TIRANA, Jan 19 /ATA/ The wine production and viticulture sector will have a special commission. The goal of the commission is to improve the wine production standards in accordance with EU standards, aiming to increase exports to EU countries.
The decision was made during Thursday’s government meeting, based on the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The report accompanying this decision outlines that the new legal framework is intended to establish the rules for the operation, organization, duration, and responsibilities of the Wine Commission. Additionally, the decision clarifies the process for appointing members to the Wine Commission, who will serve a three-year term with the option for reappointment, but no more than once.
“The request to become a member, as an expert from the academic field or from research-scientific institutions or independent ones, is made online on the official website of the ministry, at the official address provided,” states the government decision.
As per the decision, if the candidate’s application does not meet the requirements, they will be notified via email and asked to correct the inaccuracies within seven days of receiving the notification. Once the candidate corrects the discrepancies within the given timeframe, the application is considered registered from the date it was submitted. If the candidate fails to make the necessary corrections within the deadline, the application will be deemed unregistered and returned to the candidate along with the other documents.
Members of the Wine Commission can be dismissed before the end of their term by the order of the minister.
The duties of the Chairperson of the Wine Commission include: organizing and leading the work of the Wine Commission; calling meetings of the Wine Commission; presiding over the meetings of the Wine Commission; setting the preliminary agenda for the meetings of the Wine Commission; monitoring the procedural deadlines for applications, in accordance with the law on viticulture and wine and this decision, and representing the Wine Commission.
The meetings of the Wine Commission are held behind closed doors and are called by the chairperson, as a rule, once a month, based on information received from the responsible structure. The Commission can also convene when the majority of members submit a written request, specifying the issues to be discussed in the meeting.
The structure responsible for quality schemes in the ministry, acting as the secretariat of the Wine Commission, in addition to its designated duties, also performs tasks such as: maintaining, preserving, and updating all contact information of the commission members; monitoring procedural deadlines and obligations set out in the wine and vineyard law and this decision, and informing the chairperson in a timely manner; ensuring the logistical and administrative management of the commission’s activities; being responsible for the files of submitted requests, forwarding them for review to the commission, such as registration requests, requests for specification changes, comments, or objections; following up on the implementation of the commission’s decisions and the official sending of decisions to the relevant addresses, while notifying the commission regarding the official delivery of decisions; communicating to members by email the time and date of the meeting, along with the agenda; preparing notifications for the Wine Commission regarding the presentation of arguments, oppositions, and any other necessary documents, as outlined in the law for vineyards and wine and this decision.
It keeps the minutes of the meeting, the meeting’s minutes report, the list of participants, and performs other tasks assigned by the chairperson of the commission; distributes the minutes to all commission members and ensures signatures from all within five working days; maintains all documentation of the Wine Commission, including requests for registration, requests for specification changes, comments or objections, and decisions.
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