News

New regulation on alcohol imports

Summary

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Decree no.105/2017/ND-CP dated 14 Sep 2017 on alcohol trading, replacing Decree no.94/2012/ND-CP dated 12 Nov 2012, with some new points for importing alcohol

Updated on : 04-03-2018

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Decree no.105/2017/ND-CP dated 14 Sep 2017 on alcohol trading, replacing Decree no.94/2012/ND-CP dated 12 Nov 2012, with some new points for importing alcohol as followings:

Alcohol importers do not have to submit additional document “the written appointment or authorization as an official distributor or importer of the producer or trader, or the agent contract of the producer or trader of those items” 

The enterprises, including ones which have not yet been granted with license for mass production of alcohol or distribution licenses, shall be allowed to import alcohol with maximum quantity of 3 liters to apply for the Receipt of technical conformity announcement or Certificate of safety conformity announcement. Trading alcohol imported in this case is forbidden in the market.

Only the enterprises with "alcohol distribution licenses" are allowed to import alcohol and they must be responsible for the quality and safety of imported alcohol.

In the case of importing semi-finished alcohol, enterprises can only sell to the enterprises which have "industrial alcohol production license". Enterprises with "industrial alcohol production license" are allowed to import or entrust the import of semi-finished alcohol for the production of alcohol.

Besides, imported alcohol must meet the prescribed conditions, including:

- Alcohol is labeled and stamped in compliance with regulations.

- Alcohol is granted with Receipt of technical conformity announcement or Certificate of safety conformity announcement (for alcohol haven’t got technical standard) before importing.

- Imported alcohol meets the regulations on state inspection in food safety for imported food.

- Alcohol is imported into Vietnam only through the international border.

Decree no.105 does not apply to export, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, border-gate transfer or transit of alcohol; importing alcohol for sale in duty-free shops; Importing alcohol from foreign countries into non-tariff areas, trading alcohol among non-tariff areas; alcohol trading in the non-tariff area, activities of bonded warehouse. In case of importing alcohol as in luggage, movable property, gifts, presents, samples in tax-exempt norms; considering for the tax exemption or non-eligible tax is not applied by this Decree.