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 guarantee. Upon arrival at the border or customs warehouse, consignments undergo mandatory sanitary and market inspection, verifying compliance with the Rulebook on Strong Alcoholic Beverages, verifying mandatory labeling in local official languages, and sampling for laboratory chemical and safety analysis.

Authority

Food Safety Agency of BiH (Agencija za sigurnost hrane BiH) sets product standards; Entity Inspectorates (FUZIP in FBiH, Inspektorat RS) conduct border inspections; UINO issues excise stamps

Documents and samples

Commercial invoice, bill of lading, Certificate of Origin, Manufacturer's Certificate of Analysis/Quality, specimen product label, and laboratory samples taken at customs clearance

Fees

Inspection fee and accredited laboratory analysis fee per consignment (typically BAM 150 to BAM 400 depending on laboratory test parameters); excise control stamps cost approximately BAM 0.05 per stamp

Renewal

None per brand (safety and quality clearance is performed per imported commercial shipment)

Time to obtain

Laboratory testing and clearance per shipment typically takes 3 to 7 working days

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 with inspection posts. Each retail unit must bear an official UINO control excise stamp (akcizna markica) affixed prior to border release for free circulation. Shipments must be accompanied by a commercial invoice, bill of lading/CMR, packing list, Certificate of Origin (e.g., EUR.1 for preferential tariff treatment), and Manufacturer Certificate of Analysis.

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 fruit brandies / voćna prirodna rakija). Value Added Tax (VAT): Flat standard rate of 17% applied on the customs value inclusive of customs duty and excise tax.

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 retail monopoly exists. Sale and service of alcoholic beverages to persons under 18 years of age is strictly prohibited across all jurisdictions. In the Federation of BiH, the 2024 Law on Internal Trade instituted mandatory Sunday store closures for most retail outlets, limiting Sunday off-premise sales.

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 18; courier identification checks are required upon delivery.

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 by volume (% vol.), net volume in metric units, batch/lot number, name and business address of manufacturer or packer, name and address of the BiH importer, list of ingredients and allergens where required. Mandatory details must be in the official languages of BiH (Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian) using Latin or Cyrillic script (stickered supplementary labels are permitted). Physical UINO excise stamps must be placed over the bottle closure.

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 protection legislation prohibits alcohol advertising targeted at minors, near educational or youth facilities, or linking consumption to enhanced physical, social, or sexual success.

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 / fruit brandies (voćna rakija): 37.5% vol.; Neutral ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin: minimum 96.0% vol.

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 matches, and certain public administrative premises.

• 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 patterns.
• Regular renewals of Council of Ministers decisions maintaining preferential tariff suspensions and exemptions on designated production raw materials and inputs through 2025/2026.
• Strengthened cross-border enforcement and digital tracking procedures by UINO regarding mandatory excise control stamps on imported high-proof spirits.

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 benefit from 0% customs duties under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, provided preferential origin rules are met.

• Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Uprava za indirektno oporezivanje - UINO)
• Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Agencija za sigurnost hrane BiH)
• Communications Regulatory Agency (Regulatorna agencija za komunikacije - RAK)
• Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs (FUZIP)
• Inspectorate of Republika Srpska (Inspektorat RS)

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)