Alcohol

Basic information

1

Outline of the system

Import licensing of alcohol products is regulated by the Law on Alcohol Control of 18 April 1995 and the Government Resolution No. 559 “On Licensing of Import, Wholesale and Retail Trade of Alcohol Products” of 5 June 1997, and is administered by the State Tobacco and Alcohol Control Service under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.

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Product coverage

Import licensing of alcohol products is subject to non-automatic licensing. The licensing system covers:

• alcoholic beverages (HS Codes – 2203, 22.04, 22.05, 22.06, 22.08 (except 2208.90.69.3));
• other alcohol products (HS Codes – 2207.10.00.0, 2207.20.00.0, 2208.90.91.0, 2208.90.99.0, 2103.90.30.0, 2106.90.20, 3302.10.10, 3302.10.40.2, 3302.10.40.3, 3302.10.90.2, 3302.10.90.3, 3302.90.10.0).

Nature of licensing

Automatic

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If Automatic, administrative purpose

Non-Automatic

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If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime

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Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports

Licensing aims to enforce of state control on importation and consumption of alcohol products.

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Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports

No quantitative or value restrictions.

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The system applies to products originating from which country?

The licensing system applies to all alcohol products originating in and coming from all countries.

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Expected duration of licensing procedure

Eligibility of applicants

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Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?

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What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?

All types of enterprises registered in Lithuania are eligible for issuance of the licence for importation of alcohol products. Licences for importation of non-denatured ethyl alcohol and raw materials containing ethyl alcohol shall be issued only to those enterprises that possess licences for manufacture of alcohol products, i.e. to use these products exclusively for their own production purposes.

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Is there a registration fee?

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Is there a published list of authorized importers?

Contact point for information on eligibility

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Ministry/Authority

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Address

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Telephone

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Fax

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E-mail address

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Website

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Contact officer

Submission of an application

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Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application

Documentation requirements

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What information is required in applications?

An enterprise wishing to obtain a licence for import of alcohol products, shall submit a free form application specifying the following:

• the code, name, address, telephone number;
• names, surnames, addresses of the enterprise founders, heads of the administration and shareholders the nominal value of whose holdings exceeds 1/10 of the authorised capital;
• kinds and groups of alcohol products intended for importation and where their importation is intended from;
• addresses of warehouses from which wholesales of alcohol products will be performed.

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What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?

Along with the application for a licence for importation of alcohol products, the following documents shall be submitted:

• copies of the enterprise incorporation document and the registration certificate certified by the signature of its head;
• a certificate issued by foreign economic entities to certify quality of alcohol products.

Besides:

1) enterprises wishing to import alcohol products (except for alcoholic beverages) shall submit the following documents:

• copies of purchase contracts for alcohol products concluded with foreign economic entities;
• the certificate issued by the Ministry of Health and the National Nutrition Centre attesting that alimentary alcohol solutions with flavoring substances are registered with the aforementioned Centre.

2) enterprises wishing to import alcoholic beverages shall submit the following documents:

• authorisations of representation (for the sale of products) granted by foreign enterprises manufacturing alcoholic beverages and on their assignment engaged in sales of alcoholic beverages;
• the certificate issued by the foreign registrar certifying the registration in the country of the manufacturing enterprise (or on its assignment engaged in sales of alcohol products enterprise) from which alcoholic beverages will be received;
• samples or catalogues of labels of alcoholic beverages to be imported;
• the certificate issued by the body regulating trade in a foreign state that the retail trade in alcoholic beverages (with the exception of beer) to be imported into the territory of Lithuania is allowed in that foreign state;
• copies of contracts for the lease of the warehouses from which wholesale trade in the imported alcoholic beverages will be carried on (in case the premises are leased) or copies of legal registration documents of the warehouses (if the premises are owned);
• the copy of the permit to establish the customs bonded-warehouse issued by the Customs Department (shall be presented by an enterprise wishing to obtain a licence for importation of alcoholic beverages (with the exception of beer)).

Window of submission of an application

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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, as the applicant is aware of the fact that the licence shall be issued within a maximum of 30 days from the day of receipt of the documents required to submit for issuance of the licence.

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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

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Can a licence be granted immediately on request?

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Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence

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Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?

The importer has to approach only one administrative body regarding consideration of the application, namely State Tobacco and Alcohol Control Service.

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Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?

The importer has to approach only one administrative body regarding consideration of the application, namely State Tobacco and Alcohol Control Service.

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Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?

No other conditions for issuance of a licence shall be applicable.

Fees and other administrative charges

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Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?

A state fee shall be collected for licence issuance in accordance with the Government Resolution No. 1458 “On Approval of the List of Entities Subject to Imposition of the State Fee, the Fee Rate and the Procedure for its Payment and Repayment” (Official Gazette “Valstybes zinios” No. 108-3463, 2000).

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What is the amount of the fee or charge?

The fees are as follows:

• 80 000 LTL (23 188 EUR) for issuance of an import licence for alcoholic beverages;
• 20 000 LTL (5 797 EUR) for issuance of the import licence for alcoholic beverages the whose ethyl alcohol concentration volume does not exceed 22 percent;
• 2 500 LTL (725 EUR) for issuance of the import licence for beer;
• 700 LTL (203 EUR) for issuance of the import licence for non-denatured ethyl alcohol, import licence for denatured ethyl alcohol and technical (industrial) ethyl alcohol;
• 1000 LTL (290 EUR) for issuance of the import licence for raw materials containing ethyl alcohol;
• 500 LTL (145 EUR) for issuance of the import licence for alimentary (non-alimentary) alcohol solutions with flavouring substances.

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Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?

There is no advance payment requirement associated with issuance of a licence.

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Amount or rate?

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Is it refundable?

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What is the period of retention?

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What is the purpose of this requirement?

Refusal of an application

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Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?

Under circumstances of failure to meet the licensing criteria the application for the licence may be refused.

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Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?

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Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?

In the event of refusal to issue the licence, the applicant has the right of appeal pursuant to the procedure provided for by the law.

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If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?

Importation

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Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?

There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made.

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What documents are required upon actual importation?

Upon actual importation an importer is required to submit the approved import licence, quality certificate (certificate, conformity declaration) issued by the manufacturing enterprise, invoice and general document while conducting customs procedures.

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Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?

There are no other administrative procedures applied for importation of alcohol products, apart from import licence required to be presented prior to importation.

Conditions of licensing

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What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?

Import licences for alcohol products shall be issued for an unrestricted time period. The validity can be extended if the applicant so request.

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Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?

There is no penalty for the non-utilisation of a licence or its portion.

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Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?

Licences are not transferable between importers.

Foreign Exchange

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Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?

Foreign exchange is automatically provided by the banking authorities for products to be imported.

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Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange?

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Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued?

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What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?