Distillers Alcohol regulations in Serbia
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Serbia, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched February 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in February 2026 from the public sources listed at the bottom of this page. Duty rates, fees and rules change often: confirm with the regulator, a customs broker or local counsel before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Status
- Legal
- Legal drinking age
- 18
- Legal purchase age
- 18
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Registration in the Register of Producers of Strong Alcoholic Beverages under the Law on Strong Alcoholic Beverages.
- Authority
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede).
- Documents
- Application form, APR business registration excerpt, proof of facility ownership or lease, sanitary and technical compliance documentation, proof of fulfilling technological equipment requirements, and proof of employing or contracting a qualified professional (technologist/oenologist).
- Fees
- Republic administrative fee (approximately 1,000 to 3,000 RSD plus site inspection inspection costs).
- Time to obtain
- 30 to 60 days following on-site agricultural inspection.
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Any legal entity or registered entrepreneur registered for foreign trade in Serbia and entered in the official register of alcohol importers.
- Licences or registrations
- Registration in the Register of Importers of Alcoholic Beverages and Coffee maintained by the Customs Administration.
- Authority
- Customs Administration of the Republic of Serbia (Uprava carina) and Agricultural Inspection.
- Documents
- Customs declaration, APR registration excerpt, commercial invoice, transport documents (CMR/BL), certificate of origin, certificate of analysis/quality, and manufacturer safety documentation.
- Fees
- Administrative customs registration fees and laboratory testing fees per consignment.
- Time to obtain
- Importer register entry takes 1 to 7 business days; shipment customs clearance typically 2 to 5 business days.
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: No prior brand/label pre-approval or registration (such as US COLA) is required. Importers must ensure full compliance with the Law on Strong Alcoholic Beverages and the Rulebook on Food Labelling. Every…
Import rules
Importer must be entered in the Customs Register of Importers of Alcoholic Beverages. Each consumer bottle must bear an official Serbian excise control stamp (kontrolna akcizna markica) applied prior to customs clearance (in the…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Standard MFN customs duty on HS 2208 is 30% ad valorem. Preferential duty is 0% for qualifying goods originating in the European Union (under the EU–Serbia SAA) and CEFTA countries, provided valid proof of origin (e.g. EUR.1 or origin declaration) is submitted.
Excise and taxes
Specific excise duty on spirits is charged per hectolitre of pure alcohol (aligned with the EU single-rate system). Set at 56,057.29 RSD/hl pure alcohol as of February 2025 and indexed upward by ~2.7% in February 2026 (~57,570…
Retail and distribution
Private retail distribution across licensed supermarkets, grocery stores, specialized liquor stores, and hospitality premises (HoReCa). No state retail monopoly. Selling or serving alcohol to minors under 18 is prohibited by…
Online sale and delivery
Allowed. Distance selling of alcohol via e-commerce is legal under the Law on Electronic Commerce and Law on Trade, provided the seller displays business credentials, provides fiscal invoices, and ensures strict age verification…
Labelling
Mandatory Serbian-language label containing: sales denomination/category of spirit, nominal volume, actual alcoholic strength by volume (% vol.), name and registered address of producer/bottler/importer, batch/lot identification,…
Advertising
Heavily restricted under the Law on Advertising (Zakon o oglašavanju). Broadcast advertising of spirits (>20% ABV) on TV and radio is banned from 06:00 to 23:00 (permitted only between 23:00 and 06:00). Advertisements must not…
Legal definitions of spirits
Law on Strong Alcoholic Beverages harmonizes definitions with EU regulations: minimum 15% ABV for strong alcoholic beverages (14% ABV for egg liqueur). Minimum ABV thresholds: Whisky/Whiskey 40%, Rum 37.5%, Vodka 37.5%, Gin…
Dry or restricted areas
None. There are no dry municipalities or prohibition districts in Serbia. Sales are restricted immediately inside or adjacent to educational facilities and healthcare institutions.
Recent changes
Full implementation of the Customs Administration mandatory Register of Importers of Alcoholic Beverages and Coffee under amended excise legislation. Excise duty on spirits adjusted for inflation to 56,057.29 RSD per hectolitre…
Opportunities for exporters
EU-origin spirits enter duty-free (0%) under the SAA, opening strong opportunities for international premium whiskies, rums, gins, and brandies that do not compete directly with local domestic fruit brandies (rakija).
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