Belarus: Belarus will not introduce beer import restrictions

Belarus does not intend to introduce beer import restrictions, Deputy Trade Minister of Belarus Viacheslav Dragun told reporters on April 15, according to media.

“The Trade Ministry does not introduce direct restrictions on import of beer,” the official said. According to him, it will contradict the intergovernmental agreements Belarus has concluded with other countries including Russia. “The government or the ministry is not planning any restrictions,” he noted.

“Our goal is to boost domestic sales,” Viacheslav Dragun said. “It is our prerogative to choose forms and methods. But we will not recede from the international agreements and rules”, the official added.

According to Viacheslav Dragun, “there are a lot of levers to enhance the prestige of domestic brands”. The choice should be made by a customer rather than a trading company, he highlighted.

Deputy Head of Belgospischeprom Concern Nikolai Kolomys noted that the breweries which operate on the Belarusian market should have equal sales conditions. It concerns both beer importers and Belarusian producers, he said. For example, Belgospischeprom Concern proposes to impose the ecological tax for beer importers – a packing fee at the amount of more than Br300.

According to the specialist, the importers should either introduce “empty bottle take-back schemes” or pay the tax. The domestic producers spend no less than Br330 per bottle while taking back used beverage containers. Thus, imposing the ecological tax for the importers will equalize the conditions for all beer producers.

16 April, 2008