Ministry issues rules governing liquor production
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has established procedures for licensing of liquor production and trade.
Its new circular says before distributing alcoholic beverages, a producer must now submit to authorities, along with the application for a production licence, documents concerning trademarks and conformity with technical and food safety standards.
Organisations and individuals engaged in small-scale liquor production in a liquor trading village will be exempt from the licence requirement.
However, the liquor trading village or an organisation representing it must apply for licences for the entire village and take responsibility for compliance with statutory conditions, including product standards prescribed by the Ministry of Health.
Under the new circular, trade licenses are classified into three types: distribution, wholesale and retail.
Applicants for wholesale licences must submit documents regarding transportation and product storage to ensure liquor quality during warehousing and shipping.
Liquor production and trade enterprises are also responsible for periodic reporting to authorities.