Distillers Alcohol regulations in Mongolia
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Mongolia, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched July 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in July 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 Spotted something out of date?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 / dry areas exist
- Legal drinking age
- 21
- Legal purchase age
- 21
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Special permit for the production of alcoholic beverages
- Authority
- Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (MOFALI)
- Documents
- Legal entity state registration certificate; factory technical specifications and equipment layout; metered line input/output certification; environmental and sanitary inspectorate conclusions; tax compliance reference
- Fees
- Determined via competitive auction for production quota plus statutory state stamp duty fees
- Time to obtain
- Not confirmed (permits are issued for 10 years, renewable for 10-year terms)
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Legally registered commercial entities in Mongolia holding an alcohol import special permit
- Licences or registrations
- Special permit for importing alcoholic beverages
- Authority
- Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (MOFALI)
- Documents
- Application; legal entity state registration; certificate of origin from the exporting country; product compliance documents; customs laboratory analysis/testing conclusions on pre-imported samples; sanitary/food safety conclusions; tax clearance certificate from General Department of Taxation; customs compliance reference from General Customs Office
- Fees
- Not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- Not confirmed (issued for a 5-year term, renewable for up to 5 years)
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Importers must submit pre-shipment sample bottles through border customs to the Central Customs Laboratory / competent inspection authority for physical and chemical testing. Products must obtain a…
Import rules
All imported spirits must be affixed with official Mongolian excise tax stamps/banderols prior to customs release and sale (except for export/customs-guaranteed zones); imports require a certificate of origin and laboratory…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
15% Most Favoured Nation (MFN) ad valorem duty on spirits under HS 2208 (30% General rate; 0% preferential rate under the Japan-Mongolia EPA), calculated on CIF customs value.
Excise and taxes
Excise tax on distilled spirits is specific (levied in Mongolian Tugrik per litre) and scaled by alcohol strength (ABV bracket). Under the Excise Tax Law, rates for distilled spirits and white alcohol range from approximately MNT…
Retail and distribution
Licensed private shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and bars holding local retail/service licenses issued by aimag or capital district governors. Sales are banned to persons under 21 years of age and intoxicated persons. Operating…
Online sale and delivery
Banned (national legislation prohibits selling, ordering, and delivering alcoholic beverages via electronic networks, online shops, or courier delivery services).
Labelling
Labels must include: product name and category; serial/batch number and barcode; manufacturer and importer name and address; country of origin; net volume (litres); ingredients and food additives; alcohol strength (% ABV); date…
Advertising
Strictly restricted: advertising of hard spirits across broadcast media (television, radio), print media, and public outdoor advertising/billboards is banned or heavily curtailed; brand sponsorship of sports, cultural, and…
Legal definitions of spirits
Mongolian National Standards (MNS) set minimum identity and technical specifications for spirits (including vodka, brandy, and whisky). Products must meet chemical purity thresholds (methanol, higher alcohols, aldehyde limits).…
Dry or restricted areas
Nationwide prohibition on all alcohol sales and service is enforced on election voting days, including the day before and the day after polling. Local governors (in Ulaanbaatar and various aimags) maintain the legal authority to…
Recent changes
December 2024: MOFALI released a regulatory draft tightening quality and safety management for imported and exported alcoholic beverages, formalizing mandatory five-year import permit conditions, annual surveillance testing, and…
Opportunities for exporters
Mongolia relies almost entirely on imports for premium spirits such as Scotch whisky, Cognac, bourbon, and dark rum, where domestic production is heavily focused on vodka. Exporters must partner with well-established Mongolian…
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Sign in to read the full guideSources
- Law of Mongolia on Control of the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages and Combating Alcoholism
- Mongolia Trade Information Portal - Procedure for Alcohol Import Permit & Customs Tariffs (HS 2208)
- PwC Mongolia Tax Summary - Excise Duty, Customs Duty and VAT
- MOFALI Proposal on Quality and Safety Management of Imported and Exported Alcoholic Beverages
- Mongolia Proposed Labeling Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages
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