OREANDA-NEWS. August 17, 2012. Belarus has introduced new excise rates for alcohol, petrol, diesel, effective from August 1 through December 31, 2012, the government said on its official web site.

The rates of the excise tax on automotive petrol have been raised by 10% and will differ depending on the octane rating:

- petrol with an octane rating of 95 and higher – 1,026,000 Belarusian rubles per ton (USD 123.317);

- petrol with an octane rating of 91 - 95 – 1,286,690 Belarusian rubles per ton (USD 1 - Br8,320);

- petrol with an octane rating under 91 – 1,459,220 Belarusian rubles per ton;

- diesel - 826,540 Belarusian rubles per ton.

The excise rates on strong alocoholic drinks (with alcohol content of 7% and over, except pure alcohol, fortified wines of improved quality, natural grape wines, fruit wine, sparkling wine, beer and beer cocktails) shall total Br77,680 per litre of pure alcohol.

The excise rates on natural fruit wines now stand at Br580 per litre (USD 0.07), natural grape wines (including sparkling wines) - Br3,520 (USD 0.42) per litre.

For fortified wines of improved quality the excise rates will grow to Br31,280 (USD 4.481) per litre of pure alcohol content.

As previously reported, the new edition of the Tax Code enacted early this year, introduces excise rates for all products subject to excise taxation for the whole year with quarterly division.