Alcohol regulations in Norway

Licences needed

State production licence for alcoholic beverages (tilvirkningsbevilling), excise warehouse authorisation (registrering som avgiftspliktig virksomhet) with Skatteetaten, and food production establishment registration with Mattilsynet

Authority

Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet), Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten), and Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet)

Documents

Altinn application, company charter/memorandum, updated shareholder register, tax certificate (skatteattest < 6 months old) for entity and key principals, proof of clean criminal record/conduct, internal control and security systems (procedures for theft prevention, volumetric accounting, abv control), facility blueprints, and certificate of FG-approved B2 alarm system for spirits (Category 3)

Fees

Statutory application processing fee and annual supervisory fee based on production volume / sales turnover

Time to obtain

Approximately 3 to 6 months depending on verification of background checks and facility compliance

Who can import

Enterprises registered as wholesalers or producers who are registered as excise-duty-liable entities with the Tax Administration; private individuals may only import limited duty-free travel quotas or import for personal use under strict customs clearing

Licences or registrations

Registration as an excise-liable warehouse keeper / wholesaler with Skatteetaten under Section 1-4c of the Alcohol Act; no separate Directorate wholesale licence required if registered for excise duty

Authority

Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten), Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet), and Norwegian Customs (Tolletaten)

Documents

Company registration in Brønnøysund Register Centre, tax compliance certificate, financial security/excise bond guarantee, storage facility documentation, and trade register details

Fees

No specific customs licence fee; annual wholesale inspection/supervision fees payable to Helsedirektoratet based on turnover volume

Time to obtain

Typically 1 to 2 months

Required: no Process: Norway does not require mandatory pre-market label approval or product registration (no COLA equivalent) for general commercial wholesale. For retail distribution through the state monopoly Vinmonopolet,…

Commercial imports must be handled by an authorized registered wholesaler/excise warehouse keeper (Importer of Record). Physical excise tax stamps or strip stamps are not used in Norway (excise is tracked via electronic customs…

0% (customs duty-free for distilled spirits under HS 2208 in the Norwegian Customs Tariff/Tolltariffen; charges consist of excise duty and VAT)

Excise duty on spirits (>0.7% ABV spirit-based) is NOK 9.23 per litre per percentage of alcohol by volume (e.g., NOK 369.20 per litre for a 40% ABV spirit). Non-refillable beverage packaging is subject to an environmental tax and…

State monopoly Vinmonopolet has the exclusive off-premise retail right for all beverages above 4.7% ABV (all distilled spirits, wine, and strong beer). Licensed grocery stores may only sell beer/cider up to 4.7% ABV. Supermarket…

Restricted. Private online retail of spirits is prohibited, except directly via the state monopoly Vinmonopolet, which allows online ordering with in-store collection or postal/courier home delivery subject to strict electronic…

Compliant with EU Regulation 2019/787 and Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 via EEA agreement. Mandatory items include: legal sales designation (e.g., Vodka, Gin, Single Malt Whisky), actual ABV (% vol), nominal volume, net quantity,…

Strict comprehensive ban under Section 9-2 of the Alcohol Act. All commercial advertising, consumer marketing, sponsorship, and promotional displays of alcohol (or products sharing branding with alcohol) across TV, radio, print,…

Directly governed by EU Regulation 2019/787 (incorporated via the Norwegian Spirit Drinks Regulation / Forskrift om brennevin). Minimum ABV thresholds: Whisky/Whiskey (40%), Vodka (37.5%), Gin (37.5%), London Gin (37.5%), Rum…

Municipalities possess local autonomy to restrict or decline alcohol retail and serving licences within their borders. Svalbard operates a special alcohol ration quota system administered by the Governor of Svalbard…

In September 2024, the Norwegian Directorate of Health was granted new authority to issue direct administrative infringement fines (overtredelsesgebyr) for violations of the statutory alcohol advertising ban. Excise duty rates on…

Foreign craft and premium spirit distillers can achieve national distribution by partnering with an established Norwegian licensed wholesaler to enter Vinmonopolet's transparent tender and 'Bestillingsutvalget' ordering systems.…

1. Skatteetaten - Alcoholic Beverage Tax Rates
2. Tolletaten - Norwegian Customs Tariff Chapter 22 (HS 2208)
3. Helsedirektoratet - Norwegian Alcohol Act and Licensing Guidance
4. Altinn - Application for State Production Licence for Alcoholic Beverages
5. Vinmonopolet - Wholesaler Purchasing Terms and Monopoly Overview