Cars below Euro 5 Standard to Be Banned from Import

TIRANA, December 27

Cars not meeting the Euro 5 emission standard will be banned from import starting from January 1. Meanwhile, the vehicles that are still in circulation will have to meet at least the Euro 3 standard. Both initiatives are part of the legal acts drafted by the Ministry of Environment. They aim at approaching the European Union standards by improving the air quality rates. Owners of vehicles produces before 2000 will have to take measures in order to reduce vehicle emissions.
According to the draft decision, July 1st will be the deadline for improving air quality rates, while the cost will be covered by the owners of vehicles. Regarding the import of cars, the tax administration will take care that no vehicle manufactured before 2000 enters Albania.
In the case, when customs will not be able to verify if the vehicle belongs to Euro 5 category, the technical control centres, licensed by the Ministry of Transports, will make the assessment. Transportation causes about 60% of air pollution in Albania and currently over 500,000 vehicles with a record-high of 18.4 years old, equals to Euro 1 standards, circulate in the country.

News Source: shqiptarja.com