The online alcohol retail market in Europe has seen significant growth in recent years. In 2024, the European alcoholic beverages market was valued at approximately €248.52 billion, with expectations to rise to €258.51 billion by 2025. As a result, Amazon has implemented strict policies to ensure compliance with local regulations and its own guidelines. If you plan to sell beer, wine, spirits, or other alcoholic beverages, it’s important to familiarize yourself with Amazon’s rules to successfully list and sell your products. Below are key insights to help you navigate the process of selling alcohol across the European Union.
Fulfill seller requirements on Amazon
To sell alcohol on Amazon, there are several important requirements you must meet:
- Return Delivery Address: You must provide a return delivery address in the local country or offer free delivery for your products.
- Customer Service: You are required to provide customer service in the local language of the country where you are selling.
- Legal Compliance: It is essential to comply with the legal age restrictions and ensure you do not sell alcohol to individuals under the minimum drinking age in each country.
Understand product requirements for alcohol
When listing alcoholic beverages, Amazon has specific attributes that need to be filled out in your product data, including:
- Alcohol Categories: Ensure your products are listed under the correct category, such as Wine, Beer, or Spirits.
- Expiration Date Information:
- Beer, Cider, and Drinks with an ABV under 10%: If these products have an expiration date, mark the attribute as « Expiration date required. »
- Wine, Spirits, and Drinks with an ABV over 10%: These products may not require an expiration date unless specified on the label.
- Ciders (without a Durability Date): Set the attribute to « Shelf life, » which is typically 365 days.
For further details, please refer to Amazon’s comprehensive guide.
Alcohol fulfillment at Amazon centers
When shipping alcohol to Amazon’s fulfillment centers, ensure your inventory is sent to the correct designated centers. Each Amazon marketplace has specific centers for alcohol, with unique codes:
- Amazon.fr: XVA1, XFRZ, XOR2, XFRE
- Amazon.es: XMA3, XESF
- Amazon.it: XLI1, XITG
If your products are sent to an incorrect fulfillment center, you must contact Amazon’s Selling Partner Support to resolve the issue.
Documentation requirements for different countries
When selling alcohol on Amazon, certain documentation must be provided based on your location and the country of sale. For example:
- France: Provide an excise number and a French excise duty number for your bonded warehouse or fiscal representative in France.
- Italy: Required documentation includes the Chamber of Commerce extract, UTIF license, and proof of excise duty payment.
Be sure to check the specific requirements for each country to ensure compliance. If you work with Eurotax, they can assist in providing you with the necessary excise number and other required documents to share with Amazon, avoiding delays in your sales launch.
Excise Duty requirements for Amazon sellers
Alcohol is subject to excise duty, which varies based on the country where the product is consumed. As a seller, it’s your responsibility to ensure that excise duties are paid. Excise duty applies in the country of consumption, and you must register with local tax authorities or work with a duty agent like Eurotax to ensure compliance. Amazon is not responsible for excise duties, so this falls entirely on the seller. Eurotax provides an all-in-one solution for excise duty compliance on alcoholic beverages, covering B2C sales and B2B sales to small businesses shipping out of suspension.
General listing guidelines for Alcohol
When listing alcoholic beverages, follow these best practices:
- Always include the ABV percentage in both the product title and description.
- Ensure compliance with Amazon’s Product Detail Page guidelines, including accurate labeling and product information.
- If required by local laws, provide proof of excise duty payment, which can be facilitated by Eurotax.
Selling alcohol on Amazon is a regulated and detailed process, requiring adherence to local laws, Amazon’s policies, and specific documentation. Ensure you follow Amazon’s guidelines closely to get your listings approved and avoid any issues when reaching customers.
How Eurotax can assist with Alcohol Excise Duty Compliance for Amazon sales?
Eurotax, with expertise in alcohol excise duties compliance across Europe, can help you meet Amazon’s requirements for selling alcohol. Specifically, Eurotax can:
- Guide you in acquiring an Excise Number: Eurotax can assist you in obtaining the correct excise number, ensuring that you fulfill Amazon’s documentation requirements for alcohol sales.
- Help with proof of Excise Duty Payment: If you don’t yet have an excise number, Eurotax can guide you in obtaining proof of excise duty payment through recognized documentation to meet Amazon’s certification requirements.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with wholesalers: Eurotax can advise you on how to request excise number proof from wholesalers every time you purchase alcoholic products, ensuring you provide Amazon with the required documentation to avoid potential issues.
By partnering with Eurotax, you can ensure smooth operations when selling alcohol on Amazon, avoiding delays and ensuring compliance with all legal requirements. Feel free to contact us for further assistance.