International convention and customs procedures of Albania

International Conventions: Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the International Coffee Agreement
International Economic Cooperation: Member of the IMF, the World Bank and the Council of Europe.
Non Tariff Barriers: There are no non tariff barriers to import in Albania except quotas or particular controls linked to certain multilateral or bilateral agreements with other countries.
Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports: Since December 2006, most agricultural and industrial goods from the EU have been exempt from Customs duties. The maximum rate is 15%; it is applied to textiles, jewelry and some luxury products. In Albania there are 6 types of Customs rates: 0%, 2%, 5%, 6.5%, 10% and 15%. To calculate the Customs rate: VAT is indexed on the CIF (cost, insurance, freight), i.e. the value of the goods added to the duties on these goods.

Customs Classification

Consult the DPS: the official bureau which applies the TBT: Tecnical Barriers to Trade and the SPS: Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures. These bureaux are part of the General Directorate of Standardization, which is linked to the Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Energy. For further information, see the website of the Customs Service.

Import Procedures

Each product imported must bear a product description in Albanian for foodstuffs, and in Greek, Italian or English for non-food products. The General Directorate of Accreditation is in charge of granting and verifying certifications. Note also that since 1990, Albania has followed the rules of the European Union and the WTO.

The documentation to be presented is the following: a quality certificate, a certificate of analysis, a certificate of origin and the purchasing invoice and terms of delivery (the sales contract for the good is optional), transportation documents (CMR, BL, AWB), VAT number of the importer, import authorisation for certain goods.

When going through Customs, you must fill out a declaration of goods. The Customs agent controls the goods and calculates the Customs duty. Certain products require a license, including those associated with the military or other strategic sectors, radioactive material and drugs. You must apply to the Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of Health to obtain an import authorisation. It is obligatory to describe the sanitary characteristics of food or medical products. Drugs and medical equipment must be registered with the National Centre of Drugs and Medical Equipment to be imported into the country.

For more information, please visit the Albanian Customs website.