TIRANA, April 29 / The Albanian Customs Authority has introduced measures to enhance transparency and advanced oversight for businesses, enabling them to track in real time the status of every customs declaration and movement of goods.

As part of this innovation, a set of unified European standards has been implemented, aimed at harmonising data structures, adopting standardised electronic messaging, and procedural consistency from departure to arrival.

The new measures are designed to streamline and standardise customs procedures, making it easier for businesses to manage their operations in line with European Union requirements.

A central element of this reform is the implementation of NCTS Phase 5, a European digital platform for managing the transit of goods. The system replaces physical paperwork, enabling all procedures — including customs declarations, communication, and cargo tracking — to be carried out online in real time without manual intervention. This technology helps businesses process documentation more quickly and reduces the risk of errors that often occur in manual processes.

The Albanian Customs Authority said the new system brings additional benefits, including reduced costs and shorter processing times for businesses. Its use ensures faster procedures, streamlined documentation, and minimised errors. The authority added that the platform also helps cut border delays and improves communication between customs officials and economic operators, thereby facilitating and accelerating import and export processes.

The introduction of NCTS Phase 5 marks an important step towards the full integration of customs procedures with European Union standards, making cross‑border trade simpler and boosting the competitiveness of Albanian companies in international markets.

Officials noted that the system offers businesses faster processing, greater efficiency and easier access to markets, helping them expand operations and improve financial performance.

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