Minister of Trade and Industry, Endrit Shala, on the occasion of World Accreditation Day, said that accreditation, but also standardization and metrology, contribute to economic development through the reduction of the costs of trade and doing business.
"The World Accreditation Day highlights the role of accreditation in increasing the value in supply chains. Accreditation, along with other pillars of quality infrastructure such as standardization and metrology, is a widely accepted tool that contributes to economic development through the reduction of the costs of trade and doing business, enabling businesses integration into global supply chains and increasing trust among business partners, "said Minister Shala.
According to Minister Shala, economic development in general and the development of quality infrastructure sectors in particular are among the key challenges that is facing Kosovo.
"Addressing these challenges is my priority during this governing mandate as the head of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. MTI is committed to build and develop an efficient, sustainable system and in line with good practices in building quality infrastructure and other sectors that have an impact on the economy. We are working on the right set of criteria and technical standards for products and services, defined by trade agreements and harmonized EU legislation, as well as the establishment of adequate and competent mechanisms for their implementation. This will enable the increase of competitiveness in the domestic and foreign market, the elimination of trade barriers, the protection of life and health for the consumer, as well as to offer a safer environment by becoming an integrated part of international bodies ", said Minister Shala.
Shala stressed that the field of accreditation is included as one of the main components of the Competitiveness and Export Readiness Projects, which is implemented in cooperation with the World Bank and which has a value of 14.3 million euros. He added that with this we aim to establish the National Quality Centre.
"The accreditation field is included as one of the main components of the Competitiveness and Export Readiness Projects, which is implemented in cooperation with the World Bank and which has a value of 14.3 million Euros. This project, among other things, aims to support the development and international recognition of Quality Infrastructure in general, and in particular the accreditation. We aim to establish the National Quality Centre, "said Shala.
Shala further added that in meeting the obligations deriving from the SAA, they have worked on harmonizing legislation with that of the European Union.
"In fulfilling the obligations deriving from Article 80 of the SAA, we have worked on the harmonization of Kosovo legislation with that of the European Union, completing the legal infrastructure of accreditation, namely the drafting of four subsidiary acts deriving from the Accreditation Law. Also, we have formed TASK FORCE for the coordination of legal and technical activities for membership in international organizations of accreditation, standardization and metrology,” said minister.
Shala further mentioned the steps they have taken in terms of business facilities and consumer protection.
"In terms of creating business facilities, in this case, for CABs operating in Kosovo, a Measurement Tracking Policy has been developed that accepts the calibration certificates issued by the KMA for the mass, thermometer and volume. This enables CAB to perform calibration services for the aforementioned areas within Kosovo, faster, easier, and with lower cost. In the framework of policies to improve quality infrastructure, with particular emphasis on consumer protection and security, we have drafted the Law on Construction Products, which sets out the conditions and rules for placing the construction products on the market”.
Minister said that to ensure that Kosovo citizens receive quality medical services and safe results, they took the initiative to make the accreditation of medical laboratories obligatory.
"Accreditation of these laboratories means that the laboratories have undergone a rigorous process of assessing compliance with standards requirements, technical competence of staff and the use of appropriate equipment," said Shala.
