Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormDistilled spirit (gin/genever), bottled
Industry PositionAlcoholic Beverage (Distilled Spirits)
Market
In Chile, gin and geneva (HS 220850) is primarily an import-supplied spirits category; UN Comtrade/WITS data show the United Kingdom and European suppliers among the leading exporters to Chile for this HS line. Alongside imports, Chile has an emerging domestic craft gin segment with producers such as Gin Provincia (Valle de Colchagua) and Destilería JIK (valle de Marga Marga). Import market access is strongly shaped by Chile’s Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) requirements: importer and product registration, plus shipment sampling and laboratory analysis, with goods retained until results are issued. Labeling must meet Law No. 18.455 minimum declarations for alcoholic beverages and Chile’s Ministry of Health (MINSAL) has introduced additional consumer-information requirements under Law No. 21.363 (including warning messages and calorie/energy disclosure).
Market RoleNet importer with emerging domestic craft production and limited export activity
Domestic RoleImport-led consumer market with a small but visible domestic craft gin segment
Specification
Physical Attributes- Commercialized as sealed, labeled consumer bottles; label must state at least product nature/denomination, alcoholic strength, and volume for Chile market sale.
Compositional Metrics- Alcoholic strength (graduación alcohólica) is a mandatory declared metric on labels for products governed by Law No. 18.455.
Packaging- 700 cc glass bottle formats are used by Chilean craft gin brands (example: Gin Provincia product line).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Exporter distillery/bottler → international freight to Chile → port/entry point → SAG import filing and Certificado de Destinación Aduanera (CDA) → physical inspection + sampling + laboratory analysis → SAG bulletin/notification (Apto/No apto) → customs clearance and tax settlement → importer distribution to botillerías/restaurants/online
Shelf Life- Market availability can be disrupted by border dwell time because SAG retains imported alcoholic beverage shipments pending sampling and analysis results.
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighChile’s SAG requires importer/product registration plus entry-point sampling and laboratory analysis for alcoholic beverages; consignments are retained pending results and may be rejected (requiring re-export or destruction) if deemed not fit for import.Complete SAG importer setup and product inscription before shipping; align labels to Law 18.455 requirements; prepare required analytical documentation and budget time for SAG sampling/analysis holds.
Labeling MediumImported gin/genever labels must meet Law 18.455 minimum declarations (including origin and importer identification) and Chile is implementing additional alcohol consumer-information labeling requirements under Law 21.363 (e.g., warning messaging and calorie/energy disclosure), increasing non-compliance risk for legacy artwork.Run a Chile-specific label compliance review (Law 18.455 + Law 21.363/MINSAL guidance) before printing; keep a controlled versioning process for label updates by SKU.
Tax MediumChile applies multiple layers of import taxation (general ad valorem and VAT, plus an additional tax for alcoholic beverages with a higher rate for distilled spirits), which can materially affect landed cost and retail pricing for gin/genever.Model landed cost using Chile Customs tax base rules (CIF) and confirm the correct SII additional-tax category for the specific product; align pricing and channel strategy accordingly.
Logistics MediumBecause Chile’s customs duty is assessed on CIF value and imported alcoholic beverages can be held pending SAG inspection/analysis, freight/insurance volatility and port dwell time can increase total tax base and working-capital exposure.Use conservative transit + clearance lead times in planning; insure for delays/breakage; coordinate tightly with customs broker and SAG process steps to minimize dwell time.
FAQ
What are the key government steps to import gin (HS 220850) for sale in Chile?You generally need to be registered with SAG as an alcoholic beverage importer and inscribe each gin/genever product in SAG’s National Alcoholic Beverages Registry before importing. For each shipment, the importer files the import request through SAG’s system (linked to a Certificado de Destinación Aduanera) and, on arrival, SAG conducts inspection, sampling, and laboratory analysis; the goods are retained until SAG issues the result.
What minimum label information must appear on imported gin bottles sold in Chile?Law No. 18.455 requires at least the product denomination/nature, alcoholic strength, volume, and the bottler’s name and address. For imported products, the label must also include the country of origin and the importer’s name and address.
Which taxes are typically relevant when importing distilled spirits like gin into Chile?Chile Customs explains that imports generally pay a 6% ad valorem duty on CIF value plus 19% VAT, and some goods also pay additional/special taxes. The SII explains that an additional tax applies to alcoholic beverages and sets a higher rate for distilled spirits under Article 42, which importers should factor into landed cost.