Distillers Alcohol regulations in Fiji
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Fiji, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched May 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in May 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- Licence to Manufacture Excisable Goods and Excise Warehouse Licence under the Excise Act 1986; Health and Food Business Licence under the Food Safety Act 2003; Local municipal council business license.
- Authority
- Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS); Ministry of Health and Medical Services; relevant Municipal/Town Council.
- Documents
- Application to the Comptroller of Customs & Excise, certified building and distillery layout schematics, equipment specifications (stills, receivers, storage tanks), environmental impact approvals, food safety compliance plan, security and measurement metering plans.
- Fees
- Prescribed annual licence fees set out under the Excise (Licensing) Regulations.
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Registered corporate entities or individual sole proprietorships holding an active Tax Identification Number (TIN) registered with FRCS and access to the ASYCUDA World customs clearance platform.
- Licences or registrations
- TIN registration with FRCS; registration as an importer in ASYCUDA; biosecurity clearances from Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) where plant-origin packaging applies.
- Authority
- Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS); Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF).
- Documents
- Commercial invoice, bill of lading or airway bill, packing list, certificate of origin, product technical specification/sanitary declaration, customs import declaration (Single Administrative Document).
- Fees
- Standard ASYCUDA customs processing and document entry fees.
- Time to obtain
- Typically 2 to 5 working days for routine customs clearance upon arrival of goods.
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: Fiji does not operate a pre-market product or label registration system (such as US TTB COLA or Indian state excise approval) for imported spirits. Shipments must conform strictly to the Food Safety Act 2003…
Import rules
Importer of record must be registered with FRCS. Commercial clearance occurs through ASYCUDA. Standard spirits do not require physical strip stamps or excise banderols on bottles. Import shipments must be accompanied by full…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Spirits under HS 2208 attract customs fiscal duties under the Customs Tariff Act 1986, assessed either as specific duties (varying by spirit category from approximately FJ$68 to over FJ$110 per litre of alcohol or liquid litre) or ad valorem (up to 32%), alongside applicable import excise rates where specified.
Excise and taxes
Domestic excise duty applies under the Excise Act 1986. Standard Value Added Tax (VAT) of 15% is levied on all imported and domestic alcoholic beverages (calculated on CIF value plus fiscal and excise duties for imports).
Retail and distribution
Regulated under the Liquor Act 2006. Licences are issued by Divisional Liquor Licensing Authorities (Central, Western, Northern, Eastern Divisions). Distribution is entirely commercial private enterprise (off-premises bottle…
Online sale and delivery
restricted
Labelling
Under the Food Safety Regulations 2009, labels on pre-packaged spirits must be in English and specify: product trade/generic name conforming to Codex Alimentarius nomenclature, full ingredient list, net volume in metric units…
Advertising
Regulated under the Liquor Act 2006, the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission Act 2010, and broadcast advertising standards. Advertising cannot target minors, portray underage drinking, depict excessive consumption, or…
Legal definitions of spirits
Part VIII of the Food Safety Regulations 2009 incorporates Codex Alimentarius standards for beverages. Standard commercial spirits (whisky, rum, vodka, gin, and brandy) are required to maintain authentic distillation…
Dry or restricted areas
No whole province or island is entirely dry by statute; however, traditional iTaukei village councils have authority under native village regulations to restrict or prohibit alcohol possession and consumption within village…
Recent changes
Enactment of the Liquor (Amendment) Act 2023 eliminated the 'special zones' in Suva and Nadi that previously permitted nightlife venues to sell alcohol until 5:00 AM, restricting all nightclub alcohol service to a maximum closing…
Opportunities for exporters
Fiji represents an attractive Pacific market for imported premium spirits due to high demand from international tourism resorts and hospitality venues, coupled with a well-developed duty-free retail channel at Nadi International…
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