Alcohol regulations in Réunion

Licences needed

Prefectural authorization to purchase and possess a distillation still (autorisation de détention d'alambic), DGDDI Authorized Warehousekeeper approval (statut d'entrepositaire agréé), and business registration (SIRET).

Authority

Direction Régionale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI) de La Réunion and Préfecture de La Réunion

Documents

Company registration (Kbis/SIRET), technical facility blueprints and equipment specifications, still serial numbers and declaration, financial bond/guarantee (cautionnement fiscal), and material accounting procedures (comptabilité matières).

Fees

No administrative application fee; financial surety/bond coverage required based on projected excise liability.

Time to obtain

Typically 1 to 3 months for site verification and customs security setup (not confirmed officially).

Who can import

Any business registered in France or the EU possessing a valid EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number.

Licences or registrations

EORI number; Registered Consignee (destinataire enregistré) or Authorized Warehousekeeper (entrepositaire agréé) status for movements under excise duty suspension via EMCS.

Authority

Direction Régionale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI) de La Réunion

Documents

Single Administrative Document (DAU/DELTA customs entry), commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, packing list, electronic Administrative Document (e-AD) if under duty suspension, and certificates of origin/analysis where applicable.

Fees

EORI issuance is free; standard customs brokerage and handling charges apply.

Time to obtain

EORI issuance takes 1–3 business days; customs clearance per consignment typically takes 1 to 3 days.

Required

no

Process

No pre-market product or label registration is mandated. Importers and producers are responsible for compliance with EU and French regulations (Regulations (EU) 2019/787 and 1169/2011; Code de la consommation). Compliance is monitored via post-market inspections.

Authority

Direction de l'Alimentation, de l'Agriculture et de la Forêt (DAAF) de La Réunion and DGCCRF

Documents and samples

None required prior to marketing; technical dossiers, certificates of analysis, and traceability records must be made available upon regulatory request.

Fees

None

Renewal

None

Time to obtain

Not applicable

Commercial imports must be handled by an EU-registered importer of record with an EORI number; there is no state alcohol import monopoly. Movements under excise duty suspension from the EU require the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS/Gamma) with an e-AD. Imports from third countries clear customs under standard EU border clearance. Mandatory accompanying transport documentation (DSA or electronic equivalent) applies for duty-paid movements. Strip stamps/CRD fiscal capsules are no longer mandatory in France, but tax proof is required.

EU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC) applies to imports originating outside the EU (generally 0% customs duty for most distilled spirits under HS 2208 such as whisky, rum, vodka, gin). EU-origin goods enter free of customs duty.

Spirits are subject to: 1) French alcohol excise duty (CIBS): €1,932.42/hlpa for standard spirits (€966.75/hlpa for qualifying DOM traditional rums, 2026 rates); 2) Social Security Contribution (CSS): €620.47/hlpa on spirits > 18% ABV (2026 rate); 3) Octroi de mer (OM): external rate is 61.5% for spirits under HS 2208 (reduced to 30.5% for rum under HS 2208 40); 4) Regional Octroi de mer (OMR): 2.5%; 5) VAT (TVA): Réunion standard rate of 8.5% assessed on the total including duties and dock dues.

Spirits are retailed through private channels (supermarkets, grocery stores, specialized spirits merchants, licensed restaurants, and bars). On-premises sale of spirits requires a Licence IV (Grande licence) or 'Licence restaurant'. Off-premises (takeaway) sales require a 'Grande licence à emporter', a declaration submitted to the local town hall (Mairie) at least 15 days before opening, and a valid operating training certificate (Permis d'exploitation). By prefectural order, off-premises alcohol sales and deliveries are prohibited island-wide between 21:00 and 06:00, and service stations may not sell takeaway alcohol between 18:00 and 08:00 or sell chilled alcohol at any time.

Allowed with restrictions. E-commerce sellers must hold an off-premises liquor licence ('licence à emporter') and complete the required training (Permis d'exploitation). Under local prefectural decree, home delivery of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited between 21:00 and 06:00. Age verification mechanisms are mandatory to prevent sales to minors under 18.

Mandatory requirements under EU Regulation 2019/787 and EU Regulation 1169/2011: sales denomination, net quantity (metric), alcoholic strength (% ABV), lot number, producer/importer details, list of ingredients, nutrition declaration (or QR code link), and allergen declarations (e.g., sulfites). Under French national law, a mandatory pregnancy health warning (pictogram of a pregnant woman inside a red crossed circle or textual warning) must appear. All mandatory information must be in French.

Strictly restricted under the French Loi Évin (Articles L. 3323-2 to L. 3323-5, Code de la santé publique). Direct advertising is limited to print media for adults, designated radio slots, adult-oriented digital communications, and billboard displays in authorized commercial areas. Television and cinema advertising are strictly prohibited. Sponsorship of sports and cultural events by alcohol brands is banned. All authorized advertisements must include the statutory warning: 'L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération'.

Directly regulated by Regulation (EU) 2019/787: minimum ABV thresholds include 37.5% for rum, 40.0% for whisky, 37.5% for vodka, 37.5% for gin, 36.0% for brandy, and 37.5% for fruit spirits. Local cane spirit also adheres to the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI / Indication Géographique) specifications for 'Rhum de La Réunion'.

No entirely dry municipalities exist. However, protected perimeter zones (périmètres de protection) enforced by the Code de la santé publique and prefectural orders prohibit establishing new on-premises drinking establishments within specified distances of schools, healthcare facilities, sports complexes, and cemeteries. Island-wide curfew on takeaway alcohol sales applies nightly from 21:00 to 06:00, and temporary alcohol bans are routinely imposed during public festivals, elections, and cyclone alert phases.

• France implemented annual indexation adjustments for alcohol excise duties under the Code des impositions sur les biens et services (CIBS), updating the spirits excise rate to €1,899.18/hlpa in 2025 and €1,932.42/hlpa in 2026, alongside €966.75/hlpa for qualifying DOM rums.
• The social security contribution (CSS) on alcoholic beverages above 18% ABV increased to €609.80/hlpa in 2025 and €620.47/hlpa in 2026.
• Stringent prefectural enforcement maintained across the island barring off-premises retail and home delivery of alcohol between 21:00 and 06:00, with permanent bans on chilled alcohol in service stations.

While traditional local rum holds a dominant market share and tax advantage, there is sustained demand for imported premium spirits including Scotch whiskies, craft gins, and fine cognacs. Exporters must account for significant local cumulative duties, particularly the 61.5% non-rum Octroi de mer combined with national French alcohol excises.

• Direction Régionale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI) de La Réunion
• Préfecture de La Réunion
• Direction de l'Alimentation, de l'Agriculture et de la Forêt (DAAF) de La Réunion
• Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF)

1. Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects - Tarif de l'Octroi de Mer Réunion
2. Préfecture de La Réunion - Réglementation des débits de boissons et vente d'alcool
3. Eurotax - France: New Alcohol Excise Rates 2025/2026
4. Fiscalead - Taxation of Alcoholic Beverages in France and the CIBS