Alcohol regulations in Benin

Licences needed

Industrial establishment authorization (Autorisation d'installation), environmental compliance certificate, and sanitary authorization for food production premises.

Authority

Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce (MIC) and Agence Béninoise de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (ABSSA)

Documents

Application dossier, company bylaws, commercial registry (RCCM), tax identification number (IFU), layout plan (plan de masse), quality control manual, HACCP hygiene protocol, and environmental impact assessment/certificate.

Fees

Variable depending on plant capacity, inspection logistics, and administrative processing schedules.

Time to obtain

Approximately 3 to 6 months.

Who can import

Registered legal entities or commercial traders holding a valid professional merchant status and import credentials in Benin.

Licences or registrations

Importer registration (Carte d'importateur / Immatriculation IFU), clearance through the Single Window for Foreign Trade (GUCE / SEGUB), and ABSSA sanitary import clearance.

Authority

Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce (MIC) and Direction Générale des Douanes

Documents

Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC), certificate of origin, certificate of analysis/health certificate from country of origin, and tax identification (IFU).

Fees

Standard commercial registry and customs processing/GUCE transaction fees.

Time to obtain

Import registration takes 1 to 2 weeks; customs clearance via GUCE takes 2 to 5 business days upon arrival.

Required

yes

Process

Sanitary registration and marketing authorization (Autorisation de Mise sur le Marché - AMM) for food and beverage products before distribution.

Authority

Agence Béninoise de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (ABSSA)

Documents and samples

Formal AMM application, company statutes, RCCM, IFU certificate, certificate of sanitary conformity/certificate of free sale from origin, laboratory test report, product commercial labels, and representative product samples for local testing.

Fees

Administrative application fee paid to the Public Treasury, ABSSA inspection travel fees, plus laboratory testing charges (varying by analytical parameters).

Renewal

not confirmed

Time to obtain

Officially 3 months.

All consignments must clear through the Port of Cotonou or official border posts using the GUCE platform. Shipments must be accompanied by a BESC, certificate of origin, and sanitary certificate. Alcoholic beverages packaged in plastic sachets or pouches are strictly prohibited from entry. Adulterated or substandard spirits are subject to immediate seizure and destruction.

20% customs duty under Category 3 of the ECOWAS/UEMOA Common External Tariff (TEC/CET), assessed on CIF value, plus community and statistical levies (1% statistical tax, 1% UEMOA PCS, 0.5% ECOWAS levy).

Specific excise tax on alcoholic beverages (Taxe spécifique sur les boissons alcoolisées) unified at 15% (under the 2025 Finance Law, reformed from the previous 45% rate on spirits and liqueurs), assessed on CIF + customs duties for imports; standard Value Added Tax (TVA) of 18%.

Private distribution network comprising wholesalers, supermarkets, licensed retail stores, bars, and open-air restaurants ('maquis'). No state retail monopoly. Outlets must hold general municipal trading authorizations and abide by local public order and noise regulations.

allowed

Labels must be in French and state the brand name, product nature/category, country of origin, net volume in metric units, alcoholic strength by volume (% ABV), lot/batch number, name and address of the manufacturer or importer, and relevant health warnings. Packaging of spirits in plastic sachets is banned.

Regulated by the Haute Autorité de l'Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC) and general fair trade laws. Advertisements must not target minors, promote excessive drinking, or present alcohol as having medicinal benefits. Marketing to minors under legal age is prohibited.

Codex Alimentarius standards and regional ECOSHAM standards apply through the Agence Nationale de Normalisation, de Métrologie et du Contrôle de la Qualité (ANM); national standards exist for local palm spirit (Sodabi) to deter toxic adulteration.

None nationwide; Benin is a secular country with no dry territorial regions, though sale may be restricted around schools, healthcare centres, or designated sensitive zones.

• May 2024: Ministerial Decree banned the production, importation, distribution, and commercial sale of all alcoholic beverages packaged in plastic sachets across Benin.
• December 2024 (effective January 1, 2025): The Finance Law for 2025 restructured the specific excise tax on alcoholic beverages into a single flat rate of 15%, reducing the previous 45% rate on spirits, liqueurs, and champagne.

The reduction of the spirits excise tax to 15% under the 2025 budget lowers the landing cost for premium bottled spirits, while the absolute ban on low-cost plastic sachet spirits encourages demand for compliant, quality glass-bottled spirits.

• Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce (MIC)
• Agence Béninoise de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (ABSSA)
• Direction Générale des Douanes (Douanes Béninoises)
• Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI)
• Agence Nationale de Normalisation, de Métrologie et du Contrôle de la Qualité (ANM)

1. Loi de finances pour la gestion 2025 - Mesures fiscales relatives aux boissons alcoolisées
2. Code Général des Impôts du Bénin - Dispositions relatives aux taxes spécifiques
3. Interdiction de la production, de l'importation et de la distribution des boissons alcoolisées en sachet plastique (Arrêté ministériel du 17 mai 2024)
4. CatIS Bénin - Enregistrement sanitaire des produits agroalimentaires (ABSSA)
5. Republic of Benin Report CRC/C/BEN/2 - UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Alcohol Control Regulations)