General Standards
Albania has specific institutions for standardization, conformity assessment, accreditation, and product certification. In certain areas, such as processed foods, beverages, and pharmaceutical products, individual ministries or agencies issue sector-specific standards and certificates.
Albania, has adopted standards regimes developed in other Western countries with ISO and EN as primary standards-making bodies based on WTO regulations. These standards supersede all national standards.
The institutions, responsible for the trade standards organization in the country are the following:
- General Directorate of Standardization (DPS) www.dps.gov.al
This institution is the responsible body to implement European and international standards as national standards.
- Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Water www.bujqesia.gov.al
This standardization body is responsible for establishing sanitary trade regulations in the Agricultural industry.
- National Agency of Drugs and Medical Equipment – NADME www.akbpm.gov.al
This institution specializes in analysis, control, and for the administration of medical equipment standards. NADME operates under the Ministry of Health and works in accordance with WHO principles. It is the licensing authority for drug imports and responsible for drug registration and inspection.
PRODUCT CERTIFICATION
Product certification is done on a voluntary basis, unless specifically provided otherwise under law. Most legal product certifications concern sanitary characteristics of foodstuffs and medicine. The international exporters generally do not face legal impediments related to product certifications.
The accreditation of product certification is done from the Albanian Accreditation Directorate and/or from foreign Institutions. The Accreditation Directorate is based on the standard S SH EN 45011 for the accreditation of the institutions for product certifications.
ACCREDITATION
The Albanian Accreditation Directorate (DPA) is recognized by the Albanian Government as the single national accreditation body to assess, in concordance with internationally agreed standards, organizations that provide certification, testing, and inspection and calibration services. The DPA operates a management system in line with the requirements of S SH ISO/IEC 17011. It is a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and since May 2015, a full member of the European Accreditation Organization EA. Laboratory accreditation is not compulsory for every sector. It is, however, mandatory for laboratories dealing with safety and health issues.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
Every importer or exporter is responsible for providing all the necessary documents to Albanian Customs. All of them have to be prepared beforehand. The required package of documents must include:
- Certificate of the quality of goods;
- Certificate of the analysis of goods;
- Certificate of the origin of goods;
- Original purchase invoice and terms of delivery (sales contract for the goods is optional);
- Transportation documents (CMR, BL, AWB);
- VAT number of Importer;
- Import authorization for certain goods.
IMPORT TARIFFS
Albania enjoys a liberal trade regime, and as of December 2006, most of the agricultural products originating from EU countries face a zero tariff rate. Those products excluded from zero tariff rate consideration can benefit from tariff quotas or annual tariff reductions to reach a zero tariff rate.
The maximum rate of 15 percent is applied to products such as textiles, jewelry, and some luxury food products.
In Albania there are six basic custom rates for imports depending on product type: zero percent, two percent, five percent, six and a half, ten percent, and 15 percent.
Albania has a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 20 percent. For imports to Albania, the VAT is assessed on the CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value of the goods plus the duty. Import regulations are generally numerous and not available in English. In order to learn about customs duties, taxes, and quality requirements for a specific products, access http://www.dogana.gov.al/ .
LABELING REQUIREMENTS
According to the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 604, November 17, 2000, labels must contain information that conforms to international standards.
All the labels must be printed in a language that most Albanians can understand (such as Albanian, Italian, or English).
On July 2003, the Albanian government passed additional legislation requiring that all imported food products have labels in Albanian. These labels must contain a general description of the product, including the date of production and the date of expiry.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
- Illegal drugs;
- Weapons, Explosives and Ammunition;
- Knives and deadly weapons;
- Plant and plant materials – unless permission has been obtained;
- Pets and animals – unless permission has been obtained;
- Pornographic materials.
CONTACTS
General Directorate of Standardization
Mr. Riza Hasanaj
Director
Rruga "Mine Peza", Nr. 143/3,
Tirana, Albania
Phone: + 355 (4) 222 6255
Fax: + 355 (4) 224 7177
Email: hasanaj.r@dps.gov.al
Website: http://www.dps.gov.al
