Programi i Transparencës
Transparency Program
Introduction
About the National Agency for Cannabis Control
Legal Regulatory Legislation
Full Texts
The right to be informed and to complain
Controlling and monitoring mechanisms acting on the Agency
Information on the Agency’s budget and financial data
Information on procurement procedures/competitive concession procedures/public private partnership
Services provided by the Agency
Procedures/mechanisms to give opinions related to the process of drafting legal/bylaws, public policies or regarding the exercise of the Agency’s functions
Documentation keeping system, types and forms of documents
The registry of requests and responses
Social assstance/subsidies provided by the Agency
Information/documents most frequently requested and deemed useful for publication by the Agency
Introduction
Based on Article 7 of Law no. 119/2014 “On the right to information” (hereinafter “LDI”), the National Cannabis Control Agency (hereinafter “Agency”) publishes the Transparency Program (hereinafter “PT”) approved by the Commissioner for The Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data (hereinafter “Commissioner”). The Agency publishes information related to its operational activities and updates the PT whenever there are changes in institutional activities, legal regulations, or other elements impacting proactive transparency.
Within the Agency’s PT, specific categories of mandatory information for public disclosure are outlined. Unsolicited public information must be complete, accurate, up-to-date, easy to access, understandable, and compatible with the original documents in the possession of the Agency. Before publication, the Agency conducts assessments to ensure compliance with any legal restrictions on information dissemination.
Acts containing rules, norms, or limitations affecting fundamental rights and freedoms, with direct implications for individuals, are promptly made public through postings on the official website within 48 hours of their approval by the Agency. The PT specifies the categories of information to be made public, the methods of publication, and the legal obligations governing publication. When releasing information, the Agency prioritizes the public interest and facilitates straightforward access to public information.
About the National Agency of Cannabis Control
- Organizational Structure/Organizational Chart (PDF Order No. 56, dated April 5, 2024, by the Prime Minister – Approval of the structure and organization of the National Agency of Cannabis Control)
- Salary Structure (decision in PDF)
- CVs and salaries of subordinates who are subject to declaration according to the law, including members of the cabinet of the PA holder, description of the selection procedure, their powers and duties (pdf)
- The procedure followed by the senior officials of NACC to make decisions on licensing, monitoring and inspection of entities (pdf)
- Procedures and mechanisms for making requests and complaints related to the actions or inactions of NACC (Including the postal/electronic address for filing requests and complaints – Deadlines and how to return answers) (pdf)
Leadership and Organization
The National Agency for Cannabis Control is a public legal entity under the authority of the minister responsible for health.
Its mission is to oversee, control, and inspect the cultivation and processing of cannabis plants, and the production of its by-products for medical and industrial purposes, as well as to monitor the implementation of the law.
The Agency is headquartered in Tirana and operates throughout the territory of the Republic of Albania.
It was established in accordance with Law 61/2023 “On the control of cultivation and processing of cannabis plants and the production of its by-products for medical and industrial purposes.”
The Agency is led by a Director-General, who organizes and manages all activities of the institution and reports to the minister responsible for health.
The Licensing Commission is established alongside the Agency. It consists of 7 members representing the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Economy.
The employment relations of Agency staff are regulated according to the Labor Code.
Employees of the Agency must demonstrate integrity and have a clean moral record. They must not have been convicted by a final court decision for a criminal offense related to narcotics.
Individuals employed by the National Cannabis Control Agency must meet general requirements as well as criteria for personal integrity, and specific professional criteria for specific job positions. The professional criteria for Agency employees, as well as verification of their integrity, are defined by joint guidance from the Minister responsible for internal affairs and security, the Minister responsible for agriculture, and the Minister responsible for health, upon the proposal of the Director General of the Agency.
The Licensing Commission
The Licensing Commission is established alongside the Agency to review and evaluate applications submitted for obtaining a license for cannabis cultivation. The Commission consists of 7 members with the following composition:
- 3 representatives from the ministry responsible for health;
- 1 representative from the ministry responsible for public order and security;
- 2 representatives from the ministry responsible for agriculture;
- 1 representative from the ministry responsible for economy.
The Chairman of the Commission is one of the representatives from the ministry responsible for health. Commission members are appointed for a term of up to 4 years.
Commission members have the obligation to sign a confidentiality declaration, a declaration of absence of conflict of interest, and must be equipped with a security clearance certificate from the Classified Information Security Directorate.
The duties of the Licensing Commission include:
- Administering and verifying the documentation submitted by entities applying for a license.
- Assessing compliance with conditions related to environments, equipment, and personnel for obtaining the license.
- Compiling the relevant list and register of applicant entities and preparing proposals for the issuance or refusal of licenses.
- In cases of violations identified, proposing to the minister responsible for health the implementation of administrative measures for the suspension or revocation of licenses.
