Alcohol regulations in Dominican Republic

Licences needed

Licencia Oficial de Fabricante de Productos del Alcohol (DGII), Registro Industrial (PROINDUSTRIA), and Permiso Sanitario de Instalación/Operación (DIGEMAPS).

Authority

Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII) and Dirección General de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Productos Sanitarios (DIGEMAPS).

Documents

National Taxpayer Registry (RNC), Mercantile Registry (Registro Mercantil), tax compliance certificate, Tax Compliance Bond/Insurance Policy (Fianza/Póliza de Cumplimiento Tributario), facility blueprints and geo-coordinates, security and CCTV system descriptions, quality management certificates, and environmental permit.

Fees

Not confirmed for base license; requires an annual tax compliance bond (Fianza de Fiel Cumplimiento) calculated by DGII.

Time to obtain

Not confirmed

Who can import

Dominican-incorporated legal entities registered with the Customs Authority (DGA), the Tax Authority (DGII), and the Ministry of Public Health (DIGEMAPS).

Licences or registrations

Registro de Importador (DGA), Licencia Oficial de Importador de Productos del Alcohol (DGII), and Distributor Sanitary Permit (DIGEMAPS).

Authority

Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA), Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII), and DIGEMAPS.

Documents

Mercantile Registry, RNC, tax compliance certificate, detailed warehouse description (address, coordinates, security/video surveillance systems), Sanitary Registration of products, and a Tax Compliance Bond/Policy (Póliza de Cumplimiento Tributario under Regulation 01-18 and Norma 02-25).

Fees

Not confirmed for administrative filing; requires an annual tax compliance bond (Fianza).

Time to obtain

Not confirmed

Required

yes

Process

Mandatory Sanitary Registration (Registro Sanitario) with DIGEMAPS prior to importation or sale, followed by Product and Label Authorization with DGII (under Article 21 of Regulation 01-18 and Norma 02-25).

Authority

DIGEMAPS (Ministry of Public Health) and DGII.

Documents and samples

Apostilled Certificate of Free Sale from the country of origin, product formula/composition, Certificate of Analysis, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate, compliant Spanish label artwork, brand registration certificate (ONAPI), product samples for laboratory testing, and legal representation agreement.

Fees

RD$4,000 per food/beverage sanitary registration at DIGEMAPS.

Renewal

Valid for 5 years; renewable (automatic renewal mechanism governed by Decree 117-18).

Time to obtain

Officially up to 90–120 days (often longer in practice depending on dossier observations).

No state import monopoly exists. Importers must hold a Certificate of No Objection from the Ministry of Public Health (DIGEMAPS) and pre-arrival customs authorization. In February 2025 (DGII General Rule 02-2025), the mandatory fiscal control and traceability stamp system (TRAFICO) was made optional for importers of finished alcoholic beverages outside free trade zones, though domestic manufacturers remain subject to fiscal control mechanisms.

20% ad valorem on CIF value (Most Favored Nation rate for HS 2208); 0% duty under CAFTA-DR (United States) and the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement.

Excise tax (Impuesto Selectivo al Consumo - ISC) consists of two components: (1) a specific tax per liter of absolute alcohol (100% vol.), adjusted quarterly for inflation by DGII (set at RD$758.26 per liter of absolute alcohol for April–June 2026), plus (2) a 10% ad valorem tax applied to the suggested retail price. Value Added Tax (ITBIS) of 18% applies on the CIF value plus customs duties and excise taxes.

Private sector distribution via supermarkets, liquor stores, colmados (corner stores), bars, and restaurants; no state retail monopoly. Under Decree 308-06 and Joint Resolution ESP/001-2022 (enforced by COBA under the Ministry of Interior and Police), colmados, liquor stores, and car washes may sell alcohol daily until 12:00 AM (midnight). Bars, clubs, and restaurants may sell until 12:00 AM–2:00 AM Sunday–Thursday and 2:00 AM–3:00 AM Friday–Saturday (extended during December/January holidays up to 3:00 AM Sun–Thu and 4:00 AM Fri–Sat).

Allowed; supermarkets, liquor stores, and delivery platforms operate online sales and home delivery subject to the standard legal purchase age of 18 and retail hour restrictions.

Governed by NORDOM 53 (General Labeling of Prepackaged Foods) and General Health Law 42-01. Labels must be in Spanish and applied prior to retail sale (at origin or via authorized complementary label). Mandatory items: product name, ingredient list, alcohol by volume (% ABV), net content in metric units, manufacturer name and address, local importer/distributor name, address and RNC, country of origin, lot number, DIGEMAPS Sanitary Registration number, and health warning ('El consumo de alcohol perjudica la salud' / prohibition of sale to minors under 18).

Regulated under General Health Law 42-01. Advertising must not target minors under 18, use cartoons or child-appealing characters, associate alcohol consumption with athletic, academic, or sexual success, or encourage excessive drinking, and must display health warning messages.

Governed by INDOCAL technical standards (Normas Dominicanas - NORDOM), notably NORDOM 477 (Rum - Specifications) and NORDOM 529 (Flavored Rum). Under Dominican standards and Decree 79-03, 'Ron Dominicano' must be distilled from sugarcane by-products at less than 96% ABV, aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 1 year, and bottled at a minimum of 37.5% ABV. Specific minimum ABV figures for whisky, vodka, and gin under NORDOM are not confirmed.

No permanent dry provinces; temporary nationwide sales bans (Ley Seca) are mandated by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) before and during national/municipal elections, and sales are prohibited in fuel stations.

• In February 2025, DGII issued General Rule (Norma General) No. 02-2025 amending Rule 07-2021, exempting importers of finished alcoholic beverages (outside free zones) from mandatory participation in the TRAFICO fiscal stamp and traceability system, making it optional for imports while maintaining strict warehouse and tax bond requirements.
• DGII continued quarterly inflation indexation of the specific excise tax (ISC) on alcoholic beverages, raising the specific rate to RD$758.26 per liter of absolute alcohol for Q2 2026 (up from 2025 rates via Resolutions DDG-AR1-2025-00008 and Q2 2026 updates).

The Dominican Republic's booming tourism sector and duty-free access under CAFTA-DR and the EU-CARIFORUM EPA create strong demand for imported premium spirits, particularly whiskies, vodkas, and gins. Additionally, the February 2025 exemption of imported spirits from the mandatory TRAFICO per-bottle tax stamp system significantly reduces logistical bottlenecks and compliance costs for foreign suppliers.

• Dirección General de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Productos Sanitarios (DIGEMAPS)
• Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII)
• Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)
• Instituto Dominicano para la Calidad (INDOCAL)
• Ministerio de Interior y Policía - Control de Expendio de Bebidas Alcohólicas (COBA)