Distillers Alcohol regulations in New Brunswick
How to import or export liquor and spirits to New Brunswick, Canada, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched August 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in August 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- 19
- Legal purchase age
- 19
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Provincial Distiller's Licence (New Brunswick Liquor Control Act) and Federal Spirits Manufacturer License / Excise Duty License (Canada Revenue Agency). To operate an on-site retail shop, manufacturers also require an Agency Store appointment from ANBL.
- Authority
- New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety (Liquor Licensing) and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- Documents
- Manufacturer of Alcoholic Products Application, Personal History Report forms for key principals, municipal compliance/zoning approval, detailed site/facility layout plan, federal excise licence registration, and criminal background checks
- Fees
- CAD $200 per year if 75,000 litres or less manufactured annually; CAD $2,500 per year if more than 75,000 litres manufactured annually
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- The New Brunswick Liquor Corporation (ANBL) holds a provincial statutory monopoly on the commercial importation and distribution of beverage alcohol. Third-party commercial entities cannot import directly for resale without consignment to ANBL.
- Licences or registrations
- No separate commercial import licence exists for private businesses; foreign distilleries work through registered liquor agents/representatives who submit products for listing with ANBL.
- Authority
- New Brunswick Liquor Corporation (ANBL) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
- Documents
- Manufacturer authorization letter on corporate letterhead designating the local sales representative/agent, product listing documentation, and Certificate of Analysis
- Fees
- No statutory provincial import licence fee; ANBL assesses listing, administrative, and freight/handling fees
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Spirits must be formally submitted and approved via the ANBL Product Listing and Lifecycle Management process (Category Review Listing calls or specialty purchase intake). Products must satisfy ANBL Social…
Import rules
Under the federal Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (IILA) and provincial legislation, commercial alcohol entering New Brunswick must be consigned directly to ANBL as the importer of record. Shipments require CBSA customs…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Spirits imported under HS heading 2208 are generally duty-free under Canada's Customs Tariff Schedule (Most-Favoured-Nation and preferential trade agreements like CUSMA/CETA), though certain specialty spirit preparations or liqueurs may incur specific or ad valorem customs rates.
Excise and taxes
Federal excise duty applies (CAD $13.303 per litre of absolute ethyl alcohol for spirits over 7% ABV). ANBL applies category markups and minimum retail price floors on duty-paid landed costs. Retail sales are subject to the 15%…
Retail and distribution
Regulated under an ANBL-controlled hybrid distribution model. Spirits are retailed through ANBL corporate stores, private rural agency stores appointed by ANBL, and manufacturer on-site retail agency shops (grocery stores are…
Online sale and delivery
Allowed with restrictions. ANBL operates an online ordering service. Licensed local manufacturers and licensed delivery services are permitted to deliver spirits directly to consumers; recipients must present government-issued…
Labelling
Must comply with federal Food and Drugs Act, Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, and ANBL guidelines: mandatory bilingualism (English and French), common name/class of spirit, net volume, alcohol by volume (% alc./vol.),…
Advertising
Governed by the New Brunswick Liquor Control Act (Advertising of Liquor Regulation 90-10), the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, and ANBL internal policies. Advertisements cannot target individuals under 19, encourage…
Legal definitions of spirits
New Brunswick enforces federal Canadian standards of identity under Division 2 of the Food and Drug Regulations (Part B), which mandate minimum 40% ABV for standard whisky, rum, gin, and vodka (unless distinctly categorized as…
Dry or restricted areas
None at the municipal level under general provincial legislation. However, First Nations band councils within New Brunswick may enact local dry or restricted reserve bylaws pursuant to section 85.1 of the federal Indian Act.
Recent changes
New Brunswick eliminated personal exemption volume limits on alcohol brought into the province from other Canadian provinces, moving towards interprovincial direct-to-consumer framework integration. ANBL announced the…
Opportunities for exporters
Foreign distillers can enter New Brunswick by partnering with a registered Canadian beverage alcohol agent to pitch spirits during ANBL listing calls, targeting specialty product shelves and seasonal promotions. High-end and…
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