Alcohol regulations in Chile

Licences needed

Inscripción en el Registro de Productores y Elaboradores de Alcoholes (SAG), Resolución Sanitaria de Instalación y Funcionamiento (SEREMI de Salud), and Patente Municipal Industrial/Comercial.

Authority

Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG), SEREMI de Salud, and the corresponding local Municipality (Municipalidad).

Documents

Company tax identification (RUT), certificate of title or lease for plant premises, architectural floor plans and industrial layout, description of distillation and bottling processes, waste disposal management plan, and health/safety compliance documentation.

Fees

SAG administrative registration fees, sanitary evaluation fee from SEREMI de Salud, and semi-annual municipal patent fees based on company capital (typically 0.25% to 0.5% of net tax equity).

Time to obtain

Typically 2 to 4 months depending on municipal zoning reviews and sanitary inspections.

Who can import

Any legally established Chilean natural or legal person registered with the tax authority (SII) and certified as an alcohol importer with SAG. Foreign companies must import through a local subsidiary or registered local commercial importer.

Licences or registrations

Importer RUT registration under relevant alcohol economic activity codes with SII, followed by formal registration in the Alcohol Importer Registry of SAG within 30 days.

Authority

Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII), Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG), and Servicio Nacional de Aduanas.

Documents

Commercial invoice, bill of lading / airway bill, Certificate of Origin (for preferential tariff treatment), official Certificate of Chemical Analysis from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin, and SAG Import Notice (Aviso de Ingreso).

Fees

SAG entry processing and sample testing fees; customs administrative charges and customs broker fees.

Time to obtain

Initial SAG importer registration takes 5 to 15 business days; per-shipment clearance generally takes 5 to 15 days pending SAG inspection.

Required: yes Process: One-time registration of each alcohol product and label in the SAG Alcohol Beverage Registry prior to or upon customs clearance; SAG reviews label compliance and product analytical parameters before issuing…

Customs broker (Agente de Aduanas) is mandatory for commercial imports exceeding USD 1,000 FOB. No state monopoly exists; private commercial entities import freely. Physical strip stamps/excise stamps are not required on bottles.…

Standard MFN customs duty is 6% ad valorem calculated on CIF value. Products originating from countries with Free Trade Agreements with Chile (e.g., US, EU, UK, Canada, Mercosur/ACE 35) enter at 0% duty subject to valid rules of origin documentation.

Distilled spirits and liqueurs are subject to the Additional Tax on Alcoholic Beverages (ILA - Impuesto Adicional a las Bebidas Alcohólicas) under Decreto Ley 825 at a flat rate of 31.5% ad valorem. In addition, standard Value…

Private retail system governed by Ley 19.925. Commercial establishments must obtain a specific municipal alcohol license (Patente de Alcoholes) categorized by venue type (e.g., Type A for off-premise botillerías/liquor stores,…

Allowed. Regulated under Ley 19.925 (as amended by Ley 21.363). E-commerce sellers and delivery personnel are legally required to verify the age and official identity card (cédula de identidad or passport) of the recipient at the…

Must be in Spanish and display: generic nature/product classification, commercial brand name, net volume in metric units, alcoholic strength in Gay-Lussac degrees (°GL) or % vol., country of origin, name and address of producer…

Regulated under Ley 19.925 and Ley 21.363. Television advertising of alcoholic beverages is banned between 06:00 and 22:00; radio advertising is prohibited between 16:00 and 18:00 (with comprehensive restrictions taking effect by…

Defined under Decreto Supremo 78 of the Ministry of Agriculture: Whisky must have a minimum ABV of 40% (40°GL) and at least 1.50 g/L of total volatile impurities; Rum (Ron) minimum 37.5% ABV; Gin minimum 37.5% ABV; Vodka minimum…

No dry municipalities or dry regions exist. However, municipal authorities enforce strict statutory density quotas limiting the number of off-premise botillería licenses (1 license per 600 inhabitants under Ley 19.925).…

Full implementation of Ley 21.363 and Decreto 98 on July 7, 2024, making mandatory octagonal health warning pictograms, health risk legends, and caloric values (kcal/100 ml) on all alcoholic beverage labels with ABV >= 0.5%.…

Chile represents a sophisticated, open market for international spirits suppliers due to 0% preferential tariffs under extensive free trade agreements and strong demand for premium whisky, craft gin, and imported rum. Exporters…

1. SAG - Reglamenta Ley N° 18.455 sobre producción, elaboración y comercialización de alcoholes etílicos, bebidas alcohólicas y vinagres (Decreto 78)
2. Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile - Ley N° 19.925 sobre expendio y consumo de bebidas alcohólicas
3. Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile - Ley N° 21.363 Modifica normas sobre publicidad y comercialización de bebidas alcohólicas
4. USDA FAS GAIN Report: Chile's New Alcohol Labeling Law in Force on July 7 (CI2024-0007)
5. U.S. TTB International Affairs Division - Chile Export Requirements
6. International Trade Administration (ITA) - Chile Country Commercial Guide: Customs Regulations & Taxes