Dominican Republic Presents Adulterated Alcohol Traceability Model to Brazilian Senate

By Guzmán Ariza, Attorneys at Law

The Dominican Republic presented its traceability and inspection system for alcohol and tobacco to the Brazilian Senate as a model of public-private collaboration, following recognition of the country's effective strategy against illicit trade and adulterated alcohol. 

Brazil recorded 217 cases of methanol poisoning following adulterated alcohol consumption, with the state of São Paulo hardest hit. In the past five years, Brazil had reported an average of just 23 cases per year. The surge prompted Brazil's Congress to look for regional models to strengthen its own beverage traceability system. The invitation was reported by CNN Brasil, which highlighted the Brazilian legislature's interest in learning firsthand from the Dominican experience.

The invitation carries historical weight: in 2020, the Dominican Republic itself had recorded 322 confirmed cases of adulterated alcohol consumption and 199 deaths. The country's transformation from that crisis into a regional benchmark is the core of what was presented.

Deputy Minister of Internal Trade Ramón Pérez Fermín represented the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM) before Brazil's Senate Committee on Social Affairs. He detailed the coordination among multiple Dominican institutions, including Customs (DGA), the Ministry of Public Health, Pro Consumidor, the Specialized Corps for the Control of Fuels and Merchandise Trade (CECCOM), the National Police, and the private sector through the Association of Industries (AIRD).

At the core of the Dominican system is the "Traffico" platform — a digital traceability and fiscal control system for alcohol and tobacco developed by Sicpa and implemented by the General Directorate of Internal Revenue (DGII). Each product receives a unique tax stamp with both visible and digital security features, allowing authorities and consumers to track it from production through to sale. 

The DGII's "Revísame" mobile app allows consumers to scan tax stamps and verify product authenticity and traceability at the point of sale. The system also integrates enforcement: CECCOM strengthened intelligence, inspection, seizure, and destruction operations nationwide, while authorities apply strict penalties — with more than 50 convictions related to illicit trade, including adulterated alcohol cases. 

The model was consolidated from 2021 onwards with the creation of the Inter-Institutional Committee Against Illicit Trade, the update of Law 17-19, and the strengthening of CECCOM. 

The Dominican Republic has achieved zero deaths from adulterated alcohol consumption and has seized more than 135 million units of illicit products, valued at over 4.5 billion Dominican pesos. 

IP and Brand Protection Dimension

While the immediate focus of the Brazilian invitation concerned public health, the Dominican model also carries relevance from a brand and intellectual property standpoint. The traceability infrastructure — involving unique digital tax stamps, chain-of-custody tracking, and verification at point of sale — mirrors mechanisms used in IP enforcement for counterfeit goods. The ability to authenticate branded alcoholic beverages and detect unauthorized or falsified products in commerce directly supports trademark protection for legitimate producers. The "Traffico" system, in particular, creates a documented chain from manufacture to distribution that can be leveraged not only for fiscal and health compliance, but also to identify infringing or counterfeit products in the market.