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Regulations / Haiti

Alcohol regulations in Haiti

How to import or export liquor and spirits to Haiti, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched May 2024.

Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in May 2024 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 Spotted something out of date?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
None (no national statutory minimum drinking age)
Legal purchase age
None (no national statutory minimum purchase age; a May 2017 Port-au-Prince prosecutor notice instructs on-premise venues not to serve minors under 18, but no national statute exists)

Free guide: the import licence, import duty and manufacturing licence sections are open to all. Sign in free to read the other 11 sections for Haiti in full.

Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)

Licences needed
Commercial registration (Registre du Commerce), commercial tax patent (Patente), and tax registration
Authority
Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie (MCI) and Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI)
Documents
Articles of incorporation, proof of address, identity documentation of company principals, tax clearance (Quitus fiscal)
Fees
not confirmed
Time to obtain
not confirmed

Import licence and registration

Who can import
Legally established commercial entities and registered customs brokers possessing a valid tax identification number (NIF) and patente
Licences or registrations
Declaration of Intent to Import (DPI) and general commercial registration with MCI
Authority
Administration Générale des Douanes (AGD) and Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie (MCI)
Documents
Commercial invoice, bill of lading or airway bill, packing list, certificate of origin, tax clearance certificate (quitus fiscal), DPI
Fees
not confirmed
Time to obtain
not confirmed

Product and label registration

Required: no Process: No mandatory pre-market brand or label registration system exists for distilled spirits prior to import Authority: Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie (MCI) / Administration Générale des Douanes (AGD)…

Import rules

Commercial shipments require customs clearance with the Administration Générale des Douanes (AGD). Pre-shipment verification programs have faced administrative suspensions, with AGD and MCI conducting inspections at entry points.…

Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)

Standard customs tariff rate is generally 15% to 20% ad valorem on the CIF value for HS 2208. Shipments are also subject to a 5% Verification Fee on CIF, a 2% Contribution to Territorial Collectivities (CFGDCT), and a 1% Special Duty on CIF.

Excise and taxes

Imported spirits are subject to an excise duty of 20% calculated on the CIF value plus other applicable duties and taxes (domestic alcoholic beverages incur a 6% excise on ex-factory price). Value-Added Turnover Tax (TVA/TCA) of…

Retail and distribution

Private retail distribution through supermarkets, grocery stores, independent shops, open-air markets, hotels, bars, and restaurants; no state retail monopoly. Operating days and hours are not subject to strict national retail…

Online sale and delivery

Allowed / unregulated (no specific statutory prohibition or e-commerce licensing regime dedicated to alcohol delivery)

Labelling

No mandatory health warning or specific spirits label approval requirements exist in national legislation. Commercial labels typically carry brand name, spirit category, net volume, alcohol by volume (ABV), and country of origin;…

Advertising

Largely unrestricted; no comprehensive ban on spirits advertising, marketing, or commercial event sponsorship under national law

Legal definitions of spirits

not confirmed (no codified national standards of identity or statutory minimum ABV thresholds for whisky, rum, vodka, gin, or brandy are enforced)

Dry or restricted areas

None

Recent changes

AGD and the Ministry of Commerce maintain direct inspection authority at entry ports following the suspension of private pre-shipment inspection contracts. Enforcement of maritime and air port entry rules for commercial shipments…

Opportunities for exporters

Niche demand exists for imported whiskies, cognacs, and premium spirits within upscale hospitality and retail sectors, though commercial expansion is heavily constrained by logistical volatility and political instability.

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Sources

  1. U.S. International Trade Administration - Haiti Country Commercial Guide: Import Tariffs and Regulations
  2. U.S. International Trade Administration - Haiti: Import Requirements and Documentation
  3. International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) - Policy Tables: Minimum Legal Age Limits
  4. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - Haiti Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards