Alcohol regulations in Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

Licences needed

Autorisation d'implantation et d'exploitation industrielle, and Agrément / Déclaration d'activité comme fabricant de produits d'accises auprès de la DGDA

Authority

Ministère de l'Industrie and Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA)

Documents

RCCM (Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier), Numéro d'Identification Nationale (Id. Nat), Numéro d'Impôt (NIF), environmental impact study, technical plant and equipment schematics, production volume estimates

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Legally established Congolese companies or branches registered in the RCCM possessing a tax number (NIF), National Identification number, and an active Import/Export Code (Numéro Import-Export)

Licences or registrations

Numéro Import-Export, registration with the DGDA as an excise goods importer, and electronic Import Declaration (Déclaration d'Importation - DI / DIB) processed through GUICE / SEGUCE RDC

Authority

Ministère du Commerce Extérieur, Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA), and Guichet Unique du Commerce Extérieur (GUICE)

Documents

Commercial invoice, bill of lading/air waybill, packing list, import declaration (DI), certificate of origin, certificate of analysis, and OCC verification of conformity certificate

Fees

GUICE filing fees, OCC conformity inspection fees (typically 0.75% of FOB value), DGDA registration fees

Time to obtain

1 to 3 weeks

Required

yes

Process

Mandatory Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (VoC / PVoI) via the Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC) or its international inspection partners (e.g., Bureau Veritas/BIVAC) before shipment. Importers must also register product SKUs with the DGDA under the Système de Traçabilité des Droits d'Accises (STDA) to order physical fiscal tracking stamps (vignettes fiscales).

Authority

Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC) and Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA)

Documents and samples

Certificate of Analysis from an accredited laboratory, sample product labels, factory quality certifications (ISO/HACCP), pro forma invoice

Fees

OCC inspection fee based on FOB value (~0.75% FOB, subject to minimum fee thresholds); per-unit cost for DGDA/SICPA STDA tax stamps

Renewal

Conformity certification is issued per shipment; STDA importer registration requires ongoing active status

Time to obtain

5 to 15 business days for pre-shipment VoC certificate issuance

All commercial shipments of spirits valued at USD 2,500 FOB or more must undergo pre-shipment inspection and obtain an OCC Certificate of Conformity. Under the Excise Code (Ordonnance-loi No. 18/002) and Decree No. 18/045, imported spirits must bear mandatory secure digital tax stamps (STDA vignettes) applied to each bottle prior to circulation. Spirits packed in plastic sachets or pouches are strictly prohibited from import and commercialization (Interministerial Order No. 001/CAB/MIN-ECO/2007).

20% ad valorem on CIF value under the Congolese Customs Tariff (HS 2208).

Excise duty: 25% ad valorem on alcoholic beverages / distilled spirits. VAT: 16% (calculated on CIF + import duty + excise duty). Additional trade charges include the OCC administrative verification fee (~1.5% to 2%), computer royalty (redevance informatique, 2%), and regional integration taxes (CEEAC 0.04%, OHADA 0.05%).

Distribution is handled by private enterprises (importers, wholesalers, supermarkets, retail bottle shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and licensed terrasses/bars). Retailers must hold a municipal trading license (patente d'exploitation). The sale of spirits in sachets/pouches is prohibited.

Restricted; general e-commerce and delivery operations exist in metropolitan areas (Kinshasa, Lubumbashi), but sales must abide by standard commercial tax rules and strict age verification prohibiting delivery to minors under 18.

Labels must be printed in French (English is also accepted alongside French). Mandatory particulars include product brand/trade name, beverage class/category, alcoholic strength by volume (% ABV), net liquid volume, lot/batch number, country of origin, producer name and address, and importer details. Packages must display the mandatory STDA excise stamp and standard health/moderation warnings against alcohol abuse.

Restricted under Departmental Order No. 04/DIP/005/90 and public health laws. Alcohol advertising targeting minors or featuring minors is strictly illegal. Ads must not link alcohol intake to athletic performance, vehicular driving, professional success, or sexual prowess. Broadcast ads on radio and television are restricted by time-of-day slots (prohibited during general family/children's daytime programming). Point-of-sale advertising is permitted.

Technical standards and identity parameters follow Codex Alimentarius specifications applied by the Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC). Spirits generally require an ABV corresponding to international commercial standards (whisky, gin, vodka, rum at ≥ 37.5%–40% ABV). Unregistered or adulterated artisanal spirits (e.g., Lotoko) fail safety standards and are prohibited from commercial trade.

No nationwide territorial prohibition, but individual territorial administrations and municipal councils periodically issue local bans on strong spirits and traditional distilled moonshine (such as Lotoko and sachet liquor) to preserve public security. Distilled alcohol in plastic sachets is banned nationwide.

• In July 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Trade issued Ministerial Order No. 008/CAB/MIN.COMEXT/2024 imposing a temporary 12-month nationwide suspension on the import of beers and carbonated soft drinks to protect domestic industry, an order renewed in January 2026 (Arrêté No. 008/CAB/MIN.COMEXT/KKJ/01/2026) alongside regional restrictions on ethyl alcohol imports in western DRC.
• Enforcement of the Système de Traçabilité des Droits d'Accises (STDA) in partnership with SICPA requiring digital excise tax stamps on all imported and domestic alcoholic drinks prior to commercial entry.
• Confirmation and harmonization of the 25% ad valorem excise duty rate on alcoholic beverages under Finance Law revisions.

While the DRC government has restricted mass-market beer imports to protect domestic brewers, high-value bottled distilled spirits (cognac, premium Scotch whisky, gin, and vodka) remain open to international exporters and experience strong demand among affluent urban consumers in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. Exporters must ensure strict compliance with OCC pre-shipment inspection and DGDA STDA excise stamp affixation.

• Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA)
• Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC)
• Ministère du Commerce Extérieur
• Ministère de l'Industrie

1. Fédération des Entreprises du Congo (FEC) - Enjeux sur la protection de l'industrie locale et restrictions d'importation (2026)
2. Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA) - Communiqués officiels sur le Système de Traçabilité des Droits d'Accises (STDA)
3. Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC) / ComplyMarket - Verification of Conformity (VoC) Program DRC
4. Ministère du Commerce Extérieur - Arrêté portant mesures de suspension temporaire d'importation
5. PwC Tax Summaries - Democratic Republic of the Congo: Corporate - Other taxes