Alcohol regulations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Licences needed

Entry into the Entity Register of Producers of Strong Alcoholic Beverages; municipal technical/operating permit (upotrebna dozvola); food business establishment registration under the Food Safety Law; excise taxpayer registration and bank guarantee with UINO

Authority

Entity Ministries of Agriculture (FBiH / RS), municipal economic departments, and the Indirect Taxation Authority (UINO)

Documents

Proof of business registration in court register, proof of ownership or lease of production premises, technical specifications of distillation and bottling equipment, technological process description, sanitary permits, appointment of a qualified technologist or enologist

Fees

Entity administrative and stamp fees typically range from BAM 100 to BAM 500 depending on entity and production capacity

Time to obtain

Approximately 30 to 60 days

Who can import

Only legal entities registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina for foreign trade activities and registered in the Single Customs and Excise Register with UINO

Licences or registrations

BiH Customs Identification / Single Register entry, VAT registration, and Excise Taxpayer status with UINO; sanitary import notification

Authority

Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Uprava za indirektno oporezivanje - UINO/ITA)

Documents

Court registration certificate (Rješenje o upisu u sudski registar), Single Tax Identification Number (JIB/PIB), customs activity registration certificate, foreign supplier contract or commercial invoice

Fees

Standard administrative fee of BAM 20 to BAM 50 for registration in the customs register

Time to obtain

5 to 15 business days for importer registration

Required: no Process: BiH does not operate an ex-ante label registration or brand approval system (such as US COLA). Prior to clearance, the importer orders official excise control stamps from UINO against an excise security…

Importer of record must be an established BiH commercial entity. There is no state import monopoly. Commercial imports of distilled spirits (HS 2208) must enter through designated international customs border crossings equipped…

Standard MFN customs duty on distilled spirits under HS 2208 is 10% to 15% ad valorem. Goods of preferential origin originating in the European Union (under the SAA) and CEFTA countries are generally subject to 0% customs duty with valid proof of origin.

Excise duty under the Law on Excise Duties in BiH: BAM 15.00 per liter of absolute alcohol for generic alcoholic beverages/distilled spirits (reduced rate of BAM 8.00 per liter of absolute alcohol applies specifically to natural…

Private retail system; spirits are sold in private supermarkets, convenience stores, grocery shops, and specialized wine and liquor outlets. On-premise sales are handled by licensed hotels, restaurants, bars, and cafes. No state…

Restricted. E-commerce distance selling is recognized under entity trade laws, but alcohol retailers and delivery services must strictly enforce age verification to ensure spirits are not sold or handed over to individuals under…

In accordance with the Rulebook on Strong Alcoholic Beverages (Pravilnik o jakim alkoholnim pićima i alkoholnim pićima) and food labeling rules, labels must feature: commercial product name/legal denomination, alcoholic strength…

Advertising of strong alcoholic beverages (distilled spirits) is prohibited on broadcast television and radio under the Communications Regulatory Agency (RAK) Code on Commercial Communications. Entity trade and consumer…

Regulated by the Rulebook on Strong Alcoholic Beverages (aligned with EU spirit definitions): Minimum ABV for Whisky: 40% vol.; Rum: 37.5% vol.; Vodka: 37.5% vol.; Gin: 37.5% vol.; Brandy/Weinbrand: 36% vol.; Fruit spirits /…

None nationally; there are no dry cantons, municipalities, or entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Local municipal bylaws prohibit alcohol sales and consumption in and immediately surrounding schools, sports venues during official…

Adoption of the new Law on Internal Trade in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in late 2024, enforcing mandatory non-working Sundays for retail grocery and department stores, shifting off-premise alcohol purchasing…

Bosnia and Herzegovina offers steady demand for premium international distilled spirits such as Scotch and Irish whiskies, premium gins, rums, and vodkas driven by tourism and modern on-trade dining. Exporters based in the EU…

1. U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration - Bosnia and Herzegovina Customs Regulations & Import Requirements (2026)
2. Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (UINO) - Official Customs & Excise Regulations
3. PwC Bosnia and Herzegovina Tax Summary - Excise Duties and Value Added Tax
4. Pravilnik o jakim alkoholnim pićima i alkoholnim pićima (Službeni glasnik BiH, broj 87/08)
5. Zakon o unutrašnjoj trgovini Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine (2024)