Distillers Alcohol regulations in Guinea-Bissau
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Guinea-Bissau, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched January 2025.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in January 2025 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- None
- Legal purchase age
- None
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Industrial Operating License (Licença Industrial / Alvará) and sanitary clearance
- Authority
- Ministério do Comércio e Indústria (Direcção-Geral da Indústria) and Ministério da Saúde Pública
- Documents
- Company registration, Tax Identification Number (NIF), premises and equipment specifications, sanitary inspection certificate
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Legally incorporated commercial entities registered with the commercial registry and holding a valid importer license/card
- Licences or registrations
- Commercial License (Alvará Comercial), Importer Card (Cartão de Importador), and Tax Identification Number (NIF)
- Authority
- Ministério do Comércio e Indústria (Direcção-Geral do Comércio Externo) and Direcção-Geral das Contribuições e Impostos (DGCI)
- Documents
- Commercial registration certificate, tax clearance certificate (Certidão de Quitação Fiscal), valid NIF, identity documents of company legal representatives
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- Typically 2 to 3 business days once commercial registration is complete
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: There is no pre-market brand or label registration mechanism (such as US TTB COLA or Indian state excise label approval). Goods are cleared based on standard commercial customs declarations.
Import rules
Imports must be cleared through a registered customs broker (despachante oficial) using the Sydonia (ASYCUDA) automated customs clearance system. Required documents include commercial invoice, bill of lading (B/L) or airway bill,…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
20% ad valorem on CIF value under Category 3 (final consumption goods) of the WAEMU/ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET / TEC) for HS Heading 2208, plus community levies: Statistical Fee (RS) 1%, WAEMU Solidarity Levy (PCS) 0.8%, ECOWAS Levy (PC) 0.5%, and African Union Import Levy (PUC) 0.2%.
Excise and taxes
Excise duty (Imposto Especial sobre o Consumo - IEC) is 45% ad valorem on CIF value for spirits (HS 2208) pursuant to the IEC schedule (amended by Budget laws / Ordem de Serviço GDGA). Value Added Tax (Código do IVA) applies at a…
Retail and distribution
Private retailers, wholesalers, supermarkets, grocery stores, bars, hotels, and restaurants may sell spirits. No state retail monopoly. National statutory opening hour limitations and day restrictions are not established in…
Online sale and delivery
not confirmed
Labelling
Labels must include the commercial name of the product, net volume, percentage alcohol by volume (% ABV), country of origin, lot/batch number, and name and address of the producer or bottler. Portuguese is the official language,…
Advertising
General commercial advertising regulations prohibit misleading advertising and promotions targeting minors, but no comprehensive ban or specific timeslot blackout for alcohol marketing or sponsorship is enforced.
Legal definitions of spirits
No dedicated statutory standards of identity or domestic minimum ABV thresholds are enacted specifically in Guinea-Bissau law; standard Codex Alimentarius and international Harmonized System distinctions apply.
Dry or restricted areas
None
Recent changes
Entry into force of the Value Added Tax Code (Código do IVA) on 1 January 2025 (Ministerial Despacho Nº 149/GMF/2024), establishing a standard rate of 19% and repealing the former General Sales Tax (IGV). Issuance and enforcement…
Opportunities for exporters
Because local production is confined almost entirely to artisanal, informal cashew spirit ('cana de caju') and palm wine, the formal market for distilled spirits (whisky, gin, rum, and vodka) is entirely import-reliant and open…
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- Ministério das Finanças da Guiné-Bissau - Ordem de Serviço GDGA 7/22 (Atualização de Taxas do IEC)
- Ministério das Finanças da Guiné-Bissau - Despacho Nº 149/GMF/2024 e Despacho Nº 151/GMF/2024 (Código do IVA)
- World Health Organization - Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health (Guinea-Bissau Country Profile)
- World Bank - Guinea-Bissau Economic Update: Revenue Mobilization & Tax Reform
- African Child Policy Forum - Minimum Age Legislation in Africa
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