Improving the Border Agency Cooperation
Among the OIC Member States for Facilitating Trade
102
Working Group has had exploratory talks on two main issues, namely 1) To begin negotiations
to conclude agreements on harmonization or mutual recognition agreement of sanitary and
phytosanitary measures in accordance with the relevant provisions of the WTO Agreement on
the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and other relevant international
agreement in accordance with Article 12.3 of CEFTA 2006; and 2) To initiate negotiations to
conclude plurilateral agreements on harmonization of technical regulations and standards, and
the mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and other relevant
international agreements in accordance with CEFTA Article 13.4. The Working Group is also
entrusted with the responsibility to enhance transparency on all kinds of documents,
certificates, permits and formalities imposed on trade by technical agencies for the clearance
of goods, and exchange of information about change in those formalities, preferably through
using CEFTA Transparency Pack tools.184
Training and awareness building
The CEFTA parties established the “Transparency Pack ” with the purpose of enhancing
transparency to add long-term value for data management on information related to trade
measures. The Transparency Pack is a web-based tool consisting of a set of interlinked
databases via a search engine having the overall objective to enhance transparency on all kinds
of trade measures of the CEFTA parties. The Transparency Pack comprises following four
databases: Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Platform, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)
Database, Market Access Database (MADB) and CEFTA Trade Portal in which the CEFTA
Parties’ notifications of trade related measures can be recorded, stored and analyzed. This new
electronic tool enables the CEFTA parties to notify each other on all types of measures, and
analyze the impact of regional trade. It is available to the relevant authorities of CEFTA parties
with partial access to the public.185
The National Food Authority (NFA), established with assistance from the EU, is the main
institution responsible for ensuring a high level of food safety as well as consumer protection
in Albania, reporting to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection.186 NFA is
in continuous cooperation with the EU. For example, there are ongoing discussions regarding
capacity building in improving efficiency of the inspectors in BIPs. NFA is currently working in
close collaboration with the European Commission under the initiative “Better Training for
Safer Food” (BTSF), covering food and feed law, animal health and welfare and plant health
rules. Training sessions have been launched since 2006 for staff mainly dealing with control
checks at BIPs.187 Another instrument of support along these lines comes from the Technical
184 Decision of the Joint Committee of CEFTA 2006, 2015
18 accessed 1 July 2016).
186 The NFA office consists of three directorates at central level and twelve regional directorates. Thirteen Border Inspection
Points (BIPs) under NFA Regional Directorates are in charge for the control of plant and plant products, livestock, animal by-
products and food of animal and non-animal origin at the borders. They are also responsible for quality control of imported
food products, manufactured and marketed in the country and raw materials used in the food industry. At the borders there
are three inspectors in charge of for phytosanitary, veterinary, and non-animal food certificates. A central unit called the
Sector of Inspections Coordination in the NFA headquarters conducts periodic monitoring of preliminary and factual data
from inspections carried out in the BIP and the information provided from all border posts to the Regional Directorates. It is
responsible for sending this updated information to the relevant Directorate, as well as responsible for the implementation
of the existing legislation, regulations and trade agreements in cooperation with the line ministry. (note: specific difficulties
have been noted regarding the issue of non-animal food certificates: for instance, there is no export certificate for non-
animal food due to a gap in the national legislation).
18 accessed 8 August 2016).