Kosovo Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in kosovo, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Trade Barriers
Last published date:

Kosovo has no general economic restrictions on imports. In June 2023, the Kosovan government, citing security concerns, placed a ban on Serbian-origin goods that has caused significant confusion to importers and has had a negative impact on companies owned by foreign entities in Kosovo due to supply chain disruptions. Notwithstanding repeated requests, the Kosovan government has not provided any explanation of how this ban has mitigated security threats Some animal and plant products are required to undergo phytosanitary or veterinary inspections at border control. Local distributors of U.S. companies must complete an application form and health certificate to import animal food products, including poultry products. Kosovo accepts USDA food-safety inspection service certificates. The Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency’s Phytosanitary Division requires control certificates and certificates of origin for all imports.

Import licenses are required for pharmaceutical products, live animals, and tobacco products. An import license is required for production inputs and raw materials associated with manufacturing of pharmaceutical products. Licenses can be obtained from the Kosovo Medicines Agency (KMA) for six months, with an additional six months in case the import was not completed as scheduled. Quality and safety requirements for pharmaceutical products also stipulate that the following documents accompany every import:

  • Business license issued by the Competent Authority;
  • Marketing authorization for medicinal product issued by the KMA;
  • Importing authorization held by the importer granted by the KMA, or an
  • Import license issued by KMA that should meet the Good Manufacturing Practice standards; and a
  • Batch Certificate of Analysis for each batch of medicinal product imported.
  • Medicinal products should have at least one year of shelf life remaining after import, unless the product itself stipulates a shorter shelf life, in which case it should have at least 2/3 of its shelf life remaining after import.

These procedures are subject to change; please contact the KMA for up-to-date guidance. Information on sanitary requirements can be obtained from the Kosovo Ministry of Health. Information on phytosanitary and veterinary requirements can be obtained from the Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency in the Office of the Prime Minister.

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility