Russia: Combined customs duty on malt import in Russia might be implemented from June 1, 2004, Vyacheslav Mamontov, the head of Russian Beer Union told at the online press conference on March 30. Now the government is discussing the respective proposal made by the members of Russian Beer Union. Combined customs duty on malt import would be 10% from the customs costs but not less than 22 euro per tonne. This step will allow assuring equal competitive conditions on the Russian beer market for both big breweries, which output their own malt, and small brewers-importers. Now the customs duty on malt import in Russia accounts 10% from the customs cost of malt. The companies of Russian brewing industry came with the initiative to introduce the combined customs duty. The brewers’ proposal is based on the fact that some Russian malt importers are lowering the customs costs of malt artificially, that is a violation of fair competition.

31 March, 2004