E-Malt.com News article: Belarus: President removes import quota on beer, allays advertising restrictions

Alyaksandr Lukashenko, by his presidential decree, has removed quotas on imports of alcoholic beverages and non-food products containing alcohol, including beer, Naviny reported March 1.

However, imports will be restricted to a group of legal entities that “import products on the most beneficial conditions”, said the press office of the Belarusian leader. The importers will be selected by a special commission.

The decree specifies that only companies fully owned by the government and companies in which the government holds a stake of more than 30 percent may produce brandies. The manufacturing licenses issued before the decree will be valid only until September 1.

The decree removes special labels that are currently required for alcoholic beverages heading abroad, the measure aimed at boosting the exports.

It specifies rules for the production and sales of excise duty and other labels.

The document also governs the advertising of alcoholic beverages. It allows using images of people and animals in the trademarks of alcohol manufacturers. It allows beer ads in all places except health and education institutions provided that they contain only information about the producer, including its name and trademark.

The provisions of the decree are bringing the laws of the country into line with its international commitments and, simultaneously, maintain an appropriate state control over the production and sales of alcohol-containing products including its imports into the republic.


05 March, 2008