Distillers Alcohol regulations in Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched September 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in September 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- SENIAT Distillation/Manufacturing Installation Permit (Instalación y Funcionamiento de Aparatos de Destilación y Fábricas de Especies Alcohólicas), SACS Sanitary Installation Permit (Permiso Sanitario de Instalación y Funcionamiento), and Municipal Commercial/Industrial Operating License.
- Authority
- SENIAT, SACS (Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud - MPPS), and local municipal mayor offices (Alcaldías)
- Documents
- Articles of incorporation, fiscal registry (RIF), technical plant layout blueprints, specifications of stills and capacity, municipal zoning/land use certificate, environmental compliance certification, and SACS sanitary clearance
- Fees
- Established based on administrative rates pegged to the official highest-value foreign currency rate published by the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV)
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Legally incorporated commercial entities in Venezuela holding an active RIF and registered as alcohol importers with SENIAT
- Licences or registrations
- Registration in SENIAT's customs and alcohol importer taxpayer registry, SACS Importer Registry (Inclusión de Importador), and SENCAMER CPE/Metrology registry
- Authority
- SENIAT and SACS
- Documents
- Company RIF, commercial registry, authorized legal power of attorney, valid SACS Sanitary Registration for the spirit, and manufacturer distribution authorization
- Fees
- Standard administrative processing fees set by SENIAT and SACS
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Importers/producers must submit an application through the SIACSV2 online platform of SACS, submit chemical and microbiological sample test results conducted by an authorized Venezuelan laboratory, and…
Import rules
All spirit shipments require an advance informative customs declaration via SIDUNEA World, commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, apostilled certificate of analysis and aging (for aged spirits), SACS sanitary…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
20% to 35% ad valorem calculated on CIF value under Chapter 22 (HS 2208) of the Venezuelan Customs Tariff (Arancel de Aduanas), plus a 1% customs service fee (tasa aduanera)
Excise and taxes
Value Added Tax (VAT/IVA) of 16% on CIF + duty; ad valorem excise tax under LISAEA of 50% on spirits applied to the retail price (PVP); plus a specific volume tax per liter of pure alcohol (Gay-Lussac 100°)
Retail and distribution
Private distribution model: retail sales permitted through licensed liquor stores (licorerías, bodegones), supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, and bars holding municipal alcohol licenses (Licencia de Expendio de Bebidas…
Online sale and delivery
Restricted: E-commerce sales and courier delivery are permitted only through established vendors holding active municipal and fiscal liquor retail licenses; strict age verification (18+) is legally mandated upon order and…
Labelling
Must be in Spanish and display: commercial brand name, generic product name/spirit class, net volume in metric units, alcohol strength (% vol. or °GL), country of origin, full name and RIF of producer/importer, SACS Sanitary…
Advertising
Heavily restricted under the Ley RESORTE (Ley de Responsabilidad Social en Radio, Televisión y Medios Electrónicos) and LISAEA. Alcohol advertising on public television and radio is prohibited during general and protected viewing…
Legal definitions of spirits
Regulated by FONDONORMA/COVENIN standards: Ron (COVENIN 3040 / DOC Ron de Venezuela) requires distillation from sugarcane molasses/juice, aged in oak containers for a minimum of 2 continuous years in Venezuela, minimum 40° GL…
Dry or restricted areas
Temporary nationwide alcohol bans ('Ley Seca') are routinely enacted by ministerial decree of the MPPRIJP during national elections, referendums, and major holiday periods (Carnival, Easter/Semana Santa). Permanent location-based…
Recent changes
Continued enforcement of calculating customs, sanitary, and administrative penalty reference amounts based on the official highest-value currency rate published by the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) instead of the obsolete…
Opportunities for exporters
Venezuela maintains strong consumer brand loyalty toward premium imported brown spirits, particularly blended Scotch and malt whiskies, creating stable niche demand despite high retail taxes and complex import registration…
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- SENIAT - Portal Oficial de Aduanas y Tributos
- SACS - Recaudos para Registro Sanitario de Bebidas Alcohólicas Importadas
- Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela - Ley de Reforma de la Ley de Impuesto sobre Alcohol y Especies Alcohólicas
- PwC Venezuela - Corporate Taxes on Alcohol and Imports
- SENCAMER - Norma Venezolana COVENIN 3180: Whisky Requisitos
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