Import rules · Rest of Europe

Wood packaging import rules: Kosovo

Kosovo: ISPM 15 status for pallets and crates, approved treatments, the plant protection authority, common pallet sizes and main ports.

Last checked: 2026-10
ISPM 15 on imports
Not confirmed
Enforced since
—
Treatments
Not verified; ISPM 15 treatments (HT, MB, DH, SF) would apply if enforced
Plant protection authority
Food and Veterinary Agency (Agjencia e Ushqimit dhe Veterinarisë, AUV/FVA)
Common pallet sizes
1200 × 800 mm (EUR)
1200 × 1000 mm
Main ports
Pristina airport, Durrës (Albania, main sea gateway), Thessaloniki (Greece), Vërmica / Morina border crossing (road)

Overview

Kosovo's position on ISPM 15 is unclear in the sources I could reach. Plant health sits with the Food and Veterinary Agency, which operates border inspection, and the country has been drafting plant health law in line with the EU. However, Kosovo is not recognised by every state, and it is not a contracting party to the IPPC in the way sovereign members are, which means there is no IPPC country page with an ISPM 15 implementation notice that I could point to. For that reason ispm15 is marked unclear and no year is given. Importers should confirm with the Agency before shipping, and should in any event use stamped pallets, since Kosovo imports heavily from EU suppliers whose own rules require marking on non-EU shipments and whose carriers expect compliant packaging. Kosovo has no seaport. Containers usually reach it through Durrës in Albania, linked by the Albania-Kosovo highway, or through Thessaloniki or Skopje. Road freight from Serbia enters at Merdare and from North Macedonia at Hani i Elezit, and Pristina airport handles air cargo. The pallet market is small and heavily oriented on the 1200 × 800 mm EUR pallet in the retail and food chain, with 1200 × 1000 mm pallets in construction and beverage supply. Many pallets are reused and repaired locally, and formal pooling is not significant.

Key points

  • Landlocked and not an IPPC contracting party in its own right; plant health is run by the Food and Veterinary Agency
  • Status of ISPM 15 enforcement could not be confirmed
  • Sea cargo transits Durrës, Thessaloniki or Ploče
  • Customs clearance at Kosovo Customs; most freight by road

Frequently asked questions

Does Kosovo require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?

The status is unclear from sources I could verify. Confirm with the Food and Veterinary Agency, and use stamped pallets to be safe.

Which port serves Kosovo?

None directly. Durrës in Albania is the main sea gateway, followed by Thessaloniki.

Who handles plant health in Kosovo?

The Food and Veterinary Agency, which runs border inspection.

Sources

  1. Food and Veterinary Agency of Kosovo
  2. IPPC – ISPMs index (ISPM 15)

Import rules change. Confirm current requirements with the national plant protection organization or your importer before shipping. This page is general information, not legal advice.