OREANDA-NEWS. August 31, 2012. The Ministry of Commerce of Belarus on August 22 has terminated the practice of issuing single-entry import licences for listed alcohol products, following the decision of the Customs Union Commission prompted by Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

Single-entry licences will no longer be required for the following products:

Alcohol products imported by manufacturer in container, whose capacity exceeds 2 litres;

Mixtures of fragrances and alcohol used as ingredients in manufacturing beverages with 7% alcohol content and higher;

Alcohol products, which are not controlled by the government’s alcohol import monopoly.

As was earlier reported, 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.

Belarus opened a tender to identify importers of alcoholic beverages in 2013. Importers are invited to present their bids to the Trade Ministry by September 7, 2012.