DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBNLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

on regulation of production, storage, import and sale of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco products

Recently, a number of types of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products produced in the Republic of Azerbaijan and imported from abroad do not comply with sanitary-hygienic norms and the widespread sale of such low-quality goods has become a threat to public health, creating serious difficulties for the country's wine and tobacco industry.

To ensure protection of public health and protection of the domestic market from low-quality products, to prevent tax evasion, illegal production and smuggling, as well as strengthen related state control I decide:

1. To apply state regulation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, regardless of the form of ownership, on production, storage, import and sale of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco products.

To determine that:

production, storage of all types of ethyl (food) alcohol, production of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products is carried out on the basis of licenses issued by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Azerbaijan Republic, import - the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations of the Azerbaijan Republic in accordance with the rules established by the Cabinet of Ministers; production, import and sale of ethyl (food) alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are carried out on the basis of licenses issued in accordance with established rules.

Retail sale of all types of ethyl (food) alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products is carried out in accordance with the rules established by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

2. To prevent production and import of low-quality alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco products in the Republic of Azerbaijan, to carry out production and import of such products only based on the application of excise stamps.

To entrust the Ministry of Taxes of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the order of excise stamps, their sale and registration in accordance with the rules approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Financial Markets Supervisory Authority under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan exercises control over the circulation ot excise stamps.

To apply excise stamps for imported goods from 1 April 1997 and for goods produced in the Republic of Azerbaijan from 1 July 1997.

To determine that legal entities and individuals selling the above-stated products without excise stamps are responsible according to the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

3. Within two months, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan: to develop and approve the rules for issuing licenses for production, storage and import of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco products; approve rules for retail sale of ethyl (food) alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products; approve rules of application of excise stamps to imported and domestically produced alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco products.

To prepare and submit to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan proposals on making relevant additions and changes providing for responsibility for import and sale of tobacco products in the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan ‘on State Tax Service’, the Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Administrative Offenses to engage in production, storage and import of ethyl (food) alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan without being licensed; to periodically review customs duties and excise rates applied to imported alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco products in order to protect interests of the domestic market and producers, and to make appropriate changes to them if necessary; to take other measures to ensure implementation of this decree.

4. To increase the interest of producers in production of high quality wine and tobacco products in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Economy the Republic of Azerbaijan annually to submit proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to determine of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco products and the tariff quota of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol, taking into account forecasts for production and sale of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco products.

5. To instruct the Ministry of Press and Information of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan, district and city executive authorities to intensify the fight against advertising of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products on television, radio, press and other facilities.

Heydar ALIYEV
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku city, 20 December 1996
№ 527