Alcohol regulations in Haiti

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

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

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)

Documents and samples

Standard customs entry documentation; samples generally not required

Fees

not confirmed

Renewal

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

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. Commercial invoices, bills of lading, freight invoices, certificates of origin, and tax clearance certificates are required. Cross-border imports from the Dominican Republic face periodic restrictions and may be restricted to maritime or air ports. No excise tax strip stamps are required.

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.

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 10% is charged on the cumulative base (CIF + duties + verification fee + excise tax).

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 restrictions.

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

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; French is preferred though English and Spanish labels are widely accepted in commerce.

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

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

None

• 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 arriving from the Dominican Republic continues to impact cross-border land routes.

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.

• Administration Générale des Douanes (AGD)
• Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI)
• Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie (MCI)

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