Presidential Decree regarding validation the Regulation on production, storage, import and sale of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobaccos (1996)

Decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic About the regulation of production, storage, import and sale of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco goods The lack of compliance of some alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods, produced in Azerbaijan and imported from foreign countries, with sanitary hygienic norms, wide spread sale of low quality goods have created a threat for the population health and serious complications for the development of vine and tobacco industry lately. With the aim of population health provision and protection of home market from the low quality products, prevention of deviations from tax payments, illegal production and smuggling, as well as strengthening of state control in this sphere, I decide therewith : 1.to apply state regulation over the production, storage, import and sale of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco goods in the Azerbaijan Republic, notwithstanding the form of property. To establish, that: · production and storage of ethyl (food) alcohol, alcohol beverages and tobacco goods of all kinds is to be provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, whereas the import of the same is to be fulfilled by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations on the grounds of licenses, issued in the order, fixed by the Cabinet of the Azerbaijan Republic; · producers and importers, having been issued licences for the production and import of ethyl (food) alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobaccos in the legally specified order, do not have to get new licenses for the wholesale of the same; · retail sale of ethyl (food) alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods of all kinds is to be carried out in the order, specified by the Cabinet of the Azerbaijan Republic. · the production and import of the above products are to be carried out only on the grounds of excise brands to prevent the output of low quality alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco in the Azerbaijan Republic, as well as their import into the country. 2.The sale excise brands in compliance with the regulations, fixed by the Cabinet of the Azerbaijan Republic, is resolved to be carried out by the State Tax Committee of the Azerbaijan Republic, if concerned with imported goods and by the General State Tax Inspectorate of the Azerbaijan Republic if concerned with home production. Excise brands are to be applied in relation to imported goods since April 1, 1997 and to locally produced goods since July 1, 1997. It is resolved, that either natural or juridical persons bear responsibility subject to the legislation of the Azerbaijan Republic for the sale of abovesaid goods without excise brands. 3.The Cabinet of the Azerbaijan Republic is to take the following measures within two-month period: · to work out and confirm the regulations for the issue of licenses to produce, store and import of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco goods; · to confirm regulations for retail sale of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods; · to confirm regulations for the application of excise brands on alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco goods either imported or produced locally; · develop and submit for the consideration of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic proposals about amendments and addenda to the Law of the Azerbaijan republic � About State Tax Service� , the Code of the Azerbaijan Republic about Administrative Infringements, stipulating responsibility for production, storage and import of ethyl (food) alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods without duly issued licenses on the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic, as well as import and sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods without excise brand; · with the aim of protection of home market and interests of local producers make regular revisions of tax duties and excise rates, applied to the imported alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco goods, and amend them in case of necessity; · to take other measures, securing the execution of the present Decree. 4.With the aim of the increase in the producers interest in the output of top quality vine products and tobacco goods in the Azerbaijan Republic the Ministry of Economy of the Azerbaijan Republic is to annually fix the top limit for import of alcoholic beverages, ethyl (food) alcohol and tobacco goods on the grounds of production forecasts and sale of these goods. 5.The Ministry of Press and Information of the Azerbaijan Republic, State Broadcasting Company, regional and district executive authorities are to be set to increase struggle with the advertisement of alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods on TV, radio in press and by other means. President of the Azerbaijan Republic Heydar Aliev Baku, December 20, 1996