How do I export liquor to French Guiana?

Who can import: Any registered business entity holding an EU Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number; to receive uncleared spirits under duty suspension, the business must be authorized as a registered consignee (destinataire enregistré) or tax warehousekeeper (entrepositaire agréé). Licences or registrations: EORI number, customs customs-clearance access (DELTA system), and registration in the European Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS / GAMMA). Authority:… Required: no Process: No pre-market brand or label registration system (no COLA-equivalent). Importers and producers are self-responsible for full compliance with EU and French food safety and labelling standards prior to distribution. Authority: Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF) / DAAF Guyane

Do you need a licence to make alcohol in French Guiana?

Licences needed: Statut d'entrepositaire agréé (tax warehousekeeper), still declaration (déclaration d'alambic/distillerie auprès de la douane), and environmental exploitation authorization/declaration (ICPE - Installations Classées pour la Protection de l'Environnement). Authority: Direction régionale des douanes de Guyane and DEAL Guyane (Direction de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement). Documents: Company registration (Kbis), identity and criminal background of corporate officers, site plan and production schematics, proof of financial solvency, and ICPE filing. Fees: No administrative licensing fee charged by customs; mandatory excise surety bond (cautionnement accises)…

Regulations / French Guiana

Alcohol regulations in French Guiana

How to import or export liquor and spirits to French Guiana, 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 Spotted something out of date?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: Dry areas exist
Legal drinking age: 18
Legal purchase age: 18

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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)

Licences needed: Statut d'entrepositaire agréé (tax warehousekeeper), still declaration (déclaration d'alambic/distillerie auprès de la douane), and environmental exploitation authorization/declaration (ICPE - Installations Classées pour la Protection de l'Environnement).
Authority: Direction régionale des douanes de Guyane and DEAL Guyane (Direction de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement).
Documents: Company registration (Kbis), identity and criminal background of corporate officers, site plan and production schematics, proof of financial solvency, and ICPE filing.
Fees: No administrative licensing fee charged by customs; mandatory excise surety bond (cautionnement accises) required.
Time to obtain: 2 to 6 months

Import licence and registration

Who can import: Any registered business entity holding an EU Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number; to receive uncleared spirits under duty suspension, the business must be authorized as a registered consignee (destinataire enregistré) or tax warehousekeeper (entrepositaire agréé).
Licences or registrations: EORI number, customs customs-clearance access (DELTA system), and registration in the European Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS / GAMMA).
Authority: Direction régionale des douanes de Guyane (DGDDI).
Documents: Commercial invoice, bill of lading / airway bill, Single Administrative Document (DAU), EORI certificate, and electronic administrative document (e-AD) if transported under duty suspension.
Fees: No charge for EORI registration; customs broker and clearance fees vary.
Time to obtain: A few days for EORI; 1 to 3 months for registered excise consignee/warehouse status.

Product and label registration

Required: no Process: No pre-market brand or label registration system (no COLA-equivalent). Importers and producers are self-responsible for full compliance with EU and French food safety and labelling standards prior to…

Import rules

Importer of record must possess an EORI number. There is no state import monopoly. Imports from outside the EU undergo customs clearance; movements of excise goods from mainland France or EU member states require clearance and…

Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)

EU Common Customs Tariff applies to third-country imports: 0% for most spirits categories (HS 2208 like rum, vodka, gin, whisky); consignments originating from mainland France or the EU enter free of customs duty.

Excise and taxes

French Guiana is exempt from standard French/EU VAT under Article 294 of the CGI. Instead, Octroi de mer (OM) and regional octroi de mer (OMR) apply on imported spirits, with combined rates set by the Assemblée de Guyane…

Retail and distribution

Private sector; sales permitted through supermarkets, grocery stores, specialized cavistes, and licensed bars/restaurants. Off-premise retail requires a 'licence à emporter' ('grande licence à emporter' for spirits); on-premise…

Online sale and delivery

allowed; e-commerce sellers must hold a valid takeaway alcohol licence (licence à emporter). Deliveries occurring between 22:00 and 08:00 require the night sale training permit (permis de vente d'alcool à emporter de nuit).…

Labelling

Must comply with EU Regulation 1169/2011 and Regulation (EU) 2019/787. Mandatory indications in French (Loi Toubon): sales denomination, alcoholic strength by volume (% vol), net quantity, lot code, name/address of the EU…

Advertising

Regulated under France's Loi Évin (Code de la santé publique, Arts. L. 3323-2 et seq.). Alcohol advertising is banned on television and in cinemas. Permitted solely in adult print media, specific radio slots, on billboards, and…

Legal definitions of spirits

Governed by EU Regulation (EU) 2019/787: minimum ABV is 40% for whisky/whiskey; 37.5% for rum (rhum), vodka, and gin; 36% for brandy. French Guiana also recognizes specific designations for traditional rum, including the…

Dry or restricted areas

Statutory protected zones (zones protégées) prohibit establishing licensed drinking premises around schools, medical facilities, and sports stadiums (Code de la santé publique Art. L. 3335-1). In addition, specific interior…

Recent changes

Assemblée de Guyane adopted updated revisions to the Tarif Général des taxes d'Octroi de Mer (TGOM) in 2024–2026 (including Délibérations AP-2026-48 and AP-2026-55), setting simplified and updated rates for imported and domestic…

Opportunities for exporters

Opportunities exist for premium international spirit brands, wines, and champagne serving urban retail and hospitality segments in Cayenne and Kourou. However, high local Octroi de mer duties and substantial maritime logistics…

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Sources

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