The organization of work and activities of the Commission are established by order of the Minister responsible for health. Commission members perform their duties against remuneration. The amount of remuneration for the Chairperson and members of the Commission is determined by decision of the Council of Ministers for setting the remuneration scale for members of permanent councils, boards, or commissions of central government units.
Competencies of the Agency
- The Agency exercises its competencies based on the principles of legality, professionalism, responsibility, accountability, efficiency, and transparency, in accordance with the legislation in force.
- The Agency, in exercising its administrative activities, has the following powers:
1) Organizes procedures for the issuance of licenses.
2) Monitors the operations of licensed and permitted entities.
3) Establishes standards for areas and land parcels where cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial purposes is permitted, approved by the Council of Ministers upon proposal from the Ministry of Agriculture.
4) Prepares every 3 years report on compliance with license and permit conditions, recommending amendments, suspensions, or revocations as necessary.
5) Collaborates with other competent authorities to achieve objectives and fulfill obligations arising from international agreements involving Albania.
6) Submits reports to relevant international organizations on the import and export of cannabis plants, by-products, and final products, in line with international conventions on narcotic and psychotropic substances.
7) Maintains and manages registries, databases, and national-level statistics as required by law.
8) Issues export authorizations for industrial cannabis and cannabis products.
9) Drafts regulations, guidelines, and methodologies to standardize the Agency’s processes and work practices, subject to approval by the Minister of Health.
10) Proposes to the Ministers of Agriculture and Environment the cadastral zones designated for industrial cannabis cultivation.
11) Implements administrative measures, fines, and suspensions on licensed and permitted entities under this law.
12) Evaluates requests for the sale of shares by license-holding entities and recommends approval to the Minister of Health for licenses and the Minister of Agriculture for permits.
- In its technical activities, the Agency:
1) Monitors the use and planting of imported or domestically produced seeds and seedlings in Albania, in compliance with current laws on planting material and propagation and registered in the national catalog.
2) Develops standards for each phase of the cannabis cultivation process, approved under the guidance of the Minister of Agriculture.
3) Coordinates with relevant state authorities for the registration and immediate inclusion in the national catalog of seeds and seedlings, subject to distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS) testing.
4) Monitors and supervises the planting and cultivation of cannabis plants and their by-products for medical and industrial purposes, taking corrective actions if discrepancies in actual versus permitted cultivation quantities are identified.
5) Inspects all stages of cannabis cultivation, including planting, harvesting, drying, storage, and initial processing.
6) Inspects facilities and premises where processing of by-products and final products for medical purposes occurs, adhering to licensing requirements.
7) Implements measures for the seizure and destruction of cannabis plants or by-products as specified by law.
8) Collaborates with customs authorities to oversee the import regime of seeds and seedlings, as well as the export regime of medical and industrial cannabis by-products or final products.
9) Carries out any other activities mandated by other laws or subordinate legislation in the implementation of this law.
Functions of the Agency
- The Agency monitors the activities of licensed and permitted entities at every stage and throughout every production cycle to ensure that the activities:
1) Are carried out in accordance with the provisions of laws and by-laws issued based on and for their implementation, with the stipulations made in the license or permit, as well as with the provisions in the approved production plan.
2) Are not contrary to the objectives of the law and the international obligations of the Republic of Albania.
- The Agency conducts supervision, checks, and inspections under this law and, when necessary, coordinates the process in collaboration with other institutions.
- In fulfilling its duties of control, inspection, and monitoring according to the provisions of this law, the Agency exchanges information with the General Prosecution Office, Special Prosecution/ National Investigation Bureau, State Police, as well as other competent authorities in the implementation of this law and may conclude bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements with them.
- The Agency, primarily or upon request, conducts verifications in accordance with the provisions of this law. After conducting the verification, if the Agency assesses the need to take measures for the suspension or revocation of a license, it forwards it for review to the Licensing Commission.
- The Agency cooperates and exchanges information with the State Police and other national or international institutions with which Albania has agreements in the field of combating the use, trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances, and money laundering from illegal activities.
- The Agency collects and administers necessary data for the exercise of its functions on licensed and permitted activities, as well as for the licensee or permit holder. Primary and secondary data are determined by decision of the Council of Ministers, in accordance with the provisions in Article 13, paragraph 6 of this law.
- The Agency submits a biannual report on its work to the ministry responsible for health, which is also communicated to the ministry responsible for order and security.
- The Agency exercises any other function defined by law or in its operating regulations. The Internal organization rules of the Agency are approved by the minister responsible for health.
- The Agency approves the regulations of the activities of licensed entities.
