinated, while during this period 9331 heads were vaccinated.
  

In terms of active surveillance, in 2014, a national survey on cattle brucellosis and tuberculosis was carried out. In total,25.884 bovines were sampled and the overall prevalence of brucellosis in cattle resulted 0.14% and 31.500 heads for tuberculosis were tested and prevalence of disease in cattle resulted 0.08 %. During 2015 further studies will be carried out to investigate the causative pathogen in order to define a specific disease control strategy of brucellosis and tuberculosis in this species.

Main activities during 2014 are the update of farm register, identification of replacement of small ruminants and replacement of bovines. 4800 new farms are registered, which makes301 077 farms in total. The capacity for I&R data registration and management is supported by the Livestock and Veterinary Information System RUDA. It is nationally supported by computer access and database managers in all 36 districts.

Main activities during this period are:

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  Update of the farm register with data from field activities on vaccination and identification of small ruminants. Information for 4800 farms was updated;
  
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  Control and correction of farm register for duplicated farms registered during first campaign;
  
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  Training of local staff at regional and district level on farm registration procedures and data base updates;
  
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  Registration of geographical coordinates for the most important livestock holdings, where the greater flux of animal movement happens;.
  

Main activities during this period are:

1. 
   Identification of 316.204 heads of small ruminants replacement animals. In total, 661.000 heads small ruminants are identified and registered in the database (25 % of the total)
   
2. 
   The budget was approved to continue the identification of 634.000 small ruminates in 2015.
   

Activities during this period are:

In 2014, 81.000 animals were identified and registered in the database: 76.000 animals are planned to be tagged in 2015. During this period 46.658 animals were identified.
Animal movement registration and update of database

Main activities during this period are:

Monitoring the animal population number through the chronological animal inventory in the farm and their movement;

There are no new developments regarding this topic.

There are no new developments regarding this topic.

CHAPTER 13: FISHERIES

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  EBRD will provide 289,383 Euro as a grant to the Albanian government, to finance consulting services aiming to help Albania meet its targets of reducing energy consumption in transport. The grant agreement was ratified by the Albanian Parliament with its Law No 18/2015 of 5.03.2015 “On the ratification of the grant agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania, represented by the Minister of Finance, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as administrator of funds secured from the governments of different countries, under the special fund of the EBRD shareholders, for the sustainable transport plan in Albania”;
  
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  EBRD will provide 149,117 Euro as a grant to the Albanian government, to finance the road tolling strategy. The grant agreement was ratified by the Albanian Parliament with its Law No 35/2015 of 2.04.2015 “On the ratification of the grant agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania, represented by the Minister of Finance, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as administrator of funds secured from the governments of different countries, under the special fund of the EBRD shareholders, for the Albanian Road Tolling Strategy”. Albanian Road Tolling Strategy will provide a strategic document for the Government of Albania on the use of road tolling in Albania, including a policy level analysis, determining the optimal use of road tolling on the road network in Albania, and the identification of suitable potential road sections for tolling.
  

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  Draft Decision of Council of Ministers “On the approval of criteria and procedures for licensing of vocational training institutions in the field of carriage of dangerous goods by road”;
  
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  Draft Guideline of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure “On the procedures for the inspection of vehicles, issuing of ADR approval certificates, requirements that the legal persons should fulfil for the inspection of the ADR vehicle and the service fees”.
  

Guideline of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 1 of 4.03.2015 “On some amendments to the manual ‘On the technical inspection of vehicles” was issued. The amendments lay down new rules on the obligatory gas emissions controls and gas emissions limits for road vehicles. These rules will be implemented in three steps. The gas emissions limits set by the Directive 2009/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers will be implemented starting form 1.07.2016. The amendments are announced to the public aiming to ensure transparency and allow sufficient time to repair existing vehicles if they fail the gas emissions tests.

