Table 2: Horizontal state aid 2012- 2014

Minerals, fuels and electricity constitute 33.6% of the total of exports in 2014, with a decrease of about 13.3% compared to its value in 2013. Textiles and footwear remain a considerable sector which occupies 33.6 % of total exports. Construction materials and metals constitute about 14.5% of total exports with an increase of about 2.4%, and food, beverages, tobacco cover 6.6 % of total exports with a considerable increase compared to 2013. During the first two months of 2015, textiles and footwear exports remain the dominant sector of the exporting activity whereas exports of minerals, fuels and electricity have fallen sharply due to the drop of oil prices in international markets.

Source: INSTAT

III. ABILITY TO ASSUME THE OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

In the area of market surveillance, the preparations for the establishment of the new relevant structure under Ministry of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism and Entrepreneurship (MEDTTE) are ongoing. It’s expected that the new market surveillance structure and metrology institution will be a single authority under MEDTTE, and the relevant necessary amendments of the low on metrology are sent to the parliament.

Further progress is noted in market surveillance of measurement instruments, pre packed products, fertilizers and in the area of medical devices.

1.1.1 Standardisation
The General Directorate of Standardisation adopted a total of 1,456 European and International standards as Albanian ones, specifically:

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  597 CEN standards (European Committee for Standardisation);
  
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  149 CENELEC standards (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation);
  
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  523 ETSI standards (European Telecommunications Standards Institute);
  
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  99 ISO standards (International Organisation for Standardisation);
  

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  88 IEC standards (International Electrotechnical Commission).
  

GDS adopted:

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  112 amendments;
  
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  76 standardization documents.
  

Adoption follows “cover page” only.

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  23 laboratories (22 testing laboratories and one medical one);
  
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  12 inspection bodies;
  
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  two management system certification bodies;
  
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  one personnel certification body.
  

The seminar “Confidence through Accreditation”was organised by GDA in September 2014. It aimed at presenting the stakeholders with the role and importance of voluntary and mandatory accreditation and the GDA responsibility for the accreditation of medical laboratories. Approximately 120 participants attended this event (representatives from accredited bodies, public institutions, companies, professional associations and consumer protection associations). GDA provided participants with publications. Three interviews on accreditation were broadcast in TV in the scope of this event.

GDM provided 11,562 clients with verification and calibration service for measuring instruments. Revenue acquired from metrological services during the reporting period amount to 507,142 Euro. 28,076 measuring instruments were verified and calibrated during the reporting period.

However, this requires legal modifications; relevant amendments transferring the inspection responsibilities from the old ministry to the new one competent for trade are pending adoption in parliament.

In the area of fertilizers, were carried out 1088 inspections from Nation Food Authority and are putted 8 fines, given 7 warnings as well as were blocked totally 73.5 quintals of fertilizers as a consequence of infringement of the relevant legislation related the packaging label in Albanian language, missing of required parameters in the labelling of fertilizers, missing of CE marking and unrecorded by the Committee of Registration and Evaluation of Fertilizers Used in vegetation or of selection, organization and storing of fertilizers not according the legislation.

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  Draft law on “Chemicals”, which partially approximate the Regulation 1907/2006/EC on "Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals” (REACH) and Regulation no 1272/2008/EC “On the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and mixtures” (CLP). The draft law will be sent for comments to line ministries on 30 May 2015. Its adoption is foreseen in the third quarter of 2015.
  
• 
  Draft Decision “On the classification, packaging and labelling of chemicals”, that partially approximate Regulation No. 1272/2008/EC “On the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures” (CLP). Based on the National Plan for European Integration 2014-2020 adoption of this DCM is foreseen in the fourth quarter of 2015.
  
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  Draft decision “On import and export of dangerous substances”, which aim to approximate EC Regulation no. 649/2012 on export and import of dangerous chemicals. Based on the National Plan for European Integration 2014-2020 adoption of this DCM is foreseen in the fourth quarter of 2015.
  
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  Draft Decision “On safety data sheets, substances of very high concern and restrictions” partially approximate Annexes I-XVII of Regulation 1907/2006/EC on “Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals” (REACH). Adoption of this DCM is foreseen in the fourth quarter of 2015.
  
• 
  Draft Decision “On approval of the list of Persistent Organic Pollutants and determining measures on manufacture, import, placing on the market and their use”, aiming to approximate Parliament and the European Council Regulation 850/2004/EC on persistent organic pollutants, amended by Regulation 519/2012/EC.
  

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  Second Regional workshop “Capacity building on compliance with chemicals legislation, with emphasis on REACH/CLP linked to IED – Procedures” held on 02-04 December 2014, in Tirana. The Workshop was organized under ECRAN Project, component of Chemicals/IED WG. Representatives from Ministry of Environment, National Environmental Agency, Ministry of Health and Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Entrepreneurship participated in the workshop.
  
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  Second Annual Meeting of the “Chemicals/Industrial Emission Directive” Working Group, in Vienna on 10 February 2015. Global Workshop “On review and update of National Action Plan in frame of Stockholm Convention”, held on 17-19 February 2015, in Bratislava, Slovakia.
  
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  Regional joint meeting on environmental sound management and illegal traffic of chemicals and hazardous waste in the Mediterranean, held in Istanbul, Turkey 7-9 April 2015. The meeting was organized by UNEP/MAP and the H2020 Programme of work (PoW), under the MedPartnership project, the UNEP/MAP Secretariat (MED POL) in collaboration with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat. Regional Preparatory workshop with Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention Parties and workshop to support ratification and effective implementation of Minamata Convention, on Mercury, held on 8-10 April 2015, in Bratislava, Slovakia. TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in developing of the Law on Chemicals Management”, based on the European Union Regulation for chemicals REACH No. 1907/2006, was held on 25-28 November 2014;
  
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  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in developing of the draft decision “On Classification, packaging, labelling of chemical substances and mixtures”, based on the European Union Regulation for CLP No. 1272/2008, was held on 13-16 January 2015;
  
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  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in developing of the draft decision “On import and export of chemical substances and mixtures”, based on the European Union Regulation for import-export No. 649/2012, was held on 27-30 January 2015;
  
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  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in developing of the draft decision "List of hazardous substances which from their nature poses a serious risk to human life and health and the environment”, based on the Annex XIV of the European Union Regulation for chemicals REACH No 1907/2006, was held on 10-13 February 2015;
  
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  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in developing of the draft decision “On approval of substances and chemical mixtures, production, placing on the market and use of which is restricted or prohibited”, based on the Annex XVII of the European Union Regulation for chemicals REACH No 1907/2006, is planned to be held on 24-27 March 2015.
  

Representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Health, Public Health Institute, Ministry of Energy and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration, National Environment Agency, General Directorate of Customs and the National Licensing Center participated in these meetings.