EU alcohol import requirements (for business)

When you are planning to import alcohol (spirit drinks) into the European Union, as a business, bear in mind the following requirements:

Allowed bottle sizes

Under Directive 2007/45/EC, pre-packaged spirit drinks placed on the EU market must use one of nine permitted nominal quantities between 100 ml and 2,000 ml:

• 20/50ml*
• 100ml
• 200ml
• 350ml
• 500ml
• 700ml
• 1000ml
• 1500ml
• 1750ml
• 2000ml

* 20 ml and 50 ml: There is no clear EU regulation on these sizes; however, they are commonly seen in retail. Directive 2007/45/EC does not list them among the nine permitted nominal quantities for spirit drinks. Confirm with your importer or national authority before relying on miniature formats.

Note: 750 ml is standard for US spirits export but is not a permitted nominal quantity for spirit drinks in the EU (it is allowed for wine and some other beverages). Flag non-listed volumes such as 750 ml or 375 ml when planning EU distribution.

Allowed alcohol content

In the European Union, the alcohol content of spirits is regulated by the EU Spirits Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/787) and the horizontal food-labelling rules in Regulation (EU) 1169/2011. Most categories set minimum ABV in Annex I of 2019/787; many do not set a maximum. Tequila is different: it is a protected geographical indication in the EU (OJ C 255/05, Regulation (EU) 2019/335) and must be produced and classified in accordance with Mexican law (NOM-006-SCFI-2012), as referenced in the EU–Mexico Spirits Agreement (1997). Where a spirit does not match a named category or GI, the fallback legal category is “spirit drink” under the horizontal rules.

Alcohol content for Tequila in the EU

• Minimum alcohol by volume (ABV): 35% vol (EU GI product specification).
• Maximum ABV: the EU Spirits Regulation does not set a general maximum ABV for all spirit categories. For Tequila, the EU-published GI specification sets an upper limit of 55% vol. The CRT (Consejo Regulador del Tequila) enforces Mexican production standards within that range, depending on the production process and the producer’s choice.

Declared ABV on the label must appear as “% vol.” (optionally preceded by “alc.” or “alcohol”). For beverages above 5.5% vol, EU labelling rules allow a tolerance of ±0.3% vol (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, Annex XII).

Tequila categories on the label

The EU-published Tequila specification defines two product categories — 100% agave (all sugars from agave) and Tequila blend/mixto (51–100% agave sugars; up to 49% from other sources) — and five types (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, Extra añejo, and Joven/Gold). Export labels must show “Tequila”, the category and type, and any added flavours, aromas, or colours where applicable. Origin wording such as “Producto de México” or “Hecho en México” is required on Tequila intended for export.

These standards ensure that Tequila sold within the EU meets specific quality and safety criteria. The rules align with definitions and standards recognized internationally, particularly those established by Mexican regulations, as Tequila is a protected designation of origin. See the EU GI product specification (OJ C 255/05), the Official Journal publication (PDF), and the current EU Spirits Regulation (2019/787) for horizontal labelling rules that apply to all spirit drinks.

For practical purposes, most producers default to 38% or 40% ABV. In the USA, Tequila must have a minimum ABV of 40% — a higher floor than the EU minimum.