**How To Export To Albania**

**Customs Valuation**\
The primary basis for customs valuation is the official list maintained
by the Customs Directorate. Each item is assessed at its \"appropriate\"
price, and the taxes are levied based on a governmentally determined
fair market price, regardless of actual price paid. The dutiable value
is assessed on cost, insurance and freight (CIF). The following duties,
taxes and other charges need to be paid to clear the product through
Albanian customs.

**Duties**\
Albania is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Currently, in
the customs legislation of Albania there are 5 basic custom rates for
imports depending on product type: 0 percent, 2 percent, 5 percent, 10
percent and 15 percent. Generally, customs
[duties](http://www.mac.doc.gov/ceebic/thebasics/dutyandtaxes.htm) apply
to almost all products imported to Albania. The average rate is 13
percent. The maximum rate of 15 percent is applied on products such as:
textiles, jewelry and some food products. The lowest duty rate of 0
percent is applied mainly for humanitarian aid and waste processing
equipment. CEEBIC (Tel: (202) 482-2645) can provide the duty rate if the
exporter supplies the [Harmonized
code](http://www.mac.doc.gov/ceebic/thebasics/hanumbers.htm) for the
good. For additional information on tariffs for IT products, click
[here](http://web.ita.doc.gov/ITI/itiHome.nsf/9b2cb14bda00318585256cc40068ca69/c27198075440c4b185256d910054efd1!OpenDocument).
Please note, Albania is a signatory to the WTO\'s Information Technology
Agreement (ITA) which requires the elimination of import duties on a
wide range of information technology products, including software and
computer hardware. In general for the importation of used computer
equipment customs duty is assessed on 50 percent of the value of new
equipment.

Harmonized codes can be found on the internet by running a key word
search on the Census Bureau website at: [http://www.census.gov/foreign-
trade/schedules/b](http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/) or
by calling the Census Bureau (Tel: (301) 763-3259).

*\*The duty is assessed on the CIF, or cost, insurance and freight.*

**Import Tax**\
A tax of 1% on all imports is applied.

**Value-Added Tax (VAT)**\
The VAT is a European type of sales tax that is applied at all stages of
production of a good, including export/import transactions. Albania has
a VAT of 20 percent.

*\*The VAT is assessed on the CIF plus the amount paid on duties.*

**Excise, Consumption and Luxury Taxes**\
For various imported luxury products such as soft drinks, alcoholic
beverages, coffee, mineral water, perfumes, deoderants, automotive fuel
and oil by-products, cigarettes and tobacco, excise taxes also are
applied. Excise taxes are determined by the type and quantity of the
product and are levied in addition to the customs tariff; the excise tax
ranges from 20-65 percent.