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  Decision of Council of Ministers No 66 of 28.01.2015 “On the approval of the agreement between the Council of Ministers of Republic of Albania and the Government of the Montenegro, on the mutual recognition of driving licences”;
  
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  Decision of Council of Ministers No 308 of 8.04.2015 “On the approval of the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, on the mutual recognition of driving licenses”.
  

The draft Law on some amendments and addenda to Law No 8308 of 18.03.1998 “On road transports”, as amended, is being prepared as part of the reform on the interurban transport of passengers. Implementing legislation to these amendments will be prepared subsequently.

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  Law No 175/2014 of 18.12.2014 “On some amendments and addenda to Law No 8378 of 22.07.1998 “Road Code of the Republic of Albania”⁵³. The amendments increase administrative penalties for damages to road infrastructure, introduce a new categorisation of driving licenses aligned with the Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences, improve administrative procedures for all driving licenses, and strengthen measures to ensure children safety in special seats;
  
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  Decision of Council of Ministers No 298 of 8.04.2015 “On some amendments to the Decision of Council of Ministers No 153 of 7.04.2000 “On the approval of the implementing regulation of the Road Code of the Republic of Albania” as amended. The Decision introduces the demerit point of driving licenses. The implementation of the demerit point system will start immediately.
  

Along with legislation initiatives, the following measures were implemented:

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  Strengthening of the monitoring and control of issuing of driving license, from preparation at the driving schools, to the issuance of driving licenses;
  
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  Introduction of information technology in all administrative procedures of General Directorate of Road Transport Services (GDRTS);
  
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  Strengthening of roadside controls for professional vehicles;
  
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  Operation of tachograph workshops, enforcement of this activity, the distribution of the digital tachograph cards;
  
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  Completion with road signs and road safety elements, along Rrogozhina – Lushnja – Fieri – Vlora – Sarande – Butrinti, Durrësi – Tirana highway and Rinasi – Kashari road segment;
  
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  The Albanian Road Authority (ARA) is implementing a project aiming to eliminate 90 black spots.
  

The installation of road signs and safety elements in sections of Corridor VIII and Tirana – Hani Hotit road connection is planned to be carried out in 2015.

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  “Legal standards and practice in rail transport in line with requirements of International and European standards” held in November 2014. The training was attended by 11 representatives from Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Railway Inspectorate Directorate, Albanian Institute of Transport and Albanian Railway. Part of the training focused on the necessary improvement and finalisation of the New Railway Code, and on the future reorganisation and restructuring of Albanian Railways (HSH) with required separation of infrastructure and operations in line with EU acquis;
  
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  Capacity building trainings organised for the following units of the National Railway Authority: Unit of Goods Transport on 17 March 2015, Unit of Passengers Transport on 25 March 2015, Unit of Infrastructure Management on 20 April 2015, and Unit of Moving Equipment on 28 April 2015.
  

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  “Legal standards and practice in maritime transport in line with requirements of International and European standards”, held on 19 November 2014 in Tirana, attended by seven representatives from MTI, General Maritime Directorate (GMD) and the Albanian Transport Institute;
  
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  “Maritime safety and security focused on the Flag and Port State Control” held on 26 – 29 January 2015 in Durrësi, and attended by 13 inspectors of General Maritime Directorate and Harbour Masters inspectors;
  

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  “On maritime pollution”, held in 23 – 26 February 2015 in Durrësi, and attended by 20 participants from the staff of the General Maritime Directorate, Port Authorities, etc;
  
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  One training module on cooperation and coordination with other Government bodies on maritime safety and security, protection of the maritime environment and the establishment of VTMIS, held on 23 – 26 March 2015 in Durrësi for 20 representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, General Maritime Directorate, Ministry of Environment and the Coast Guard;
  
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  One training on “Accident and Incident Investigation Body” held on 30 – 31 March 2015 in Durrësi, attended by 19 employees of the General Maritime Directorate, Port Authorities, Inter-institutional Maritime Operational Centre (IMOC), Coast Guard etc,
  
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  One training module on the implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 78/95) held on 20 – 24 April 2015 in Durrësi, attended by 17 employees of the General Maritime Directorate.
  

