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

The following legal acts are adopted in the waste management field:

• 
  Decision of Council of Ministers No 608 of 17.09.2014 “On development of necessary measures for collection and treatment of bio-waste as well as criteria and rules for their reduce”;
  
• 
  Decision of Council of Ministers No 641 of 1.10.2014 “On approve of rules for waste export and non-hazardous waste or inert waste transit ”which partially approximates the EU Regulation 1013/2006/EC
  

Also, in order to continue with the transposition of Directive 2008/98/EC and Directive 96/59/EC, during the reporting period are being prepared the following legal acts:

• 
  Draft Decision of Council of Ministers “On inert waste”, which is sent for approval to the Council of Ministers. It is foreseen to be adopted within May 2015;
  
• 
  Draft Decision of Council of Ministers “On the rules on control of PCBs/PCTs disposal, decontamination or disposal of equipment containing PCBs/PCTs and or disposal of used PCBs/PCTs”, which will be sent for approval to the Council of Ministers by the end of April 2015. It is foreseen to be adopted within May 2015
  

• 
  Draft Decision of Council of Ministers “On waste statistics”. According to NPEI 2015 – 2020 this DCM will adopted in the 2^nd quarter of 2015.
  

• 
  Regional training “On transposition and implementation of Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC)”, 21 – 22 October 2014, in Podgorica (Montenegro), whose objective was to provide the participants with the experience of Member States in implementation of WFD;
  
• 
  ECRAN regional workshop “On coordination of strategic and investment planning in waste sector”, 25 - 26 November 2014, in Skopje (Macedonia), which aimed to provide participants with information, share experience and extend capacities in participating countries in strategic planning and related waste management infrastructure development in order to achieve EU acquis requirements in waste sector;
  
• 
  ECRAN Regional workshop “On cost recovery in waste sector and 2nd Annual Meeting of Waste Management and Strategic Planning and Investments Working Groups”, 18 – 19 March 2015, in Tirana (Albania). In this workshop participated representatives from the MoE and MTI. The aim of this workshop was to provide practical knowledge on experience of other countries and support establishment of cost-recovery mechanisms in the region.
  

• 
  Draft DCM “On urban wastewater treatment”, which fully approximates the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 91/271/EC;
  
• 
  Draft DCM “On approval of the Mati River Basin Management Plan”, which fully approximates EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC;
  
• 
  Draft DCM “On adopting the specific conditions, supplementary documents, deadlines, application forms for authorization and permits for use of water resources”;
  
• 
  Draft DCM “On the Content, Development and Implementation of National Water Strategies, of River Basin District Management Plans and of Flood Risk Management Plans”.
  

• 
  The Departament of water resources policy was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration by the decision of Council of Ministers No 91 of 4.02.2015
  
• 
  The Technique Secretariat of National Council of Water, was created by the Order of Prime minister No 205 of 25.8.2014, “On approval of the structure and staffing of technical secretariat of NWC.
  

The following legal acts are adopted in the nature protection field:

• 
  Law No 5 of 12/02/2015 “On an amendment to the Law No 9867 of 31.1.2008 “On the rules and procedures of international trade of endangered species of wild flora and fauna”;
  
• 
  Decision of Council of Ministers No 866 of 10.12.2014 “On the approval of natural habitat types, plants, animals and birds of interest for the European Union”, that ensure the partly transpose of the Directive (92/43/EEC) “On natural habitat conservation, of wild flora and fauna”, amended by directive 97/62/EC, directive 2006/105/EC and (EC) Regulator 1882/2003, and Directive 2009/147/EC “On wild bird conservation”.
  

Draft Law “On some amendments and addenda to Law No. 10253 of 11.3.2010 “On hunting”, is sent for comments to the line ministries. Its adoption is foreseen by August 2015.

