Alcohol regulations in Albania

Licences needed

Category II.1.A Food and Beverage Production License / AKU authorization, and an Authorized Fiscal Warehouse Keeper license (magazinë fiskale) under the Excise Law

Authority

National Food Authority (AKU) and General Directorate of Customs (Drejtoria e Përgjithshme e Doganave)

Documents

Commercial register excerpt (QKB extract), proof of facility ownership or lease agreement, premises technical and architectural layout, HACCP safety plan, metrological/technical equipment certificates, environmental approval, and tax clearance certificate

Fees

Basic QKB registration fees range from 100 to 500 ALL; technical inspection fees and fiscal bank guarantees vary based on warehouse capacity and production volume

Time to obtain

Approximately 30 to 60 working days depending on inspection schedules and fiscal warehouse approval

Who can import

Any registered commercial entity in Albania with active tax status (NIPT) and appropriate registered NACE business activity codes for wholesale or import of food/beverages

Licences or registrations

Food import registration with the National Food Authority (AKU) and Excise Operator / Registered Consignee or Tax Warehouse authorization from Customs

Authority

General Directorate of Customs and National Food Authority (AKU)

Documents

QKB business registration certificate, commercial contract/invoice, phytosanitary/health certificates, certificate of origin, EUR.1 certificate (if claiming preferential tariff), and bank guarantee for excise duty

Fees

Customs filing fees and AKU border inspection processing fees

Time to obtain

Business and AKU registrations take 5 to 15 working days; per-shipment clearance generally takes 1 to 3 days upon document verification

Required

no

Process

Albania does not maintain a pre-market brand/COLA-style registration system for individual spirits products; products are verified for compliance (safety, documentation, and labeling) during standard AKU border inspections and customs clearance

Authority

National Food Authority (AKU)

Documents and samples

Certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory, bill of lading, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, and copy/sample of compliant Albanian label/oversticker

Fees

Standard import sanitary inspection fees

Renewal

Per-shipment basis; no recurring brand registration fee

Time to obtain

Conducted concurrently with customs clearance (1 to 3 days)

Imports must be cleared by a licensed customs broker or registered importer of record. Shipment requires standard trade documents (EUR.1 or invoice declaration for EU origin, commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing list, certificate of origin, laboratory certificate of analysis). Spirits are subject to mandatory fiscal excise stamps (pullat e akcizës), which must be procured from the General Directorate of Customs and affixed to each bottle before the goods are released into commercial circulation.

0% for qualifying goods originating from the European Union, CEFTA, and countries with bilateral FTAs; MFN rates for third countries generally range up to 15% ad valorem under Chapter 22 (HS 2208)

Excise duty applies to distilled spirits under Law No. 61/2012 'On Excises' at a specific rate per hectolitre of pure alcohol (hl a.a.); standard Value Added Tax (VAT) of 20% applies to the duty-and-excise-inclusive customs value.

Private licensed supermarkets, grocery stores, specialized liquor outlets, hotels, restaurants, and bars; no state retail monopoly. Municipalities set local trading and closing hours. Sales are temporarily prohibited during parliamentary and local elections (typically 24–48 hours before and during voting day).

allowed

Labeling must comply with Law on Food and national regulations aligned with EU Directive 1169/2011. Must include: commercial product name, alcoholic strength by volume (% ABV), net volume (litres/centilitres), lot/batch identification, list of allergenic ingredients (e.g. sulfites), name and address of producer or EU/Albanian importer/distributor, and official fiscal excise stamp. Information must be in the Albanian language (supplementary overstickers are permitted).

Regulated under Law No. 9518/2006 'On the Protection of Minors from the Use of Alcohol' and Audiovisual Media Authority rules. Prohibited to target minors, advertise in educational or child care institutions, or broadcast alcohol commercials within youth programming and within 60 minutes before/after such programming. Alcohol advertisements must not encourage excessive consumption or portray alcohol as linked to social or athletic success.

Harmonized with European Union regulations (transposing Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks via Albanian national standards DPS and Ministry of Agriculture bylaws), defining categories including whisky (min. 40% ABV), rum (min. 37.5% ABV), gin (min. 37.5% ABV), vodka (min. 37.5% ABV), and fruit spirits/brandies such as traditional raki.

No dry zones exist; sales are nationwide legal, with standard location restrictions banning sales within educational institutions and nationwide temporary bans on election days.

• Continued harmonization of excise procedures and customs reporting with EU Council directives in preparation for EU accession talks.
• Full digitization of import authorizations and corporate licensing through the e-Albania portal and QKB systems.
• Strengthened inspection protocols by the National Food Authority (AKU) regarding food hygiene, imported beverages compliance, and labeling verification.

Albania presents growing opportunities for premium international spirits brands (whisky, gin, vodka, and tequila), driven by a booming tourism sector and 0% preferential customs duties for products originating from the European Union.

• General Directorate of Customs (Drejtoria e Përgjithshme e Doganave)
• National Food Authority (Autoriteti Kombëtar i Ushqimit - AKU)
• National Business Center (Qendra Kombëtare e Biznesit - QKB)
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

1. PwC Albania - Indirect Taxes and Duties Summary
2. General Directorate of Customs of the Republic of Albania
3. National Food Authority (AKU) Official Portal
4. Law No. 9518 on the Protection of Minors from Alcohol Consumption