Update to the contribution to the progress report on the process of accession of the republic of macedonia to the european union

3.28CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Consumer Protection

In accordance with the Law for amending the Law on Consumer Protection (Official Gazette of the R. of Macedonia No. 77/2007) during 2008, a procedure for direct financial support to the non-governmental sector for Consumer protection was realised, and by June 30^th the Project for Institutional Support for the Information, Education and Advising Consumers on central and local levels by the Organization of Consumers of Macedonia, as an implementer of the project, and partner organizations included in the consortium during the length of the project was begun. Partner organizations include: Consumer Organization of Bitola, Consumer Organization of Kocani, Consumer Organization of Stip, Consumer Organization of Ohrid, Consumer Organization of Tetovo.

With respect to the preparations for implementing the activity, from the Program on Protection of Consumers for 2007-2008, named “education for the young population” a public procurement procedure of a small size was made in June and July and in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement (article 100 – receiving three offers without a public announcement), whereas three offers were procured. At the moment a contract is being reached, with the chosen supplier, for organizing ten seminars in pre-school institutions and 10 seminars in primary schools in the area of protection of children as consumers, in the following cities: Skopje, Ohrid, Veles, Gostivar, Stip, Berovo, Bitola, Kumanovo, Kicevo and Strumica.

The deadline for finalizing this activity is November.

In terms of the institutional strengthening of the State Market Inspectorate, in the previous period one person was employed as a State Market Inspector.

In respect of implementing laws, 314 complaints were submitted by the State Market Inspectorate for the months June and July (2008), on various legal basis’.

Six decisions for irregularities were issued in an administrative procedure. Furthermore, competent authorities received 16 requests for initializing misdemeanour procedures.
Relating to the implementation of the activities regarding the legal framework some progress was achieved by the Food Directorate. Achievement was made as the following legal acts were adopted:

• 
  A Rulebook on special requirements for food safety which contains or is made from GMO (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 78/08);
  
• 
  A Rulebook on special requests for food safety in terms of microbiological criterion(Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 78/08);
  
• 
  A Rulebook on food sampling methods (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 78/08).
  

A draft Rulebook on special requirements for safety of alcoholic spirits is envisaged and currently within an inter-institutional procedure.

In terms of strengthening the institutional capacity a few employments were realised (see chapter 12 for more).
With respect to the inspection controls on internal production and food trade, with the purpose of implementing the Law on food Safety, Products and Materials Coming into Contact with Food (Official Gazette of Republic of Macedonia 54/02 and 84/07), state inspectors (in June) for food, conducted 748 inspectoral controls and: issued 426 decisions for insufficiency; issued 80 decisions for banning; taken were 158 samples for laboratorial analysis; 5 requests for beginning a misdemeanour procedure were made; given were 171 permissions for producing and trade with food; given were 2 certificates for security of food for export; there were 12 interventions on charges filed by citizens.
In July state inspectors for food conducted 527 inspectoral controls and: issued 461 decisions for insufficiency; issued 68 decisions for banning; taken were 229 samples for laboratorial analysis; 5 requests for beginning a misdemeanour procedure were made; given were 130 permissions for producing and trade with food; given were 7 export certificates for food safety; there were 13 interventions on charges filed by citizens.
In terms of inspectoral surveillance on imported food, the following was achieved:

• 
  In June, 1112 shipments of food from imports were checked, from which 714 samples were taken for laboratorial analysis.
  
• 
  In July, 940 shipments of food from imports were checked, from which 460 samples were taken for laboratorial analysis.
  
• 
  In June, 550 goods and materials which come into contact with food from imports were checked and 219 samples were taken for laboratorial analysis.
  
• 
  In July, 496 goods and materials which come into contact with food from imports were checked and 147 samples were taken for laboratorial analysis.
  

Public Health

• 
  Progress was made in the area of tobacco control. With amendments to the Law for Tobacco and Tobacco Products (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 38/88) as of July 16^th additional pictorial warnings with respect to tobacco products were implemented, and for the measurement of carbon, tobacco and nicotine ISO standards for measurement were implemented: ISO 4387 (carbon), ISO 3400 and ISO10315 (nicotine) and ISO 4387 (carbon monoxide). The aim of this change is progress and implementation of the Directive 2001/37/EC of the European Parliament and Council, from the 5^th of June 2001, for approximation of the primary and secondary legislation, and administrative articles that pertain to production presentation and sales of tobacco products, and the Decision of the Commission from 05.09.2003 for using photographs with colour or other illustrations such as medical warnings on packaging of tobacco and tobacco products.
  
• 
  New amendments of the Law on protection against smoking were adopted (Official gazette No 103/08) in order to improve protection against harmful effects of smoking for the non-smokers. This amendment provides for wider definition of public places and strict distinction of the competencies of the different inspectorates with regard to the performing inspection control on smoking on public places as well.
  
  
  
• 
  The Law on protection of the patient rights (Official gazette of RM No 82/08) provide for implementation of the international standards of human rights and patients rights protection in the national legislation and practice, protection of the patients rights as consumers, and their personal data as well.
  
  
  

• 
  With regards to the activities related to dependencies first draft of Action plan for implementation of the Strategy for reducing harmful effects of alcohol abuse on population in Republic of Macedonia 2008-2012 – aimed to young people is prepared.
  

Other activities related to drug dependences are described in Chapter 24.

• 
  Within the framework of inspection controls in the area of public health, the State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate made 60 checks of hygienic and technical conditions in facilities that underlie sanitary and hygienic surveillance, and made 30 checks for conditions in terms of area and equipment for opening private medical institutions. In June 2008, 186 checks were made in the area of protection from infectious diseases, and taken forward were the necessary legally written actions.