Basic information
Outline of the system
1. The licensing of trade in alcohol is regulated by the Alcohol Act and is administered by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and State Register of Alcohol.
The import of alcohol may be carried out by an undertaking:
- which is entered in the commercial register
- which holds a valid registration in the State Register of Undertakings Operating in Areas of Activity Subject to Special Requirements.
Alcohol to be imported shall be entered in the State Register of Alcohol. The importer of the alcohol shall apply for entry of the imported alcohol in the State Register of Alcohol.
Product coverage
Imports of alcohol are subject to automatic licensing.
Nature of licensing
Automatic
If Automatic, administrative purpose
Automatic
Non-Automatic
If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime
Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
Licensing is intended to maintain state control in the area covered by the Alcohol Act.
Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
No quantitative restrictions.
The system applies to products originating from which country?
The system applies to goods originating in and coming from all countries.
Expected duration of licensing procedure
Legal requirements
Is the licensing statutorily required?
Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subject to licensing to administrative discretion?
The licensing of trade in alcohol is based on the Alcohol Act published in Riigi Teataja I 2002 No. 3 Article 7 and Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture No. 69, published in Riigi Teataja Lisa 2002 No. 94 Article 1462; Regulation of the Government No. 208 published in Riigi Teataja I 2002 No. 56 Article 353.
Is it possible for the government to abolish the system without legislative approval?
Eligibility of applicants
Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?
What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?
All persons, firms and institutions, who have been entered into commercial register are eligible to apply for import licences.
Is there a registration fee?
Is there a published list of authorized importers?
Contact point for information on eligibility
Ministry/Authority
Address
Telephone
Fax
E-mail address
Website
Contact officer
Submission of an application
Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application
Documentation requirements
What information is required in applications?
An undertaking, which wishes to carry out the import of alcohol, shall submit to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, as authorised processor of the State Register of Undertakings Operating in Areas of Activity Subject to Special Requirements, a corresponding application, which shall set out at least the following:
- the business name, commercial register code, address and other details of the undertaking;
- the clearly worded content of the application;
- the name and details of the person responsible for the import of, wholesale trade in or export of alcohol; if the application is submitted by a sole proprietor, the same person shall be responsible for the import of, wholesale trade in or export of alcohol;
- the address of the place of business or addresses of places of businesses;
- the number of a decision of approval the enterprise or a part thereof for food business, the date of making the decision and the name of the agency, which made the decision;
- the date of submission of the application, and signature;
- the name, official title and details of the person who signed the application.
What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
Window of submission of an application
How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?
It is up to the applicant to decide when to apply for a licence.
Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence can be made? If so, explain
There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made.
Issuing the license
Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence
Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?
Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?
An importer has to approach 2 administrative bodies in connection with 2 applications.
Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?
There are no other conditions attached to the issuance of a licence.
Fees and other administrative charges
Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?
There is no licensing fee or administrative charge.
What is the amount of the fee or charge?
Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?
There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issuance of licences.
Amount or rate?
Is it refundable?
What is the period of retention?
What is the purpose of this requirement?
Refusal of an application
Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?
None.
Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?
The reasons for any refusal are given to the applicant in writing. In the event of refusal to issue a licence, the applicant has a right of appeal pursuant to the procedure provided by law.
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
Importation
Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?
What documents are required upon actual importation?
Upon the import of alcohol, in addition to the requirements provided for in the customs rules, a certificate of the State Register of Alcohol, indicating that the imported alcohol has been entered in the State Register of Alcohol on the application of the importer, shall be submitted to the customs authorities.
Formal requirements of the application for making a register entry into the National Alcohol Register are listed below. The applicant shall submit an application, which includes the following data:
• name of the applicant;
• number of activity licence of the excise warehouse;
• date and number of making the decision of recognition of the enterprise;
• registration number of state register of undertakings operating in areas of activity subject to special requirements;
• location, address and contact information (telephone, fax, e-mail address) of the applicant;
• name of the product;
• country of origin of the product;
• type of product;
• name of the producer;
• producer country;
• address and contact information (telephone, fax, e-mail address) of the producer;
• capacity of the consumer packaging or in case of alcohol, which has not been packaged into consumer packaging, the capacity of the packaging;
• ethanol content;
• numerical code of goods of Estonian Nomenclature of Commodities;
• material of consumer packaging or packaging;
• number of labels of consumer packaging or packaging;
• shape and colour of the bottle (thereby the use of Burgundy, Bordeaux, port, German wine, sparkling wine or other bottle should be marked)
• material of the cork;
• colour of the cork;
• shape of the cork;
• note on the “stocking”, if present;
• colour of the stocking;
• a note on front label, if present;
• a note on back label, if present;
• a note on neck label, if present;
• a note on other labels, if present;
• list of documents and materials attached to the application;
• name, position and signature of the applicant.
Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
There are no other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing required prior to importation.
Conditions of licensing
What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?
A licence is a non-recurring permit.
Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of it.
Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
Licences are not transferable between importers.
Foreign Exchange
Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?
Foreign exchange is automatically provided by the banking authorities for the goods to be imported.