Albania has introduced new rules governing the supervision, control and inspection of licensed and authorized activities involving cannabis and the production of medical and industrial cannabis-derived products.

The new framework establishes an oversight system covering the entire chain of activity from the import of seeds, seedlings and clones to cultivation, harvesting, drying, processing, storage, transportation and export. It also sets out procedures for the seizure, confiscation and destruction of cannabis-related materials.

The controls will not be limited to scheduled inspections. Under the new rules, the National Cannabis Control Agency will carry out continuous oversight, with inspections based on risk assessments, information contained in official registers and tracking systems, reports submitted by operators, critical incidents and previous compliance records.

Authorities will also be able to conduct inspections outside the annual inspection program when there are indications or reasonable suspicions of violations, requests from judicial or other authorities, discrepancies between an operator's physical operations and information recorded in official systems, reporting failures, critical incidents or failures of security and traceability systems.

24/7 access to surveillance systems

One of the key elements of the new framework is the use of technology to monitor cannabis-related activities.

The agency is expected to have real-time access to operators' monitoring and security camera systems, with the rules providing for uninterrupted, 24-hour, seven-day access to CCTV systems.

Remote inspections may also rely on telemetry systems, environmental sensors, alarm systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite platforms and digital monitoring tools.

Information and images obtained through these systems may be recorded in official inspection reports and used as evidence in administrative, civil or criminal proceedings, in accordance with applicable law.

Focus on traceability

The rules place particular emphasis on the traceability of cannabis and related materials.

Every movement, transfer, change of status, receipt into custody, quarantine, seizure, confiscation or destruction must be recorded in the relevant registers and tracking systems.

Operators and institutions responsible for entering information into those systems will be accountable for the accuracy, completeness, integrity and timely updating of the data.

If authorities identify discrepancies between recorded information and the physical situation on the ground, the agency will document the case and take the appropriate measures.

Controls from planting to harvest

The oversight system will cover the cultivation process from planting through flowering and harvesting.

The agency will verify that cultivation takes place only in approved areas and that seeds, seedlings, clones and mother plants are authorized, registered and properly documented.

Authorities will also check the identification and marking of plants, cultivation plots and designated areas, as well as the movement of cannabis-related material.

The framework provides for both periodic and unannounced inspections, including combined on-site and remote checks.

If unmarked, undeclared, unjustified or unauthorized material is discovered, the case will be documented and handled under procedures governing seizure, confiscation and destruction.

Operators will also be required to notify the agency at least 15 days before a planned harvest.

Following harvesting, the quantity of material and its corresponding batch must be immediately entered into the relevant tracking and registration systems.

During drying and processing, inspectors will verify the facilities, environmental conditions and the recording of every movement of the material.

The new rules are intended to create a continuous monitoring and traceability framework covering the cannabis production chain from the arrival of planting material through cultivation, processing and the subsequent movement of cannabis and its derivatives.