EC supported METE in drafting law on Products´ General Safety

TIRANA, May 23 – The Delegation of the European Commission in Albania, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy (METE), organized a Wednesday conference on the free movement of goods and safety of products in Albania.
The conference noted the progress and improvements in Albania’s infrastructure due, in part, to €1.2 million worth of technical assistance provided by the European Union. This assistance further supports market surveillance and consumer protection in Albania, and in particular for drafting the law on “Products´ General Safety, Essential Requirements and Conformity Assessment”.
Once adopted, this law will give Albania a legal basis for approximating technical legislation on the safety of products based upon the European Union directives. With this new law, Albania has undertaken a practical step for implementation of the obligations under the Stabilization and Association Agreement. Market surveillance, safety of products and consumers’ protection are very important for the proper functioning of the internal market and, therefore, an essential piece in accepting the foundation of laws put in place by the EU. “The Free Movement of Goods is the first, and one of the most important chapters, in the EU Acquis and its implementation by Albania is largely dependent on a fully functioning and operational quality infrastructure”, said Ambassador Helmuth Lohan, speaking during the conference on behalf of the EC Delegation. EU funded support of Albanian infrastructure is comprehensive and also includes projects in the areas of standards, accreditation and certification.