Azerbaijan tightens control over imports, production of tobacco products, alcohol

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order "On Strengthening State Supervision in the Sphere of Import and Production of Tobacco Products and Alcoholic Beverages."

According to Caliber.Az, information about this is posted on the official website of the head of Azerbaijan.

The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to submit proposals to the President on the following points within six months:

- introduction of a system of permits for the production and import of tobacco products, improvement of the system of permits for the import and production of alcoholic beverages;

- application of the prepayment mechanism upon receipt of excise stamps (mandatory marking) for tobacco products;

- determination of the minimum price requirement for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, taking into account international experience;

- tougher liability measures against persons importing and manufacturing tobacco products and alcoholic beverages in violation of the law.

The document also provides for the definition of requirements for the volume of use of local raw materials in the production of tobacco products within the country based on proposals from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry of Economy was instructed to submit proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers for a phased increase in excise rates on tobacco products and alcoholic beverages within six months, taking into account international practice.