Distillers Alcohol regulations in Dominican Republic
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Dominican Republic, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched August 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in August 2026 from the public sources listed at the bottom of this page. Duty rates, fees and rules change often: confirm with the regulator, a customs broker or local counsel before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Status
- Legal
- Legal drinking age
- 18
- Legal purchase age
- 18
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Licencia Oficial de Fabricante de Productos del Alcohol (DGII), Registro Industrial (PROINDUSTRIA), and Permiso Sanitario de Instalación/Operación (DIGEMAPS).
- Authority
- Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII) and Dirección General de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Productos Sanitarios (DIGEMAPS).
- Documents
- National Taxpayer Registry (RNC), Mercantile Registry (Registro Mercantil), tax compliance certificate, Tax Compliance Bond/Insurance Policy (Fianza/Póliza de Cumplimiento Tributario), facility blueprints and geo-coordinates, security and CCTV system descriptions, quality management certificates, and environmental permit.
- Fees
- Not confirmed for base license; requires an annual tax compliance bond (Fianza de Fiel Cumplimiento) calculated by DGII.
- Time to obtain
- Not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Dominican-incorporated legal entities registered with the Customs Authority (DGA), the Tax Authority (DGII), and the Ministry of Public Health (DIGEMAPS).
- Licences or registrations
- Registro de Importador (DGA), Licencia Oficial de Importador de Productos del Alcohol (DGII), and Distributor Sanitary Permit (DIGEMAPS).
- Authority
- Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA), Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII), and DIGEMAPS.
- Documents
- Mercantile Registry, RNC, tax compliance certificate, detailed warehouse description (address, coordinates, security/video surveillance systems), Sanitary Registration of products, and a Tax Compliance Bond/Policy (Póliza de Cumplimiento Tributario under Regulation 01-18 and Norma 02-25).
- Fees
- Not confirmed for administrative filing; requires an annual tax compliance bond (Fianza).
- Time to obtain
- Not confirmed
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Mandatory Sanitary Registration (Registro Sanitario) with DIGEMAPS prior to importation or sale, followed by Product and Label Authorization with DGII (under Article 21 of Regulation 01-18 and Norma 02-25).…
Import rules
No state import monopoly exists. Importers must hold a Certificate of No Objection from the Ministry of Public Health (DIGEMAPS) and pre-arrival customs authorization. In February 2025 (DGII General Rule 02-2025), the mandatory…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
20% ad valorem on CIF value (Most Favored Nation rate for HS 2208); 0% duty under CAFTA-DR (United States) and the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement.
Excise and taxes
Excise tax (Impuesto Selectivo al Consumo - ISC) consists of two components: (1) a specific tax per liter of absolute alcohol (100% vol.), adjusted quarterly for inflation by DGII (set at RD$758.26 per liter of absolute alcohol…
Retail and distribution
Private sector distribution via supermarkets, liquor stores, colmados (corner stores), bars, and restaurants; no state retail monopoly. Under Decree 308-06 and Joint Resolution ESP/001-2022 (enforced by COBA under the Ministry of…
Online sale and delivery
Allowed; supermarkets, liquor stores, and delivery platforms operate online sales and home delivery subject to the standard legal purchase age of 18 and retail hour restrictions.
Labelling
Governed by NORDOM 53 (General Labeling of Prepackaged Foods) and General Health Law 42-01. Labels must be in Spanish and applied prior to retail sale (at origin or via authorized complementary label). Mandatory items: product…
Advertising
Regulated under General Health Law 42-01. Advertising must not target minors under 18, use cartoons or child-appealing characters, associate alcohol consumption with athletic, academic, or sexual success, or encourage excessive…
Legal definitions of spirits
Governed by INDOCAL technical standards (Normas Dominicanas - NORDOM), notably NORDOM 477 (Rum - Specifications) and NORDOM 529 (Flavored Rum). Under Dominican standards and Decree 79-03, 'Ron Dominicano' must be distilled from…
Dry or restricted areas
No permanent dry provinces; temporary nationwide sales bans (Ley Seca) are mandated by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) before and during national/municipal elections, and sales are prohibited in fuel stations.
Recent changes
In February 2025, DGII issued General Rule (Norma General) No. 02-2025 amending Rule 07-2021, exempting importers of finished alcoholic beverages (outside free zones) from mandatory participation in the TRAFICO fiscal stamp and…
Opportunities for exporters
The Dominican Republic's booming tourism sector and duty-free access under CAFTA-DR and the EU-CARIFORUM EPA create strong demand for imported premium spirits, particularly whiskies, vodkas, and gins. Additionally, the February…
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