Second Environmental Performance Review of Albania

58 Part I: Policymaking, planning and implementationEnvironment 2003 Regulation on Procedures forApproving of Permit for Export of Waste and Permitfor Transboundary Movements of Waste, No. 4. Theimport of hazardous wastes for final disposal andrecovery is prohibited according to the 2003 DCM onProcedures for Import of Waste for Reuse, Recoveryand Recycling Purposes, No. 806 (Chapter 7).On chemicals, a draft decision has been preparedregarding bans and restrictions of production, placingon the market and use of certain dangeroussubstances, mixtures and articles, which partiallytransposes REACH. Two years after Albania’sadherence to the Stockholm Convention, theGovernment adopted a national implementation planfor the reduction and elimination of persistentorganic pollutants (POPs). During its preparation, aninventory of POPs in Albania was carried out.Supported by international bodies and bilateraldonors, Albania has made progress in resolving someissues indicated in the Plan. Several projects havebeen implemented related to the removal of pesticidePOPs (Chapter 8).The DNAs for the Rotterdam Convention includeMoH (for industrial chemicals) and MoAFCP (forpesticides) while the role of the Official ContactPoint is played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MoFA). Despite MoEFWA, it has appointed a focalpoint to deal with implementation issues. Prior to theratification of the Convention several itsrequirements were incorporated into the nationallegislation, including the 2003 Law on ChemicalSubstances and Agents and the 2005 Law on PlantProtection Service. At present, neither importresponses nor notifications are being submitted to theConvention Secretariat.Within the framework of the Strategic Approach toInternational Chemical Management (SAICM),Albania is currently implementing the project“Strengthening of Capacities on SAICMImplementation”, with support from the UN Instituteof Training and Research. The project activitiesinclude: (i) preparing a National SAICM CapacityAssessment through updating the National Profile,(ii) legal and institutional strengthening(establishment of an inter-ministerial coordinationmechanism on chemicals management), (iii)development of a national mechanism forinformation exchange and the National ChemicalsManagement Database.The SAICM National Focal Point is within IPH.MoEFWA reported lack of capacity for dealing withchemicals issues, notably a lack of legal experts. TheNational Implementation Plan of SAA for the period2009-2014 foresees the consolidation of theorganizational structure of MoEFWA throughinclusion of an expert in the chemicals field.Marine environment protectionMarine resources and ecosystems are underincreasing threat of degradation in Albania becauseof the development of infrastructure, fishing,shipping and tourism. Since the first EPR, Albaniahas been working to protect and preserve the marineenvironment and resources at both policy and legallevels, but also through the implementation ofinfrastructure improvements and clean-up activitiesin port zones.The Convention on the Protection of theMediterranean Sea from Pollution and most of itsaccompanying protocols, including the Protocol onSpecially Protected Areas, were integrated into thenational legal framework in 2000. Albania ratifiedthe 2008 Integrated Coastal Zone Management(ICZM) Protocol in 2010. In July 2001, Albaniaratified the 1996 Hazardous Wastes Protocol and the1994 Offshore Protocol. Albania has recently joinedthe 2002 Emergency Protocol and designatedcompetent national authorities responsible forprevention of, preparedness for and response tomarine pollution. The National Contingency Plan forEmergency Cases on the Sea is being prepared torespond, inter alia, to accidental marine pollution.According to the 2007 national report to theConvention governing body, implementationstrategies, action plans and programmes have beendeveloped. Most of the Convention’s requirementswere transposed by the 2002 Law on Protection ofMarine Environment from Pollution and Damage,No. 8905.Furthermore, the 2002 Law on Protected Areasincluded a limited number of marine protected areasand defined the protection of marine environments asan important priority for the future. Karaburun(Vlore) was proclaimed the first marine national parkin 2010. In conjunction with this initiative, analysesof marine areas have been conducted covering suchaspects as their value in natural, historical, cultural,social and economic terms. The results lay the basisfor establishing a network of marine areas.Albania has ratified the International Convention forthe Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL73/78) and its annexes I/II and III-V. The country isalso Party to the 2004 International MaritimeOrganization’s International Convention for theControl and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water andSediments.