Distillers Alcohol regulations in Egypt
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Egypt, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched October 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in October 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- Partial prohibition
- Legal drinking age
- 21
- Legal purchase age
- 21
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Industrial operating license from IDA, food facility safety license from NFSA, environmental permit, and municipal operating approvals.
- Authority
- Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and National Food Safety Authority (NFSA)
- Documents
- not confirmed
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Only licensed commercial importers registered in the GOEIC Importers Registry and holding NFSA food importer licenses, or specially licensed tourism establishments and duty-free operators.
- Licences or registrations
- GOEIC Importer Card, NFSA Food Importer License, Nafeza / ACI platform account (CargoX registration for foreign exporters), and foreign facility registration with GOEIC/NFSA.
- Authority
- General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), and Egyptian Customs Authority
- Documents
- Commercial registration, tax card, GOEIC importer registration card, NFSA import license, ACID shipment number, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and certificate of analysis.
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Foreign production facilities and brands must register with GOEIC and NFSA prior to export. Product formulations and labels must comply with Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS)…
Import rules
Importer of record must be registered with GOEIC and NFSA. Mandatory shipment pre-registration under Egypt's Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system to obtain an ACID number prior to loading. Consignments require commercial…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
3000% ad valorem on CIF value for distilled spirits under HS 2208.
Excise and taxes
Under VAT Law No. 67 of 2016 as amended by Law No. 157 of 2025: Standard VAT of 14% applied to the duty-inclusive customs value; fixed schedule tax (excise duty) of EGP 4,800 per hectoliter for beverages exceeding 16% ABV…
Retail and distribution
Sales are restricted to venues holding special alcoholic beverage licenses (primarily hotels of 3-star rating or higher, designated tourist restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and licensed retail bottle shops such as Drinkies). Law…
Online sale and delivery
Restricted; permitted only through authorized licensed liquor retail operators (such as Drinkies/Al Ahram Beverages) directly to private residences, subject to age verification (21+).
Labelling
Arabic text is mandatory (bilingual permitted; must be applied at manufacture, not stickered post-arrival). Required items include product denomination, country of origin, name and address of producer, name and address of…
Advertising
Banned. Complete prohibition on advertising distilled spirits across broadcast media (television and radio), billboards, and public entertainment spaces under Decree No. 220 of 1976, Law No. 63 of 1976, and Consumer Protection…
Legal definitions of spirits
Governed by mandatory Egyptian Standards (EOS) for distilled spirit categories (whisky, vodka, gin, rum, brandy), establishing specifications for raw material origins, maximum allowable methanol/congener limits, and standard…
Dry or restricted areas
Public drinking is illegal nationwide in streets, public parks, squares, and public transport under Law No. 63 of 1976. Retail and on-premise sales are strictly prohibited to Egyptian nationals on Islamic holidays and during…
Recent changes
In July 2025, Egypt enacted Law No. 157 of 2025 amending Value-Added Tax Law No. 67 of 2016, establishing tiered fixed-rate excise taxes on alcoholic beverages based on ABV (EGP 4,800 per hectoliter for spirits >16% ABV) with…
Opportunities for exporters
Commercial market opportunities for foreign distilled spirits are heavily constrained by Egypt's prohibitive 3,000% customs duty and the dominant domestic production footprint. Viable export channels are almost exclusively…
Read the full guide for Egypt, free
Product and label registration, excise, labelling, advertising, distribution and recent changes, with every source, plus an Excel file of every country. Sign in with your email: no password, no fee.
Sign in to read the full guideSources
- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) - International Trade: Egypt
- EY Tax News: Egypt introduces significant VAT updates on certain goods and services (Law No. 157 of 2025)
- International Trade Administration (ITA) - Egypt: Labeling and Marking Requirements
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Egypt - Other Taxes and VAT
- Chambers and Partners - Advertising Law & Practice in Egypt 2025/2026
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