Distillers Alcohol regulations in Malta
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Malta, 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- 17
- Legal purchase age
- 17
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Authorised Tax Warehouse Keeper authorisation, Authorised Tax Warehouse registration (per premises), and Food Business Operator registration.
- Authority
- Malta Tax and Customs Administration (Customs Operations - Excise / Alcohol Products Unit) and Environmental Health Directorate.
- Documents
- Written application to Customs, site/vessel specifications for approval, financial guarantee covering production/holding and compulsory guarantee for movement, and Food Business registration.
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Registered economic operators established in Malta or another EU Member State.
- Licences or registrations
- EORI number (for non-EU imports), Excise registration with MTCA (as an Authorised Tax Warehouse Keeper, Registered Consignee, Certified Consignee, or Registered Merchant under the Excise Duty Act Cap. 382), and registration as a food importer with the Environmental Health Directorate.
- Authority
- Malta Tax and Customs Administration (MTCA) and Environmental Health Directorate.
- Documents
- Customs declaration (SAD) for third-country imports or electronic administrative document (e-AD / e-SAD via EMCS) for intra-EU movements, commercial invoice, packing list, and financial guarantee for excise duty.
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: No prior brand or label approval (such as US COLA) is required for standard distilled spirits prior to market placement, though labels must comply with EU and national food information rules and operators…
Import rules
There is no state monopoly on alcohol imports. All containers of 50 centilitres (500 ml) or more containing ethyl alcohol or alcoholic beverages of 10% ABV or higher must have an official Malta fiscal 'excise stamp' affixed…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
0% for intra-EU movements. Imports from non-EU countries are subject to the EU Common Customs Tariff for HS 2208, which is 0% (duty-free) on most distilled spirits (such as whisky, vodka, gin, and liqueurs), while certain categories like rum and undenatured ethyl alcohol carry specific duties per % vol/hl and per hl unless covered by a Free Trade Agreement.
Excise and taxes
Standard VAT rate is 18%. Under the Excise Duty Act (Cap. 382, Fifth Schedule), standard ethyl alcohol and distilled spirits are subject to excise duty of €136.00 per hectolitre of pure alcohol (equivalent to €0.136 per % vol.…
Retail and distribution
No state monopoly exists. Off-trade retail sales are conducted by private supermarkets, grocers, and bottle shops operating under the Trading Licences Regulations (S.L. 441.07). On-trade sales (bars, restaurants, clubs, kiosks)…
Online sale and delivery
Allowed, subject to age verification (17+), excise duty compliance, and affixation of mandatory Malta excise stamps prior to release for consumption.
Labelling
Conforms to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and national rules enforced by MCCAA and the Environmental Health Directorate. Mandatory particulars include product legal name, net quantity in metric units, actual alcoholic strength by…
Advertising
Allowed with restrictions under the Broadcasting Act (Cap. 350) and Subsidiary Legislation 350.24 ('Requirements as to Advertisements, Methods of Advertising, and Directions Applicable to Alcoholic Drink Advertising, Sponsorship,…
Legal definitions of spirits
Governed directly by EU Spirit Drinks Regulation (EU) 2019/787: Whisky/Whiskey (min. 40% ABV, matured at least 3 years in wooden casks <=700L), Rum (min. 37.5% ABV, produced exclusively from cane molasses/syrup/juice), Gin /…
Dry or restricted areas
Street and market hawking of alcohol is prohibited nationwide, and local bylaws restrict open-container street drinking in certain entertainment zones, though there are no dry municipalities.
Recent changes
Effective 1 April 2026 (Budget Measures Act / Bill No. 155 of October 2025), excise duty on spirit-based flavoured beverages (over 1.2% to 7% ABV, such as RTDs and alcopops) was significantly reduced from €0.42 to €0.136 per %…
Opportunities for exporters
Malta's large tourism and hospitality sector creates strong demand for imported spirits, and because English is an official language accepted on food labels, exporters do not need costly Maltese-specific label translations.…
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- Malta Tax and Customs Administration - Excise Duty Act Budget Measures (Bill No 155 / 2026 Changes)
- Legislation Malta - Excise Duty Act (Cap. 382)
- Legislation Malta - Trading Licences Regulations (S.L. 441.07)
- US TTB - Malta International Import & Labeling Requirements (Nov 2025)
- Times of Malta - National Alcohol Policy and Legal Drinking Age Consultation (Sept 2025)
- Environmental Health Directorate Malta - Labelling of Food Products
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