Alcohol regulations in Zambia

Licences needed

Liquor Manufacturer's Licence (Local Licensing Committee) and Excise Manufacturer's Licence (Zambia Revenue Authority)

Authority

Local Councils (under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development) and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)

Documents

Certificate of Incorporation / PACRA registration, approved architectural factory plans, Council Public Health inspection report, Council Fire & Safety report, Police inspection report, Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN), production flow charts, manufacturing process description, spirit formulations/recipes, and cost structure breakdown

Fees

Council statutory license fees set per local authority bylaws (typically between ZMW 240 and ZMW 1,500 under statutory fee units) plus ZRA administrative licensing requirements

Time to obtain

1 to 3 months (Local authorities may issue a 3-month temporary Protection Order to allow preparatory operations while the application is reviewed)

Who can import

Legally incorporated commercial entities and registered traders registered with PACRA and holding an active ZRA Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN)

Licences or registrations

ZRA ASYCUDA customs importer registration, local Wholesale Liquor Licence from the relevant council, and ZCSA Import Clearance

Authority

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA)

Documents

Commercial invoice, bill of lading or airway bill, packing list, certificate of origin, Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from the country of origin, and ASYCUDA customs declaration (Form CE 20)

Fees

Standard customs clearance processing fees; ZCSA import inspection and verification fees depending on consignment size and testing requirements

Time to obtain

Customs importer registration takes 2–5 business days; consignment import clearance takes 2–7 business days upon port arrival

Required: yes Process: Mandatory product conformity approval under Compulsory Standard ZS 808 (Potable Spirits) through the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA). Prior to import or market release, product formulation,…

Imports must be cleared through ASYCUDA using an authorized clearing agent. Importation, sale, and distribution of distilled spirits in sachets or plastic containers smaller than 200 ml are strictly banned under Statutory…

25% ad valorem on CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value for HS Heading 2208; 0% for originating goods from SADC and COMESA member states meeting rules of origin with valid certificates

Excise Duty: 60% (calculated on CIF value + Customs Duty for imports; ex-factory price for domestic); Value Added Tax (VAT): 16% (calculated on CIF + Customs Duty + Excise Duty)

Private distribution via licensed supermarkets, bottle stores, liquor merchants, hotels, restaurants, and bars. Licenses are granted by Local Licensing Committees under the Liquor Licensing Act, 2011 (valid for 3 years). Retail…

Restricted and unregulated specifically; online sales are not explicitly codified as an independent license type, requiring fulfillment to be conducted through physically licensed retail or wholesale liquor premises. Age…

Labels must comply with ZS 808 and general food labelling rules: brand and product name (spirit class/type), percentage alcohol by volume (% ABV), net liquid volume in metric units, list of ingredients/additives, name and address…

Regulated under Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) broadcast codes, fair trading standards, and industry self-regulation. Alcohol advertising cannot target children or minors. Television advertisements are restricted to…

Defined under Compulsory Standard ZS 808 (Potable Spirits): potable spirits must have an ethyl alcohol content between 34.0% and 55.0% by volume at 20°C (with a tolerance of ±0.5% ABV) and a specific gravity between 0.9549 and…

No entirely dry provinces or municipal jurisdictions exist; however, location-specific prohibitions apply: no bar or liquor-serving premises can be licensed within 300 meters of an educational institution, church, or health…

Full implementation and mandatory taxpayer onboarding of the ZRA Smart Invoice electronic billing framework across all alcohol importers, distributors, and manufacturers to eliminate excise and VAT leakages. Intensified…

Zambia offers a steady niche market for mid-tier and premium international spirits—particularly blended Scotch whisky, cognac, and gin—driven by urban consumer demand in Lusaka and the Copperbelt, although high cumulative…

1. Zambia Trade Information Portal - HS 2208 Customs Tariffs
2. Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency - Compulsory Standards (Potable Spirits) (Declaration) Order (ZS 808)
3. Zambia Revenue Authority - Excise Duty Guidelines
4. National Assembly of Zambia - Liquor Licensing Act No. 20 of 2011
5. Business Regulatory Review Agency (BRRA) - Liquor Licensing Forms & Regulations