Alcohol regulations in Montenegro

Licences needed

CRPS business registration for spirit manufacturing, Food Facility Approval (Rješenje o odobrenju objekta), entry into the Register of Strong Alcoholic Beverage Producers, and Excise Warehouse License (Akcizna dozvola).

Authority

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management; Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs; Customs Administration

Documents

Certificate of company incorporation (CRPS), proof of facility ownership or lease, technological equipment specification, proof of compliance with hygiene and HACCP standards, cadastral/farm registry extract for raw material origin, proof of paid administrative fees.

Fees

Standard administrative fees (approx. €10 to €50 per administrative resolution; not confirmed exact total)

Time to obtain

30 to 60 days

Who can import

Any registered business entity (company or entrepreneur) registered in Montenegro for foreign trade / wholesale distribution of beverages.

Licences or registrations

Registration in the Central Register of Business Entities (CRPS), customs identification / EORI-compatible customs registry, and registration as an excise taxpayer (akcizni obveznik) / excise warehouse keeper.

Authority

Customs Administration of Montenegro (Uprava carina)

Documents

CRPS registration extract, Tax Identification Number (PIB), VAT registration certificate, customs power of attorney, bank guarantee (for customs transit and excise warehouse operations).

Fees

Administrative filing fees and customs broker fees; bank guarantee costs vary by consignment volume.

Time to obtain

1 to 2 weeks

Required

no

Process

Montenegro does not operate a pre-market brand/label registration or COLA approval system. Spirits are cleared per consignment subject to border food-safety inspection, conformity with the Law on Strong Alcoholic Beverages, lab testing of samples upon import clearance if flagged, and proper local labeling.

Authority

Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs (Uprava za bezbjednost hrane, veterinu i fitosanitarne poslove)

Documents and samples

Manufacturer certificate of analysis and quality, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, bill of lading/CMR; commercial samples may be taken by border inspectors for lab testing.

Fees

Border sanitary inspection fee and laboratory analysis fee if sampled (typically €50 to €200).

Renewal

None (applied per import shipment).

Time to obtain

2 to 5 business days for customs and inspection clearance.

No state import monopoly. Imports require a registered Montenegrin importer of record, standard customs documentation (invoice, transport documents, EUR.1 or origin declaration), and manufacturer certificates of quality and analysis. Before release into free circulation for retail, pre-packaged spirits must have official excise control strip stamps (akcizne markice) affixed, which are issued by the Customs Administration.

Under HS 2208: 0% customs duty for goods originating in the European Union (under the EU–Montenegro Stabilization and Association Agreement) and CEFTA member states. For Most Favoured Nation (MFN) non-preferential imports, customs duty rates generally range from 15% to 30% ad valorem.

Excise duty on ethyl alcohol / distilled spirits is €1,500 per hectoliter of pure alcohol (EUR 15.00 per liter of 100% vol alcohol). Standard Value Added Tax (PDV) is 21%, charged on the CIF customs value + customs duty + excise duty.

Sold through private licensed supermarkets, liquor stores, and grocery shops, as well as licensed on-premise hospitality establishments (bars, restaurants, clubs). Montenegro enforces a general retail trade ban on Sundays and national holidays (Sunday trading ban under the Law on Internal Trade, with exemptions for pharmacies, bakeries, gas stations, and designated seasonal tourist stands). Sale or supply of alcohol to minors under 18 is prohibited.

Restricted. E-commerce retail is permitted for registered commercial traders under the Law on Electronic Commerce and internal trade regulations, but courier age verification (minimum 18 years) is mandatory, and sales to minors are strictly prohibited.

Must comply with the Law on Strong Alcoholic Beverages (harmonized with EU Regulation 2019/787). Labeling must be in Montenegrin (or officially recognized local languages). Mandatory elements: legal sales denomination/category, nominal volume, alcoholic strength by volume (% vol), batch/lot number, name and address of producer or domestic/EU importer, country of origin, and allergen declarations. Retail bottles must bear Montenegrin fiscal excise control stamps (akcizne markice).

Restricted under the Law on Electronic Media, Law on Media, and Consumer Protection Law. Alcohol advertising cannot target minors or feature minors; must not link alcohol consumption to enhanced physical performance, driving, social, or sexual success; cannot claim therapeutic or medicinal properties; and cannot encourage excessive drinking. Broadcast advertising of high-strength spirits on television and radio is subject to strict watershed/scheduling restrictions.

Regulated under the Law on Strong Alcoholic Beverages (Zakon o jakim alkoholnim pićima, Sl. list CG 3/2023), aligned with EU definitions: General spirit minimum ABV is 15% vol (except egg liqueur at 14% vol). Specific minimum ABV levels: Whisky/Whiskey 40% vol; Rum 37.5% vol; Vodka 37.5% vol; Gin 37.5% vol; Brandy / Weinbrand 36% vol; Wine spirit (vinski destilat/vinjak) 37.5% vol; Fruit spirits (rakija od voća) 37.5% vol.

None. Alcohol is legally available nationwide. Municipalities may enact local public order regulations prohibiting open alcohol consumption and public drunkenness in specific historic pedestrian cores (e.g., Old Towns of Kotor or Budva).

• Full implementation of the updated Law on Strong Alcoholic Beverages ('Službeni list CG', br. 3/2023), establishing strict EU 2019/787-aligned spirit identity standards, register requirements, and small distiller production definitions.
• Enactment of amendments to the Law on Excise Duties ('Službeni list CG', br. 94/2024), advancing digital excise tracking, electronic administrative documents (e-AD), and excise registry controls to align with EU single-market excise systems.
• Increased market inspection enforcement and public campaigns in 2024–2025 targeting retail and hospitality venues to enforce the strict prohibition of alcohol sales to individuals under 18.

Montenegro's thriving coastal luxury tourism and high-end hospitality sectors create strong demand for premium imported spirits (whisky, gin, rum, and vodka). EU distillers benefit significantly from 0% customs tariffs under the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

• Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management)
• Uprava carina (Customs Administration)
• Uprava za bezbjednost hrane, veterinu i fitosanitarne poslove (Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Administration)
• Poreska uprava (Tax Administration)

1. Zakon o jakim alkoholnim pićima (Službeni list CG, br. 3/2023)
2. Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede: Procedura za stavljanje jakih alkoholnih pića u promet
3. Uprava carina Crne Gore: Zakon o akcizama i stope akcize
4. PwC Tax Summaries: Montenegro Corporate - Other Taxes (VAT and Excise)
5. U.S. Department of Commerce: Montenegro - Import Tariffs and Regulations