A training is planned to be organised on European legal standards and practises and international conventions for the staff of General Maritime Directorate, in May 2015.

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  Order of Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 250 of 12.09.2014 “On the approval of the Regulation on laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew”, that is fully approximated with the Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, and repealing Council Directive 91/670/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 and Directive 2004/36/EC;
  
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  Order of Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 252 of 15.09.2014 “On the approval of the Regulation on laying down requirements on the quality of aeronautical data and aeronautical information”⁵⁴, that is fully approximated with the Commission Regulation (EU) No 73/2010 of 26 January 2010 laying down requirements on the quality of aeronautical data and aeronautical information for the single European sky;
  
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  Order of Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 281 of 14.10.2014 “On the approval of the Regulation on laying down common rules on air traffic flow management”⁵⁵, that is fully approximated with the Commission Regulation (EU) No 255/2010 of 25 March 2010 laying down common rules on air traffic flow management;
  
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  Order of Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 329 of 22.12.2014 “On the approval of the Regulation concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, when travelling by air”⁵⁶, that is fully approximated with the Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air;
  
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  Joint Order of Minister of Environment and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 11262 of 27.11.2014 “On environmental protection from noises in civil aviation”, that is fully approximated with the Council Directive 89/629/EEC of 4 December 1989 on the limitation of noise emission from civil subsonic jet aeroplanes and Directive 2006/93/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the regulation of the operation of aeroplanes covered by Part II, Chapter 3, Volume 1 of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, second edition (1988);
  
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  Order of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 33 of 25.02.2015 “On the approval of the Regulation ‘On the requirements for the assessment and implementation of amendments related to safety oversight in air traffic management”, that is fully approximated with the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1034/2011 of 17 October 2011 on safety oversight in air traffic management and air navigation services and amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2010;
  
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  Guideline of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 2 of 13.03.2015 “On the fulfilment of common basic standards on civil aviation security laid down in the annex of the Guideline 26 of 20.10.2010 “On the general rules in the field of civil aviation security”⁵⁷, that is fully approximated with the Commission Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 of 2 April 2009 supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security laid down in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council;
  
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  Guideline of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure No 3 of 13.03.2015 “On some addenda and amendments to the Guideline No 3 of 7.02.2011 “On the common rules in the field of the civil aviation” in the field of aerodromes, air traffic management and air navigation services” that is fully approximated with the Regulation (EC) No 1108/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 in the field of aerodromes, air traffic management and air navigation services and repealing Directive 2006/23/EC.
  

Concerning safety oversight, the following measures are implemented:

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  Policies and processes necessary for the oversight functions are established and implemented by Albanian Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA). Audits from European Aviation Safety Agency were carried out to monitor the implementation of these policies and processes by ACAA. More precisely, one standardisation visit was carried out by EASA for Airworthiness in September 2014, that confirmed the progress in the field of oversight capacities of Albanian CAA staff, resulting only in findings of class C (findings that don’t have impact on safety);
  
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  Training plans for the year 2014, were implemented and the technical staff in charge of oversight duties is included in a very ambitious training plan for 2015;
  
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  Most of the inspectors fulfil the requirements to be authorised with credentials.
  

The IPA 2013 Twining Project, “Strengthening of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority”, is contributing to enhance the capacities of ACAA for safety oversight. Training/ on job trainings and study visits were added to the ACAA training plan. The following activities were carried out:

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  Activity 1- Assessment and working plan;
  
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  Activity 2- Manuals and procedures, assistance was provided by project’s experts on ATM/FUA, Safety and Compliance monitoring;
  
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  Activity 3- Training and Assistance: Familiarisation courses in Toulouse for ATM/ ATC were performed for three employees. A training course was organised in Tirana at ACAA premises, where 14 employees of ACAA were trained on ATM auditing. On Compliance monitoring, a workshop was organised at ACAA; nine employees of ACAA participated in this training. Two study visits were organised in Paris, at DGAC France, for ten ACAA employees.
  

CHAPTER 15: ENERGY