We are handling customs clearance job for importing sake in Thailand. We have an impression that importing sake (alcohol) is a little complicated, unlike general cargo.
It takes at least 4 or 5 months from the customer’s request to “import and sell liquor!”
Senior Cat It takes more time for no-experience people to do it by themselves…
Senior Seagull We can finish registration within 2 month, though.
Why? This is because you have to obtain a license to sell liquor and to register a label for the liquor to be sold.
This time, I would like to explain about license and label registration of liquor, based on our achievements. I am going to talk about things, including confusions, which we are rally facing.
Obtain Alcohol/Liquor import license in Thai
The first thing you need is a license to import liquor. Alcohol imports are managed by the Excise Department, of the Ministry of Finance in Thai.
Documents required to apply for import and sale license of Alcohol/Liquor in Thai
1. Application form of Alcholole License
1. แบบฟอร์มคำขออนุญาติขายสุรา
2. Company Registration(Issued within 6 month)
2. หนังสือรับรองบริษัท (อายุไม่เกิน 6 เดือน)
3. MD passport with Signature
3. สำเนาพาสปอร์ตกรรมการผู้มีอำนาจ
4. Warehouse/Sales Shop registration document(Copy)
4. หนังสือรับรองคลังสินค้า ที่สามารถจัดเก็บสุรา
5. If the shop is rent, Owner agreement and Rental contract is required.
5. ในกรณีเช่าที่จัดเก็บ ต้องมีหนังสือสัญญาเช่าสถานที่เก็บสินค้า
6. Shop Map/Drawing (not hand writing)
6. แผนที่คลังสินค้า/ผังจัดเก็บคลังสินค้า
Senior Cat You need to submit all documents in Thai language.
I have written in English and Thai, so copy and paste to your Thai representative.
Senior Seagull We’re handling registration for Alcohol for you!
Register a label for Alcohol/Liquor
Once you obtain a license to import and sell Alcohol, you need to register each Alcohol you want to import.
Senior Seagull Just because you have a license, it doesn’t mean you can import anything.
Liquor registration is done for each alcohol label.
Senior Cat If you have different sizes of liquor for the same item, you have to register them separately.
[Example]
・ Nippon Tai Sake (720ml)
・ Nippon Tai Sake (300ml)
You should register these labels separately.
Documents required for Alcohol/Liquor label registration
1. Application form of the Alcohol label for import
1. แบบฟอร์มคำขออนุมัติฉลากสุรา
2. Alcohol license
2. ใบอนุญาตินำเข้าสุรา
3. Authorized Letter
3. จดหมายแต่งตั้งให้เป็นตัวแทนจำหน่ายจากผู้ผลิต
4. Label Sample 5pcs
4. ฉลากสินค้าจำนวน 5 ชิ้น
5. If the alcohol percentage is over 15%: certification showing it does not include spirit(Supplier Letter Head and Stump)
5. กรณีสุรามีแอลกอฮอล์เกิน 15% ต้องมีจดหมายแก้ไขปริมาณ แอลกอฮอล์จากผู้ผลิต โดยเป็นหัวจดหมายจากผู้ผลิตรวมทั้งตราประทับผู้ผลิต
6. Certificate of Analysis (Supplier Letter Head and Stump)
6. หนังสือแสดงส่วนผสมของสุรา ที่ออกโดยผู้ผลิต โดยมีหัวจดหมายและตราประทับผู้ผลิต
7. Manufacturing Process (Supplier Letter Head and Stump)
7. ขั้นตอนการผลิต ที่ออกโดยผู้ผลิต โดยมีหัวจดหมายและตราประทับ ของผู้ผลิต
8. Product Samples (Case by Case)
8. ตัวอย่างสินค้า
9. Suggested Retail Price
9. ราคาขายปลีกแนะนำ (ขอที่กรมสรรพสามิต)
Label samples
All Japanese or English notation must be translated into Thai. Print it out and include the Thai translation in the margin. ※We can deputize this for you.
Please provide us a label data (PDF or AI) if you choose us to deputize this.
Supplementary retail price
When registering a label, also register how much the corresponding product will be sold at a store.
Excise tax on alcohol in Thailand is 25%. In addition, a national tax (10%), a health promotion fund contribution (2%) and a value-added tax (7%) will be charged.
In this way, the ratio of liquor tax in Thailand is not low and it contributes to the financial resources of Thailand.
And because importers do not want to raise selling price, there is a technique to lower the declared price at the time of import to reduce this tax amount.
However, if the tax amount is extremely low and there is a discrepancy with the estimated retail price, relevant authorities may contact you.
Senior Seagull Also, competitors may leak information.
Additional penalties may be charged later as the penalty for receiving the contact.
Cat & Seagull It’s complicating!
We do not recommend this kind of techniques.
Import registration is only one company per brand
Regarding the import registration of liquor to Thailand, we have our rule that one company will exclusively sell each brand.
My guess is that if you don’t make exclusive sales, competition will lower the retail sales price and affect the tax revenue in Thailand.
If the brand you really want to import and sell is already registered by another company, do not register and sell it without permission.
Senior Cat There are business manners.
Arrangement of Caution Warning Statement
The labeling rules for alcohol impressions in Thailand require a label in Thai language, stating that “Drinking reduces driving ability” and “Do not sell alcohol to minors.”
We arrange labels with the following contents.
【Warning】
・Do not sell alcohol to persons under 20 years of age.
・Drinking alcohol reduces the ability to drive vehicles.
・People under the age of 20 should not drink.
【คำเตือน】
・ห้ามจำหน่ายสุราแก่บุคคลที่มีอายุต่ำกว่า 20 ปีบริบูรณ์
・การดื่มสุราทำให้ความสามารถในการขับขี่ยานพาหนะลดลง
・บุคคลซึ่งมีอายุต่ำกว่า 20 ปีบริบูรณ์ไม่ควรดื่ม
Senior Cat Use labels in Thai language.
Conclusion
If you are not familiar with importer registration and label registration of liquor in Thailand, it will take considerable time and effort.
It is not impossible to prepare the above application and necessary documents by yourself, including Thai employees, but we strongly recommend that you use an agency like ours.
In order to register, the procedure will be done more smoothly if there is a certain degree of human relations with the relevant official. This is especially true in the Thailand network.
If you have any liquor you want to import and sell, please contact us.
Note: We do not deputize for sales.
