Alcohol regulations in Chile

Licences needed

Inscripción en el Registro de Productores y Elaboradores de Alcoholes (SAG), Resolución Sanitaria de Instalación y Funcionamiento (SEREMI de Salud), and Patente Municipal Industrial/Comercial.

Authority

Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG), SEREMI de Salud, and the corresponding local Municipality (Municipalidad).

Documents

Company tax identification (RUT), certificate of title or lease for plant premises, architectural floor plans and industrial layout, description of distillation and bottling processes, waste disposal management plan, and health/safety compliance documentation.

Fees

SAG administrative registration fees, sanitary evaluation fee from SEREMI de Salud, and semi-annual municipal patent fees based on company capital (typically 0.25% to 0.5% of net tax equity).

Time to obtain

Typically 2 to 4 months depending on municipal zoning reviews and sanitary inspections.

Who can import

Any legally established Chilean natural or legal person registered with the tax authority (SII) and certified as an alcohol importer with SAG. Foreign companies must import through a local subsidiary or registered local commercial importer.

Licences or registrations

Importer RUT registration under relevant alcohol economic activity codes with SII, followed by formal registration in the Alcohol Importer Registry of SAG within 30 days.

Authority

Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII), Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG), and Servicio Nacional de Aduanas.

Documents

Commercial invoice, bill of lading / airway bill, Certificate of Origin (for preferential tariff treatment), official Certificate of Chemical Analysis from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin, and SAG Import Notice (Aviso de Ingreso).

Fees

SAG entry processing and sample testing fees; customs administrative charges and customs broker fees.

Time to obtain

Initial SAG importer registration takes 5 to 15 business days; per-shipment clearance generally takes 5 to 15 days pending SAG inspection.

Required

yes

Process

One-time registration of each alcohol product and label in the SAG Alcohol Beverage Registry prior to or upon customs clearance; SAG reviews label compliance and product analytical parameters before issuing authorization for domestic distribution (Libre Disposición).

Authority

Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG)

Documents and samples

Certificate of chemical analysis, technical formulation sheet, original front and back labels (plus Spanish complementary label proofs), and mandatory extraction of physical product samples by SAG border/customs inspectors for laboratory testing.

Fees

Official SAG laboratory analysis and label evaluation fee per imported product batch.

Renewal

Registration remains valid indefinitely unless the formula, composition, or label format is altered.

Time to obtain

Approximately 15 to 30 days from sampling to final SAG authorization.

Customs broker (Agente de Aduanas) is mandatory for commercial imports exceeding USD 1,000 FOB. No state monopoly exists; private commercial entities import freely. Physical strip stamps/excise stamps are not required on bottles. Each shipment requires a notification of arrival to SAG, followed by physical inspection and sampling for chemical verification prior to clearance (Libre Disposición). A valid Certificate of Analysis from an accredited origin laboratory and Certificate of Origin are mandatory.

Standard MFN customs duty is 6% ad valorem calculated on CIF value. Products originating from countries with Free Trade Agreements with Chile (e.g., US, EU, UK, Canada, Mercosur/ACE 35) enter at 0% duty subject to valid rules of origin documentation.

Distilled spirits and liqueurs are subject to the Additional Tax on Alcoholic Beverages (ILA - Impuesto Adicional a las Bebidas Alcohólicas) under Decreto Ley 825 at a flat rate of 31.5% ad valorem. In addition, standard Value Added Tax (IVA) of 19% applies on the CIF value plus customs duty and ILA.

Private retail system governed by Ley 19.925. Commercial establishments must obtain a specific municipal alcohol license (Patente de Alcoholes) categorized by venue type (e.g., Type A for off-premise botillerías/liquor stores, Type H for supermarkets, Type E for bars/pubs). Botillerías generally operate between 09:00 and 00:00 (extended to 01:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays); on-premise bars and nightclubs may serve until 03:00 to 05:00 depending on license category and municipal ordinances. Compulsory physical ID inspection is required for all purchasers.