**Exemptions**\
\
**Temporary Entry**\
In order to temporarily import equipment in Albania for samples, testing
or research, companies must apply for a license from the Albanian
General Directorate of Customs, Department of Procedures. Equipment may
remain in the country for up to one year; however, companies have the
right to extend the license. Customs duties are not assessed on
temporary imports. Albania is not a party to the customs convention on
carnet (ATA) for temporary import of goods.\
\
**Free Trade Zones/Warehouses**\
The issue of free trade zones to attract foreign investment has been
under consideration for some time. Existing law provides authority to
establish free trade zones and a special free trade zone commission has
been established by the government to identify potential free trade zone
sites. However, no free trade zones or free ports have yet been
established.\
\
**Membership in Free Trade Agreements**\
\
Currently, Albania has free trade agreements with Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and
Montenegro, Romania, and Kosovo.\
\
**Import Documentation**\
A [certificate of
origin](http://www.mac.doc.gov/ceebic/thebasics/CertificateofOrigin.htm),
[commercial
invoice](http://www.mac.doc.gov/ceebic/thebasics/commercialinvoice.htm),
bill of lading or airway bill and proof of insurance are required for
all imported products.\
\
**Quotas**\
Albania has a liberal trade regime with no quota requirements for
imports. This was announced in government decision #450, dated September
16, 1999, which states that no quotas are applied on imports to
Albania.\
\
**Export Licenses**\
Most high-tech Western technology can flow into Central and Eastern
Europe without a U.S. export license. However, the goods that need an
export license are different for every country and the list constantly
changes. Generally, defense products and equipment such as optical
equipment and software that may have a dual usage do require an export
license. Export licenses can be obtained from the Bureau of Industry and
Security (BIS) (formerly, BXA at the U.S. Department of Commerce). BIS
coordinates the licensing process with the Departments of State and
Defense. If an exporter has a good that may need a license, the Export
Commodity Control Number (ECCN) must be determined from the
manufacturer. The number can also be obtained by filling out the BIS-748
Multipurpose Form, available by calling BIS\'s form request line (Tel:
(202) 482-3332). This form also serves as the application for the export
license itself. For specific questions about Export Licenses, call (202)
482-4811.\
\
**Standards and Quality Control**\
A number of products are subject to quality control by market inspection
officials at customs offices. These officials are employed by the
directorate of standards to ensure that imported goods are in compliance
with the domestic standards. The products subject to quality control
include most agricultural products, cars and products in which improper
quality may pose a health risk to consumers. When applicable, products
also must pass sanitary, phytopathologic or veterinary control.
Additional information on sanitary requirements can be obtained from the
ministry of agriculture.\
\
Albania follows the WTO agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary
procedures. To import food and agricultural products, companies must
receive a license from the food quality and inspection directorate at
the Ministry of Agriculture. In order to import medical products,
companies must receive a license from the Ministry of Health. In order
to import pharmaceutical products, companies must register the products
with the Ministry of Health.\
\
Albania, in large part, adopts standards developed in other countries.
ISO and EN are the primary standard making bodies of choice. As of
today, Albania does not have any Mutual Recognition Agreements with U.S.
organizations.

**Labeling and Marking Requirements**\
Labels must be printed in a language that most Albanians can understand
(such as Albanian, Italian, or English). The government decision for
putting the labels in the Albanian language to all imported food
products entered into force in July 2003. The labels must be in Albanian
language will contain a general description of the product, including
the date of production and the date of expiration. This decision aims at
protecting the Albanian consumers from using expired products. Sources
from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food inform that all the imported
products that do not have the label in Albanian would not be sold and
would be confiscated. No special labeling is required for the
importation of used computer equipment.\
**\
\
Useful Addresses\
***U.S. Embassy in Albania*\
Rr. Elbasanit 103\
Tirana, Albania\
Tel: +355 424-7285\
\
*General Directorate of Customs*\
Shpetim Idrizi, General Director\
Rruga Sami Frasheri\
Tirana, Albania\
Tel: +355 (4) 234499\
Fax: +355 (4) 243914\
Website: <http://www.dogana.gov.al/>

General Directorate of Standardization\
Mr. Arben Nati\
General Director\
Rruga \"Mine Peza\", Nr. 143/3, P.O.Box 98\
Tirana, Albania\
Phone: + 355 4 24 71 76\
Fax: + 355 4 24 71 77\
Cell: + 355 68 22 35 209\
E-mail: <nati@dps.gov.al>

Food Quality and Inspection Department\
Mr. Nazri Haxhiu\
Director\
Ministry of Agriculture and Food\
Deshmoret e Kombit, Blvd. No. 2\
Tirana, Albania\
Tel.: ++355 (4) 222682\
Fax: ++355 (4) 222682\
Mobile: ++355 (68) 20 55 318\
DPS publishes every six months a standards bulletin in Albanian.

Conformity Assessment\
Accreditation Directorate\
Ms. Kozeta Fino\
Director\
Ministry of Economy\
Jean D\'Arc, Blvd, No. 1\
Tirana, Albania\
Mobile: ++ 355 68 205 4259\
E-mail: kozetafino@yahoo.com

**For additional information about export documentation, visit:
[\"CEEBIC\'s Guide to the Basics of Export Documentation for Central and
Eastern
Europe.\"](http://www.mac.doc.gov/ceebic/thebasics/classexporters.htm)**\
\
*[Click here for a list of Shipping Companies with service to Central
and Eastern Europe[\
\
]{.underline}](http://www.mac.doc.gov/ceebic/sbi/shipping.htm)Updated:
August 2005*