OREANDA-NEWS. December 27, 2012. Belarusian authorities have chosen 31 companies that will receive given alcohol import licenses in 2013.

The list of 2013 alcohol importers consists of the following companies: Klimovichi Distillery, Vitebsk Distillery, Belalko, Minsk-Kristall, Grodno-Nemanoff, Belarustorg, Bakaleya, Belbakaleya, Prodtovary, Tabakvintorg, Minsk Cold Store Plant No.1, Pernod Ricard Minsk, Belkoopvneshtorg, EUROTORG, ServiceBytSnab, OP NII PKD, Garcia, Belvingrupp, Diakonia, Cricova, Classic Wines, HTC, AquaTriple, BelVillesden, Dionis Grape Wines Plant, Bakaleya Mogilev, Minsk Grape Wines Plant, Green Line, Tabak-invest, Tadeum.

As formerly reported, importers were invited to take part in a tender to present their bids to the Trade Ministry by September 7, 2012. They were asked to provide lists of beverages they wish to import, as well as information on the planned amount of import, number of personnel, their average monthly wage, document confirming the absence of debts and budget arrears, etc.

Bidders were also supposed to provide a fresh certificate confirming their statutory capital, and a wholesale licence to trade in alcohol and a licence to store alcohol beverages, non-food alcohol products and tobaccos.

Belarus abolished alcohol import quotas and introduced a state monopoly on alcohol import after President Lukashenko signed a corresponding decree on February 29, 2008. The decree empowers the president to approve the list of successful bidders, while the Trade Ministry is supposed to monitor how suppliers fulfill their commitments.

To be an alcohol importer in Belarus a company should have an authorised fund of at least EUR 250,000. In addition, a company should have an alcohol turnover license and a license for import of alcoholic beverages.