• 
  Order of Minister of Environment No. 2025 of 31.12.2014 “On the approval of the Management Plan of National Park Bredhi Hotoves-Dangelli”;
  
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  Order of Minister of Environment No. 2026 of 31.12.2014 “On the approval of the Management Plan of Protected Landscape Pogradec”;
  
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  Order of Minister of Environment No. 2027 of 31.12.2014 “On the approval of the Management Plan of National Park Tomorri Mountain”;
  
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  Order of Minister of Environment No. 2028 of 31.12.2014 “On the approval of the Management Plan of Protected Landscape Mali me Gropa-Bize-Martanesh”;
  
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  Order of the Minister of the Environment No. 2029, dated 31.12.2014 “On the approval of the Management Plan of Natural Park Korab-Koritnik”.
  

Also, the following Management Plans for Protected areas are under drafting process:

• 
  National Park Shebeniku - Jabllanica in cooperation with International Unit for Nature Conservation (IUCN) and Cooperazione Italiana;
  

• 
  Protected Landscape Lumi Buna – Velipoja;
  
• 
  Alps National Park in cooperation with the project CABRA I and the project IPA ECRAN.
  

The first two management plans will be adopted by the end of 2015, while the Alps Management Plan is planned to be adopted in 2016.

During the reporting period a number of trainings and workshops have been organized with the staff of Protected Areas Administrations and Forestry Services, as follows:

• 
  On February 2, 2015 and March 2015, in Prespa National Park, is organized a training on nature guide;
  
• 
  In Librazhd, on 27 February 2015, in collaboration with the Italian Cooperation Project/IUCN in Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park, is presented to stakeholders and staff of the park administration, the first draft of the management plan;
  
• 
  In Shkoder, on March 2015, is present the first draft of the Management Plan of Protected Landscape Lumi Buna - Velipoje;
  
• 
  In Tropoje and Kukes, in cooperation with the project ECRAN in proposed National Park Alps, respectively in 7 - 10 July 2014 and last week of November 2014 for inception and preparatory workshops for the elaboration of Alps Management Plann;
  

The following legal acts are adopted in the Prevention of Industrial Pollution and Industrial Accidents field:

• 
  Decision of Council of Ministers No. 220 of 11.03.2015 "On approval of the procedure and requirements for equipment with Ecolabel, manner of issuance, use and its validity, the composition and functioning of the commission to issue Ecolabel, the participation of individuals, associations and public authorities in the procedure of the Ecolabel", which partially approximates Regulation (EC) 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on the EU Ecolabel. Full approximation of this Regulation and its implementation is foreseen within 5 years from the adoption of the DCM mentioned above
  

In order to complete the harmonization in this field, during the reporting period are being drafted the following legal acts:

• 
  Draft Decision of Council of Ministers “On detailed procedures and requirements for connecting a voluntary agreement between organizations and groups representing the interests of certain groups or individual operators with relevant authorities to achieve a higher level of protection than specified in special legislation an environmental component”, which is sent for approval to the Council of Ministers. Its adoption is foreseen within May 2015;
  
• 
  Draft Decision of Council of Ministers “On procedures and requirements on issuing eco-management and audit scheme EMAS”, which aims to partially approximate Regulation (EC) No. 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organizations in a community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS). In accordance with NPEI 2015 – 2020 its adoption is foreseen within June 2015;
  
• 
  Draft Decision of Council of Ministers “On the implementation of the national pollutants release and transfer register”, which aims to partially approximate Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2006 concerning the establishment of an European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and amending Council Directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC. In accordance with NPEI 2015 – 2020 its adoption is foreseen within December 2015.
  

• 
  Pursuant to Order of Minister of Environment No. 1882 of 2.09.2014 “On the establishment of the Working Group for the Inspection of the Activities of Energy Sector that explore, extract and treat oil and its products”, as well as its action plan, referring to the violations found, the Environmental Inspectorate imposed a sentence of fine to “Bankers Petroleum Albania” Ltd worth 35,714 Euro, and 2 sentences of fine to “ARMO”, Albanian Refining & Marketing of Oil, at a total value of 71,428 Euro;
  
• 
  Pursuant to Law No. 10448 of 14.07.2011 “On environmental permits”, regarding to the violations of conditions of the environmental permit by operators that exploit natural resources, Environmental Inspectorate has given sentences with fine, with a total value of 16,214 Euro to 27 entities exploiting chrome in Diber;
  