Legal Regulatory Legislation
International Laws
https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1961_en.pdf
https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1971_en.pdf
https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1988_en.pdf
National Laws
Law no. 119/2014 On the Right to Information (Amended) (pdf)
Law no. 9887, dated 10.3.2008 on the Protection of Personal Data (amended) (pdf)
Bylaws (decisions, instructions)
- Internal Regulation
- Code of Ethics
- Strategy
- Annual Reports
- Policy Documents
The Right to be Informed and to Complaint
Contact details of the institution
- Coordinator for the Right to Information Alkida Myftaraj
- Email: alkida.myftaraj@nacc.gov.al info@nacc.gov.al
- Phone Number: 0683837468 Adresa:
- Timetables
Monday – Thursday: 08:00 – 16:30
Friday: 08:00 – 14:00 - Request / Explanatory Forms (Steps to be followed to make a request for information) (pdf)
- Complaint / Explanatory Forms (Commissioner Complaint Procedure (pdf)
Request for information:
Based on Law no. 119/2014 “On the Right to Information”, Amended, (item 6 added, by Law No. 78, dated 21.9.2023):
The request for information is made in writing and sent by hand, by post or by electronic mail, correctly presenting the identity of the requester and his signature.
The request for information must contain:
- a) name and surname of the applicant;
- b) the postal or electronic address where the information is requested to be sent;
- c) description of the information required;
- d) the format in which the information is preferred;
- e) any data that the requester considers may help to identify the requested information.
If the request for information does not specify the format in which the information is requested, it is provided in the most efficient way and at the lowest cost to the public authority.
Exceptionally, requests for recognition of archival information stored in permanent archives are handled in accordance with law no. 9154, dated 6.11.2003, “For archives.”
Deadline for receiving information:
- The public authority handles the request for information, submitting the requested information as soon as possible, but no later than 10 working days from the day of its submission, except in cases when the special law provides otherwise.
- When the public authority that receives the request for information sends it to another authority, it returns an answer no later than 15 working days from the day the request arrives at the first authority.
- The period provided for in points 1 and 2 of this article may be extended by no more than 5 working days for one of the following reasons:
- a) the need to search and review numerous and voluminous documents;
- b) the need to extend searches to offices and environments that are physically separated from the central office of the authority;
- c) the need to consult with other public authorities before taking a decision on whether or not to fulfill the request. The decision to extend the deadline is immediately notified to the applicant.
- In any case, the failure to process the request for information within the above-mentioned deadlines will be considered a rejection.
- The provisions of this article also apply to familiarization with archival information stored in archives in operation.
Controlling and Monitoring Mechanisms Of Pa
International Mechanisms
- International Narcotics Control Board
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- World Health Organization
- European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction
National mechanisms
- 6 Monthly Report to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection
Information on the Agency’s budget and financial data
Budget, expenditure plan for the following financial year and previous years (by year)
- Annual report on budget implementation and annexes (by year)
- Donations, sponsorships (by years)
- Documents showing the state of repayment of obligations by licensed entities*
- Fees for NACC services
Note: In those cases where the public authority is self-financed by license fees or any other form of direct financing from the entities regulated by it, the documents showing the state of repayment of obligations by the licensed entities are also made public.
Information on procurement procedures/competitive concession procedures/public private partnership
- List of concluded contracts (including contracted amount, contracting parties and description of services)
- Register of achievements and donations (by years)
- Register of public procurement forecasts
- Register of public procurement achievements
- Information on the implementation and monitoring of contracts, as well as various guidelines and policies
Services provided by the Agency/h2>
- License to exercise activity (Information card – contains the type of service, the procedure, the conditions, the necessary documentation, the time required to receive the service, the fee)
- Activity permit (Permit Form) (Information card – contains the type of service, the procedure, the conditions, the necessary documentation, the time required to receive the service, the fee)
Procedures/mechanisms to give opinions related to the process of drafting legal/bylaws, public policies or regarding the exercise of the Agency’s functions
- Comments/Recommendations/Opinions of interested parties/interest groups*
- Review of comments and recommendations*
- Annual reports on transparency in the decision-making process*
- Procedures/mechanisms for giving opinions related to the drafting of public policies or the exercise of the functions of NACC*
Social assstance/subsidies provided by the Agency
- Social assistance/subsidies given by NACC*
- Categories and forms of social assistance/subsidies*
- Procedure to benefit from social assistance/subsidies and relevant documentation for application*
- Complaint procedure*
Information/documents most frequently requested and deemed useful for publication by the Agency
- Announcements
- Notifications for recruitment/admission procedures in civil service
- Reports
- Publications
- Statistics
- Projects
- Collaborations etc.
Note: NACC evaluates the publication considering the requests it receives most often.
Documentation keeping system, types and forms of documents
- List of documents administered by NACC with retention periods
- Form of documents/information (electronic, hard copy, audio, video, photo)
The registry of requests and responses
- Register of Requests and Responses 2024 (pdf)