Allowed. Regulated under Ley 19.925 (as amended by Ley 21.363). E-commerce sellers and delivery personnel are legally required to verify the age and official identity card (cédula de identidad or passport) of the recipient at the time of delivery; handing alcohol to minors via delivery platforms carries severe administrative and criminal penalties.

Must be in Spanish and display: generic nature/product classification, commercial brand name, net volume in metric units, alcoholic strength in Gay-Lussac degrees (°GL) or % vol., country of origin, name and address of producer and Chilean importer/distributor, batch code, and ingredient list for composite spirits/cocktails. Under Ley 21.363 and Decreto 98 (mandatory since July 7, 2024), containers must carry octagonal black-and-white warning pictograms (driving, pregnancy, under 18), mandatory health warning text ('ADVERTENCIA: Consumir alcohol en exceso daña tu salud y puede causar adicción'), and energy value (calories per 100 ml).

Regulated under Ley 19.925 and Ley 21.363. Television advertising of alcoholic beverages is banned between 06:00 and 22:00; radio advertising is prohibited between 16:00 and 18:00 (with comprehensive restrictions taking effect by July 2026). Direct or indirect marketing targeting minors, use of youth-appealing characters/athletes, and alcohol sponsorship of sports activities/teams are strictly prohibited. All permitted advertisements in print, digital, or broadcast formats must display mandatory health warning legends.

Defined under Decreto Supremo 78 of the Ministry of Agriculture: Whisky must have a minimum ABV of 40% (40°GL) and at least 1.50 g/L of total volatile impurities; Rum (Ron) minimum 37.5% ABV; Gin minimum 37.5% ABV; Vodka minimum 37.5% ABV; Neutral Spirit (Alcohol neutro) minimum 95°GL with maximum 0.500 g/L volatile impurities; Brandy minimum 2.0 g/L volatile impurities; Pisco is a protected Chilean Denomination of Origin (Atacama and Coquimbo regions) requiring minimum 30% ABV (Corriente/Tradicional 30%, Especial 35%, Reservado 40%, Gran Pisco 43%).

No dry municipalities or dry regions exist. However, municipal authorities enforce strict statutory density quotas limiting the number of off-premise botillería licenses (1 license per 600 inhabitants under Ley 19.925). Commercial alcohol establishments are prohibited within 100 meters of educational and healthcare facilities, and local councils may temporarily restrict alcohol sales during elections or designated public emergencies.

• Full implementation of Ley 21.363 and Decreto 98 on July 7, 2024, making mandatory octagonal health warning pictograms, health risk legends, and caloric values (kcal/100 ml) on all alcoholic beverage labels with ABV >= 0.5%.
• Approval of transitory legislative relief in June 2024 exempting alcoholic beverages bottled or commercialized prior to July 7, 2024, from retroactive labeling requirements.
• Implementation of phased restrictions on alcohol advertising under Ley 21.363, with total restrictions on sports sponsorships and fixed broadcast advertising blackouts taking full effect as of July 7, 2026.

Chile represents a sophisticated, open market for international spirits suppliers due to 0% preferential tariffs under extensive free trade agreements and strong demand for premium whisky, craft gin, and imported rum. Exporters must coordinate closely with a local SAG-registered importer to ensure strict compliance with the mandatory 2024 front-of-pack health warning and calorie labeling regulations.

• Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG)
• Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII)
• Servicio Nacional de Aduanas
• Ministerio de Salud (MINSAL)
• Servicio Nacional para la Prevención y Rehabilitación del Consumo de Drogas y Alcohol (SENDA)

1. SAG - Reglamenta Ley N° 18.455 sobre producción, elaboración y comercialización de alcoholes etílicos, bebidas alcohólicas y vinagres (Decreto 78)
2. Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile - Ley N° 19.925 sobre expendio y consumo de bebidas alcohólicas
3. Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile - Ley N° 21.363 Modifica normas sobre publicidad y comercialización de bebidas alcohólicas
4. USDA FAS GAIN Report: Chile's New Alcohol Labeling Law in Force on July 7 (CI2024-0007)
5. U.S. TTB International Affairs Division - Chile Export Requirements
6. International Trade Administration (ITA) - Chile Country Commercial Guide: Customs Regulations & Taxes