• 
  Draft Decision of the Council of Ministers “On the classification, packaging and labelling of chemicals”, which aims to partially approximate EC Regulation No. 1272/2008. According to NPEI 2015 – 2020 its adoption is foreseen in the 4^th quarter of 2015;
  
• 
  Draft Decision of the Council of Ministers “On import and export of dangerous substances”, which aims to partially approximate EC Regulation No. 649/2012 on export and import of dangerous chemicals. According to NPEI 2015 – 2020 its adoption is foreseen in the 4^th quarter of 2015;
  
• 
  Draft Decision of the Council of Ministers “On detailed rules and methods to provide chemical safety assessment and safety data sheets, as well as specific requirements, content and formats on safety data sheets”, which aims to partially approximate Annexes I, II and Annexes VII-XI of Regulation No. 1907/2006. According to NPEI 2015 – 2020 its adoption is foreseen in the 4^th quarter of 2015;
  
• 
  Draft Decision of the Council of Ministers “On detailed rules for inclusion of substances in the list of SVHC, issuing the list of SVHC”, which aims to partially approximate Annexes XIII-XIV of Regulation No. 1907/2006. According to NPEI 2015 – 2020 its adoption is foreseen in the 4^th quarter of 2015;
  
• 
  Draft Decision of the Council of Ministers “On approval of the list of Persistent Organic Pollutants and determining measures on manufacture, import, placing on the market and their use”, which aims to fully approximate Parliament and the European Council Regulation (EC) No. 850/2004 of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants, amended by Regulation No. 519/2012. This DCM is sent for approval to the Council of Ministers. According to NPEI 2015 – 2020 its adoption is foreseen in the 2^nd quarter of 2015.
  

• 
  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in drafting the law on chemicals management”, 25 -28 November 2014;
  
• 
  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in drafting of the draft Decision of the Council of Ministers “On classification, packaging, labelling of chemical substances and mixtures””, 13 - 16 January 2015;
  
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  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in drafting of the draft Decision of the Council of Ministers “On import and export of chemical substances and mixtures””, 27 - 30 January 2015;
  
• 
  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in drafting of the draft Decision of the Council of Ministers "List of hazardous substances which from their nature poses a serious risk to human life and health and the environment””, 10 - 13 February 2015;
  
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  TAIEX Expert Mission “Assistance in drafting of the draft Decision of the Council of Ministers “On approval of substances and chemical mixtures, production, placing on the market and use of which is restricted or prohibited”, 24 - 27 March 2015.
  

Also, during the reporting period Albanian representatives participated in a number of international activities in this area:

• 
  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 (Albania). Representatives from MoE, NEA, MoH, PHI, MoARDWA and MEDTTE participated in the workshop;
  
• 
  Second Annual Meeting of the “Chemicals/Industrial Emission Directive” Working Group, held on 10 February, 201, in Vienna. One representative from MoE participated in the meeting;
  
• 
  Global Workshop ”On review and update of National Action Plan in frame of Stockholm Convention”, held on 17 - 19 February 2015, in Bratislava (Slovakia). One representative from MoE participated in the meeting;
  
• 
  Regional joint meeting on environmental sound management and illegal traffic of chemicals and hazardous waste in the Mediterranean, held on 7 – 9 April 2015, in Istanbul (Turkey). Three representatives from the MoE participated in the meeting;
  
• 
  Regional preparatory workshop with Basel, Roterdam 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). Two representatives from the MoE and one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the workshop.
  

In order to improve the degraded forest areas, prevent and control erosion, as well as to improve the landscape and rehabilitate damaged areas from illegal logging, on 2 December 2014, began an extensive reforestation campaign in some areas of Albania, as Kraste Afforestation and Guri i Zi, Afforestation of Turbohove - Potom, National Park Lure Afforestation, Afforestation and Rehabilitation of the Drini River, and Rehabilitation and Afforestation of the Currila hill in Durres.

CHAPTER 28: CONSUMER AND HEALTH PROTECTION