Alcohol regulations in Cameroon

Licences needed

Classified Industrial Installation Operating Permit, Commercial Registration Licence, and Excise Manufacturer Tax Registration.

Authority

Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (MINMIDT), Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED), and Directorate General of Taxation (DGI).

Documents

RCCM registration, Taxpayer Identification Card (NIU), Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) clearance, technical production schematics, facility layout, and municipal zoning approval.

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Corporate entities registered in the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register (RCCM), possessing a Taxpayer Identification Number (NIU), and enrolled in the National Importers Registry (Fichier des Importateurs).

Licences or registrations

Importer Card (Fichier des Importateurs registration), e-Force GUCE account, and Import Declaration (DI).

Authority

Ministry of Trade (MINCOMMERCE) and Directorate General of Customs (DGD).

Documents

Trade register extract (RCCM), active NIU card, tax compliance certificate (Attestation de non-redevance), commercial invoice, bill of lading, and bank domiciliation.

Fees

Approximately XAF 25,000 for annual registration in the National Importers Registry, plus administrative transaction fees.

Time to obtain

Approximately 1 to 2 weeks for importer registration.

Required

yes

Process

Mandatory Pre-Shipment Evaluation of Conformity (PECAE) program prior to shipment. Importers/exporters must have shipments inspected, tested, and audited in the country of supply by accredited bodies (e.g., SGS, TÜV Rheinland, Intertek) to obtain an Attestation of Conformity (AoC), which ANOR converts into the mandatory Certificate of Conformity (CoC) required for customs clearance.

Authority

Standards and Quality Agency (Agence des Normes et de la Qualité - ANOR).

Documents and samples

Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of analysis/laboratory test report against applicable Cameroonian/international standards, product technical sheet, and sample packaging/label proofs.

Fees

PECAE conformity assessment fee equal to 0.95% of FOB value (subject to a minimum fee of XAF 110,000 per shipment).

Renewal

AoC is valid for 3 months; CoC is issued per shipment (or renewed annually under licensing Routes B/C for frequent exporters).

Time to obtain

1 working day for air shipments and 2 working days for sea shipments once the AoC is submitted to ANOR.

Shipments must be covered by an Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC / ECTN) issued via the Cameroon National Shippers' Council (CNSC/CNCC). Commercial shipments valued at or above XAF 2,000,000 require a Report on Valuation and Classification (RVC) from SGS. All spirits bottles must have official secured fiscal excise stamps (vignettes fiscales sécurisées) affixed before clearance and commercialization. Imports of spirits in plastic sachets and non-rigid jerrycans are strictly prohibited.

30% Common External Tariff (CEMAC CET Category IV / everyday consumer goods) applied on CIF value.

Spirits are subject to an ad valorem excise duty of 25% to 50% calculated on CIF + customs duty. Specific excise duty applies per centiliter: for imported lower-end whiskies, CFA 20/cl (CFA 2,000/L); higher-end imported whiskies, CFA 30/cl (CFA 3,000/L); mixed spirits, CFA 5 to CFA 10/cl; champagnes, CFA 40 to CFA 100/cl. VAT is 17.5% plus a 10% municipal surcharge (CAC), resulting in an effective VAT rate of 19.25%. A 0.2% African Integration Contribution (AIC) applies to non-AU imports.

Governed by Decree No. 90/1483 of 9 November 1990 regulating beverage establishments. Retailing spirits requires a Category III Licence (bars/restaurants/shops selling distilled spirits) or Category IV Licence (nightclubs/dancing venues) issued by prefectural authority. Private retail is permitted through licensed shops, supermarkets, and hospitality venues. Permitted operating hours: off-premise sales (vente à emporter) from 06:00 to 21:00; on-premise sales (bars/cafes) from 06:00 to 24:00 (midnight). Establishments must close on presidential polling days.

allowed

Labels must be in French and/or English (Cameroon's official languages). Must state the commercial designation of the beverage, net volume, alcohol by volume (% ABV), country of origin, full identity and address of the producer/bottler/importer, lot/batch number, and mandatory health warnings regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy and excessive intake. Physical tax stamp (vignette fiscale) must be affixed across the closure/bottle neck.

Regulated under Law No. 2006/018 of 29 December 2006 on advertising. Alcohol advertising is restricted regarding format, broadcast timing, media channels, arguments, and actors (must not feature minors or encourage excessive consumption). All alcohol advertisements must feature health moderation warnings. Violations carry fines between XAF 20,000,000 and XAF 50,000,000 or up to 50% of the campaign budget.

Controlled by national standards administered by ANOR harmonized with CEMAC and CODEX Alimentarius definitions for distilled spirits (e.g., whisky, rum, gin, vodka). Standard minimum ABV is generally 37.5%–40% ABV depending on category; specific statutory minimum thresholds in national legislation are not confirmed.

No nationwide or regional dry jurisdictions; alcohol is legal across all ten regions. Local administrative authorities (Prefects and Sub-Prefects) possess legal powers to enforce temporary bans or venue curfews around schools, religious sites, or during security operations and election periods.

• The 2026 Finance Law instituted an increase in specific excise duties on imported distilled spirits and whiskies, setting tiered specific duties of CFA 20 to CFA 30 per centiliter for whiskies and up to CFA 100 per centiliter for champagnes.
• Customs modernized pre-clearance and container screening mandates across the Port of Douala-Bonabéri and Kribi deep-sea port, reinforcing digital verification of PECAE Certificates of Conformity and BESC cargo tracking.
• Administrative enforcement continued to strictly suppress illicit, untaxed spirits and ban liquor packaged in plastic sachets and small bulk containers.

Growing demand for premium packaged spirits, single malts, and brandies among urban middle- and high-income consumers in Douala and Yaoundé creates steady export potential. However, suppliers must factor in cumulative border taxation exceeding 70% of CIF value and fulfill strict PECAE conformity pre-clearance.

• Agence des Normes et de la Qualité (ANOR)
• Direction Générale des Douanes (DGD)
• Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI)
• Ministère du Commerce (MINCOMMERCE)

1. Business in Cameroon - Cameroon 2026 Finance Law: Wine and Spirits Excise Hikes
2. International Trade Administration (Trade.gov) - Cameroon Customs Regulations and Standards
3. PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries - Cameroon Corporate - Other Taxes
4. TÜV Rheinland - Pre-Shipment Conformity Assessment Program (PECAE) Cameroon
5. Loi N° 2006/018 du 29 décembre 2006 régissant la publicité au Cameroun
6. LeFisk Cameroun - Procédure d'importation et dédouanement des marchandises au Cameroun 2026
7. LeFisk Cameroun - Licence d'exploitation débit de boissons au Cameroun 2026