9 April 2008
Lower chamber approves removal of import quota on alcohol

The House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly on April 9 approved Alyaksandr Lukashenka's presidential decree that removed quotas on imports of alcoholic beverages and non-food products containing alcohol.

The imports were restricted to a group of legal entities that "import products on the most beneficial conditions." The importers are to be selected by a "special commission" as specified by the decree.

The decree says 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 are to be valid only until September 1.

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

It also 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 for health and education institutions provided that they contain only information about the producer.