Second Environmental Performance Review of Albania

Chapter 10: Human health and environment143Table 10.4: Food safety: Microbiological analyses, 2005-2010Mycological compliance 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Total number of samples analysed: 104.0 98.0 45.0 37.0 172.0 260.0Private sector share (%) 73.0 86.7 48.9 94.5 10.5 16.5Public sector share (%) 27.0 13.3 51.1 15.5 18.6 3.0Projects and studies share (%) .. .. .. .. 70.9 80.5Food samples analysed from food poisoning cases (%) 13.5 17.3 .. 18.9 18.6 3.0Samples analysed on request in pre-production stage 4.8 .. .. .. .. ..Compliance with mycological standards (%) 97.1 96.0 91.1 73.0 85.5 57.7Bacteriological compliance 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Total number of samples analysed: 130.0 110.0 64.0 113.0 334.0 331.0Private sector share (%) 48.4 81.8 46.8 52.0 19.6 20.2Public sector share (%) 51.6 18.2 53.2 31.2 11.8 10.4Projects and studies share (%) .. .. .. 16.8 68.6 69.4Food samples analysed from food poisoning cases (%) 24.6 8.2 25.0 12.3 12.6 3.3Samples on request in pre-production stage (%) 16.6 .. .. .. .. ..Compliance with bacteriological standards (%) 86.7 97.1 89.1 81.5 76.4 81.9Source: Institute of Public Health, 2011.A series of projects has been implemented, with thesupport of UNDP and funded by foreign donors, onrehabilitation of hotspots, reduction of environmentalpollution to basic safety standards and eliminatingtoxic materials. Recent activities have resulted inrepackaging, labelling, control and removal ofchemicals from hazardous chemicals depots in thecentral part of Albania and in Bajza, next to theborder with Montenegro. Furthermore, EFA, incooperation with UNDP, has identified nine priorityenvironmental hotspots with related EIAs,remediation action plans and cost estimates, whichare published on the web to support resourcemobilization for effective measures. However, thepublic health “argument” is only a subject of generalconsideration; there is no specific assessment or useof information on environmental health impacts.Responsibility in the field of chemicals is spreadacross a number of ministries with unclear andoverlapping responsibilities. The national register ofchemical substances is maintained by MoEFWA.MoETE is responsible for chemicals as material usedin industry, including import and export; MoAFCP isresponsible for registration and control of plantprotection products; MoH is in charge of biocides,pharmaceuticals and chemicals in hospital waste; andMLSAEO is in charge of control and prevention ofexposure to chemicals at the workplace. The 2003Law on Chemical Substances and Agents, No. 9108,has several provisions on the health sector, enablingan integrated approach to chemical safety from apublic health perspective, but enforcement is weakbecause there has not been an adequateadministrative infrastructure in place and the relevantexpertise is insufficient.Albania has joined SAICM (Strategic Approach toInternational Chemicals Management), a globalpolicy framework for coordinating, catalysing andfacilitating country efforts to achieve soundmanagement of chemicals throughout their life cycleby 2020. IPH has been appointed a National FocalPoint for SAICM from 2008, and a multisectoralgroup has been established involving stakeholdersfrom the environment, economy, agriculture, health,labour and social sectors, academia and NGOs, ledby the health sector. National implementation hasbeen supported by the SAICM Quick StartProgramme and the planned activities comprise thepreparation of a national capacity assessment,establishment of an intersectoral SAICMcoordination committee through a formal mechanism,development of a national chemicals managementdatabase, strengthening the legal framework andupdating the country profile. The first update hasnow been completed with the involvement of allrelevant stakeholders. The terms of reference of theNational Intersectoral Committee of ChemicalsManagement (NICCM) in Albania have beenprepared.Responsibility for chemical emergencies, similarly toclimate-related emergencies, lies with MoI’s GeneralDirectorate of Civil Emergency. The updatedchemical safety profile has revealed the lack of afully fledged poisons information centre in Albania.The Centre for Toxicology of the Military Hospital inTirana is providing treatment in cases of poisoningbut does not have the infrastructure and tools (e.g.chemicals database) to provide an informationservice and advice around the clock in case ofchemical emergency. Not only the local hospitals buteven the country’s unique specialized centre, the