Alcohol regulations in Vanuatu

Licences needed

Excise Producer's Licence, Business Licence, Municipal/Provincial Council approval

Authority

Department of Customs and Inland Revenue (DCIR)

Documents

Prescribed application form to the Director of Customs detailing distillation equipment (still apparatus), production centre layout, bonded warehouse facilities, security/financial bond, and business registration

Fees

Prescribed fee under Excise Regulations; premises liquor licence fees range from 4,640 VT to 157,781 VT depending on classification

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Registered commercial businesses holding an approved Permit to Import Spirituous Liquor; importation of pure undenatured alcohol requires written permission from the Minister of Finance

Licences or registrations

Permit to Import Spirituous Liquor (CAP. 52, Schedule 1) and Customs Importer Registration in ASYCUDA

Authority

Local Municipal Council or Provincial Government Council (Licensing Officers) and the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue (DCIR)

Documents

Import permit application to municipal clerk/provincial secretary, commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, ASYCUDA customs declaration

Fees

Prescribed permit fees under the Liquor Licensing Act and customs clearance processing fees

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required

no

Process

No formal pre-market brand/label registration or COLA-style system exists; compliance with general food safety and labelling provisions is checked at customs clearance and post-market inspection

Authority

Ministry of Health (Food Safety Unit) and Department of Customs and Inland Revenue

Documents and samples

Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of analysis (if requested for verification)

Fees

none

Renewal

not applicable

Time to obtain

not applicable

Importers must obtain a Permit to Import Spirituous Liquor prior to clearance. Absinthe is strictly prohibited from importation. Pure alcohol and spirituous liquids over 80% ABV require explicit ministerial authorization. Strip stamps are not currently mandatory. Consignments are cleared via ASYCUDA World declarations and subject to customs valuation, biosecurity inspection, and post-clearance audits.

Spirits under HS 2208 are subject to ad valorem customs duties generally ranging between 45% and 55% or specific rates (e.g. 200 Vatu per litre on certain compound preparations) under the Import Duties (Consolidation) Act [CAP. 91].

Excise tax is levied on all imported and locally manufactured spirits under the Excise Act [CAP. 290]; Value Added Tax (VAT) of 15% is applied to the duty- and excise-inclusive CIF value.

Private distribution model; licensed private shops, supermarkets, bottle shops, hotels, and bars hold municipal/provincial on-licences or off-licences. General on-licence premises operate between 07:30 and 23:00 (extended for licensed night-clubs). Off-licence retail sales are subject to strict localized trading hours, including common bans on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and public holidays in urban municipalities.

restricted; no standalone e-commerce liquor licence category exists, and entities selling online must hold a valid off-licence and ensure compliance with age verification requirements (prohibiting delivery to minors under 18).

Under the Food (Control) Act [CAP. 228] and Packaged Food Labelling Regulations, labels must be in English or French and display the product/brand name, alcohol by volume (% ABV), net volume, ingredients, name and address of the manufacturer/importer, lot/batch number, and country of origin. False or misleading geographical indications (e.g., wine and spirits origin claims) are prohibited.

Regulated under the Food (Control) Act and public health policy; alcohol marketing must not be misleading or direct promotional appeals to minors. National non-communicable disease strategies restrict sponsorship and marketing around schools and youth sports events.

Codex Alimentarius standards are referenced under the Food (Control) Act; specific domestic statutory identity definitions for individual spirits are not confirmed beyond HS 2208 nomenclature thresholds. Absinthe is strictly prohibited.

dry areas exist; local island councils and customary chiefs (Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs) maintain customary authority to declare complete or partial bans on alcohol sale and consumption within specific village or island jurisdictions.

• Implementation of stricter enforcement through the Liquor Licensing Amendment initiatives to mandate national ID verification to counter underage alcohol sales.
• Enhanced customs post-clearance excise audits and updated risk assessment plans across excisable beverage imports under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management 2024–2026 business plan.
• Active policy progression under the National NCD Policy and Strategic Plan (2021–2030) reviewing alcohol taxation rates and municipal sale restrictions.

Commercial potential lies primarily in premium whiskies, rums, and craft spirits serving the international tourism, resort, and expatriate hospitality sectors in Port Vila and Luganville. Exporters must partner with established local distributors possessing municipal spirit import permits to navigate high customs tariffs and excise duties.

• Department of Customs and Inland Revenue (DCIR)
• Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Ministry of Health

1. Liquor Licensing Act [CAP. 52] - Laws of the Republic of Vanuatu
2. Excise Act [CAP. 290] - Laws of the Republic of Vanuatu
3. Customs Tariff Schedule Heading 22.08 - Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue
4. Food (Control) Act [CAP. 228] and Labelling Regulations
5. Customs Prohibited and Restricted Imports - Vanuatu Customs