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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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