Alcohol regulations in El Salvador

Licences needed

Permiso Sanitario de Instalación y Funcionamiento de Fábrica de Alcohol y Bebidas Alcohólicas; Registro Sanitario de Establecimiento; Registro Fiscal de Fabricante de Alcohol

Authority

Superintendencia de Regulación Sanitaria (SRS) and Ministerio de Hacienda

Documents

Articles of incorporation or identification documents, proof of site ownership or lease, facility blueprints and process flows, list of raw materials, environmental impact assessment approval, and technical specifications

Fees

Establishment authorization fees vary from $50 to $300 under the SRS fee schedule depending on facility scale and category

Time to obtain

Approximately 1 to 3 months

Who can import

Legally incorporated commercial entities and registered sole traders with active tax identification (NIT/NRC) and SRS establishment authorization

Licences or registrations

Registro de Importador de Bebidas Alcohólicas, sanitary authorization of importer establishment/warehouse, and registration as an importer with Customs (DGA)

Authority

Superintendencia de Regulación Sanitaria (SRS) and Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)

Documents

Tax registration (NIT/NRC), commercial registration (Matrícula de Comercio), SRS establishment permit, customs declaration user registration

Fees

Customs registration and SRS importer establishment authorizations range between $28 and $100

Time to obtain

15 to 30 business days

Required

yes

Process

Mandatory Sanitary Registration (Registro Sanitario) of each product and brand before commercialization; includes technical dossier evaluation and label clearance in compliance with RTCA standards

Authority

Superintendencia de Regulación Sanitaria (SRS) - Unidad de Registro de Alimentos y Bebidas

Documents and samples

Official application, Certificate of Free Sale (CLV) apostilled from country of origin, qualitative-quantitative formula, physical-chemical analysis certificate, commercial label artwork, and commercial samples upon request

Fees

$35 to $100 per product formulation plus annual market surveillance fee ($85)

Renewal

Valid for 5 years; renewable upon submission of application and compliance verification

Time to obtain

30 to 60 business days

Import Declaration (DUCA) submitted through DGA; sanitary clearance via SRS single window (CIEX El Salvador); Certificate of Origin required for preferential tariff treatment (e.g., CAFTA-DR); Certificate of Analysis and Certificate of Free Sale; specific excise declarations prior to customs clearance; no state import monopoly.

Standard external tariff (MFN) is 20% to 30% ad valorem on CIF value for spirits under HS 2208 (0% duty for qualifying origin goods under CAFTA-DR and applicable FTAs).

Distilled spirits are subject to: (1) a specific excise tax calculated per 1% ABV per liter (ranges between $0.0325 and $0.09 per 1% ABV/L under 2026 reform); (2) an ad valorem excise tax of 8% on the suggested retail price (excluding VAT); and (3) Value-Added Tax (IVA) of 13% applied across the entire tax base.

Private sector retailers (supermarkets, specialized liquor stores, convenience stores, licensed bars, and restaurants); each establishment must hold an annual municipal liquor license (Licencia Municipal) issued by the local Mayor's Office (Alcaldía); retail hours are restricted by municipal citizen coexistence ordinances (typically cutting off off-premise sales between 10:00 PM and midnight, and on-premise sales by 2:00 AM).

allowed

Regulated by RTCA 67.01.06:11 (Bebidas Alcohólicas Destiladas - Requisitos de Etiquetado); requires: commercial product name, alcohol content (% ABV), net volume (metric units), ingredients list, country of origin, manufacturer/importer name and address, batch/lot number, and SRS sanitary registration number; mandatory Spanish language text; mandatory national health warning: 'El consumo excesivo de este producto es perjudicial para la salud'.

Advertising must not target minors or feature persons under 18; cannot associate consumption with driving, physical prowess, sexual attractiveness, or social success; commercial advertising campaigns require prior authorization from health regulators and must display the health warning statement.

Defined under Central American Technical Regulations (RTCA 67.01.06:11 and regional standards); distilled spirits must be obtained from alcoholic fermentation of agricultural raw materials followed by distillation; rum must be derived from sugar cane derivatives and aged for a minimum of 1 year in oak barrels; standard spirits categories (whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy) generally require minimum 35%–40% ABV.

National dry law ('Ley Seca') is strictly imposed across the country during election periods (typically from midnight before election day until midday after); sales are restricted within specified distances of schools, healthcare centers, and churches under municipal bylaws; consumption in public open spaces is prohibited by municipal ordinances.

• Under Legislative Decree No. 519, published in the Diario Oficial on February 27, 2026, the specific excise tax on imported whisky and gin was reduced from $0.16 per 1% ABV per liter down to $0.09 (and $0.05 for certain classifications), harmonizing tax rates with rum, vodka, and other spirits.
• Operational transition to the unified Superintendencia de Regulación Sanitaria (SRS) (established via the Ley de la Superintendencia de Regulación Sanitaria), consolidating sanitary registration, market surveillance, and licensing for food, beverages, and alcohol previously shared between MINSAL and DNM.

The 2026 excise tax reductions on premium imported spirits such as whisky and gin significantly lower consumer pricing and close the historical tax gap with local cane spirits. Duty-free access under CAFTA-DR further expands margins for eligible foreign distillers in El Salvador's growing premium on-trade and retail segments.

• Superintendencia de Regulación Sanitaria (SRS)
• Ministerio de Hacienda (Dirección General de Impuestos Internos)
• Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)
• Organismo Salvadoreño de Reglamentación Técnica (OSARTEC)

1. El Salvador - Import Tariffs - International Trade Administration (trade.gov)
2. PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries - El Salvador Corporate - Other Taxes
3. El Diario de Hoy / elsalvador.com - Reforma reduce impuesto a bebidas destiladas como whisky y gin (Feb/Mar 2026)
4. Superintendencia de Regulación Sanitaria (SRS) El Salvador
5. Ley Reguladora de la Producción y Comercialización del Alcohol y de las Bebidas Alcohólicas - DGA / Portal de Transparencia
6. FAOLEX / COMIECO - RTCA 67.01.06:11 Bebidas Alcohólicas Destiladas Requisitos de Etiquetado