A long awaited and very important law “On Licenses, Authorizations and Permits” (published at the Gazeta Zyrtare no.31 of 23.3.2009) has been recently approved by the Albanian Parliament. This law establishes the National Licensing Centre (Qendra Kombëtare e Licensimit – QKL), a body that shall be entitled to issue, in collaboration with other relevant state bodies, licenses/authorizations/permits.

This initiative is part of phase two of the Millennium Challenge Program (by USAID), and a follow-up to the establishment of the one-stop-shop for business registration. This is proposed to be a ‘one stop shop’ National Licensing Centre that will allow businesses to submit and track standardized business license applications electronically. Such licenses/authorizations/permits shall include inter alia those needed for: food production and/or trade thereof; drug production and/or trade thereof; activities affecting the environment; natural resources, power, oil and gas activities; territorial studies; transport; establishing private educational institutions; notaries; private bailiff activities; casinos etc. The law is effective as of 7.4.2009. A key transitory note is that all existing legal acts which are not in compliance with this new law must be amended within 2 months of the afore-mentioned date.