Alcohol regulations in Cambodia

Licences needed

Factory operating permit / industrial registration from MISTI, enterprise tax registration with GDT, environmental impact assessment approval from the Ministry of Environment, and food hygiene/safety certification.

Authority

Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) and General Department of Taxation (GDT)

Documents

Business registration certificate (Ministry of Commerce), factory design and equipment layouts, production process specifications, environmental management plan, and quality control certificates.

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Any registered commercial business entity incorporated in Cambodia and registered with the Ministry of Commerce and the General Department of Taxation.

Licences or registrations

Business Registration Certificate (MoC), Patent Tax Certificate (GDT), Customs Registration/ASYCUDA registration with the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), and optional Certificate of Exclusive Distribution Rights (MoC).

Authority

General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) and Ministry of Commerce (MoC)

Documents

Certificate of Incorporation, Tax Patent, Import Declaration form, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin, and Certificate of Analysis.

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required

yes

Process

Imported food and beverage products require product standard conformity and customs clearance via GDCE and CCF; trademark/exclusive agency registration must be lodged with the Ministry of Commerce; any advertising or commercial marketing material requires prior permit approval from the Alcohol Product Advertising Management Working Group under Prakas No. 084 (2024).

Authority

Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General (CCF), Institute of Standards of Cambodia (MISTI), and Ministry of Information (MOI)

Documents and samples

Certificate of Analysis (CoA), health/sanitary certificate, original and Khmer artwork/label translation, product composition breakdown, and physical samples if requested for laboratory testing.

Fees

not confirmed

Renewal

not confirmed

Time to obtain

Advertising/label permits under Prakas No. 084 take approximately 7 working days; general product approvals vary

Spirits must be imported by a registered importer of record; no state trading monopoly applies; shipments require standard customs declarations via ASYCUDA; imports are subject to physical/digital excise tax stamps administered under GDT/GDCE regulations; consignments must be accompanied by a commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing list, certificate of origin, and certificate of analysis.

35% ad valorem on CIF value for distilled spirits under HS 2208 (pursuant to Sub-Decree No. 210, with preferential rates applicable under ASEAN/regional trade agreements).

Special Tax (Excise/Consumption Tax) of 35% on spirits; Public Lighting Tax (PLT) of 5%; standard Value Added Tax (VAT) of 10% applied on the total tax base (CIF + Duty + Special Tax + PLT), yielding a cumulative tax and tariff burden exceeding 100%.

Private retail distribution through independent retailers, supermarkets, convenience stores, hotels, bars, and restaurants; no nationwide general curfew on retail alcohol trading hours, though temporary 24- to 48-hour alcohol sales bans are periodically imposed during national and commune election days.

allowed; e-commerce operators must comply with Cambodia's E-Commerce Law and consumer protection rules; online alcohol promotions must display warning notices prohibiting minors from viewing or participating (Prakas No. 084).

Must state trade name, brand, country of origin, alcoholic strength (% ABV), volume, name and address of manufacturer/importer, and batch number; Khmer language text is required on retail consumer labeling/promotional markings (Khmer font must be placed above or sized at least twice as large as foreign fonts pursuant to Prakas No. 095); physical or digital excise tax stamps must be applied to bottles.

Significantly restricted under Ministry of Information Prakas No. 084 (July 2024): all alcohol advertising (>3% ABV) across TV, radio, print, outdoor, and digital platforms requires prior authorization from the Alcohol Product Advertising Management Working Group; prohibited on TV and radio between 18:00 and 20:00 (except minimal display of name/logo); prohibited within 200 metres of educational institutions, health centers, religious sites, cultural sites, and international airports; promotional contests and prize giveaways targeting or involving minors are strictly banned (Prakas No. 095).

not confirmed (Cambodia adheres generally to Codex Alimentarius and regional ASEAN food standards for spirits classification, but has not promulgated standalone statutory minimum ABV definitions for specific spirit categories).

No dry provinces or districts, but alcohol sales and consumption are prohibited inside Buddhist monasteries and pagodas; commercial alcohol sales/advertising are banned within a 200-meter perimeter around schools, healthcare facilities, religious sites, and cultural heritage areas; temporary nationwide sales bans are enacted during official election periods.

• July 2024: The Ministry of Information enacted Prakas No. 084 on the Determination of Procedures, Rules, and Formalities in Managing the Advertisement of Alcohol Products, introducing mandatory permit approvals for alcohol advertising (>3% ABV), proximity bans around schools/temples/airports, and broadcast time bans between 18:00 and 20:00.
• April 2024: The Ministry of Commerce enacted Prakas No. 095 on Unfair Practices in Business Related to Advertisements and Sale Promotions, prohibiting marketing and prize promotions directed at minors and mandating Khmer font prominence on advertising and labels.
• 2024-2026: Inter-ministerial working groups and civil society continued consultations on drafting a comprehensive national Law on Alcohol Product Control to establish a nationwide legal purchase/drinking age and retail licensing structure.

Cambodia offers an open, privately driven commercial market with rising urban demand for premium imported spirits such as Scotch whisky, cognac, and gin. However, success depends on partnering with authorized local distributors capable of handling high cumulative import taxes (~100%) and complying with strict 2024 advertising permit requirements.

• General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE)
• General Department of Taxation (GDT)
• Ministry of Information (MOI)
• Consumer Protection Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General (CCF), Ministry of Commerce
• Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI)