Alcohol regulations in Belarus

Licences needed

Special permit (licence) for activity related to the production of alcoholic, non-food alcohol-containing products, and non-food ethyl alcohol; state registration of primary manufacturing equipment.

Authority

Ministry of Taxes and Duties of the Republic of Belarus; State Committee for Standardization (Gosstandart).

Documents

Application, founding documents, title/lease deeds for production premises, Gosstandart certificates of state registration of technological equipment and metering devices, laboratory accreditation/testing documentation, metrological verification certificates.

Fees

State duty set according to the Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus; exact amount depends on base fee units (Base Value).

Time to obtain

Typically 15 to 30 calendar days following full dossier submission.

Who can import

Only legal entities that win state-held import competitions exercising the state's exclusive right (state monopoly) to import alcoholic beverages, OR licensed importers importing specific premium brands explicitly listed on the annual exemption list issued by MART.

Licences or registrations

Licence for wholesale trade and storage of alcoholic products; winning certificate/permit for the state's exclusive import right (unless importing exempt premium items).

Authority

Coordination Group for the production and circulation of alcoholic products under the Council of Ministers; Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MART); State Customs Committee.

Documents

Import tender bids, commercial contracts, conformity certificates, financial solvency proof, product specifications, warehouse compliance documents.

Fees

Customs clearance fees (approx. 50–120 BYN / €20–€50 equivalent) plus state duty for licensing.

Time to obtain

Tenders for import rights are conducted annually; licence processing takes approximately 15 to 30 business days.

Required: yes Process: Mandatory conformity assessment under EAEU technical regulations (TR CU 021/2011 'On Food Safety', TR CU 022/2011 'Food Labelling', and TR EAEU 047/2018 'On Safety of Alcoholic Products') leading to an EAC…

Belarus enforces a state monopoly on alcohol imports: commercial volumes of non-exempt spirits can only be imported by entities selected via annual state tender under Decree No. 150. An exception exists for premium spirits…

Under the EAEU Common Customs Tariff (CCT), spirits under HS 2208 are primarily subject to specific duties, typically €1.40 to €1.50 per litre of 100% pure alcohol (or equivalent specific rates up to €1.50 per litre of finished product depending on sub-heading).

Excise duty: Standard rate for spirits and alcoholic products with ABV >= 7% is 27.90 BYN per litre of pure alcohol; draft amendments set a 50% higher excise rate of 41.85 BYN per litre of pure alcohol on imported non-EAEU…

Permitted for legal entities licensed for retail trade in alcoholic beverages by local executive committees (Minsk City and regional/district executive committees). Individual entrepreneurs are prohibited from retail bottle sales…

banned

Must be in Russian or Belarusian. Mandatory elements include: product name, product type/category, net volume, alcohol strength (% ABV), manufacturer name and address, country of origin, date of bottling/production, batch number,…

Spirits advertising is strictly banned on television, radio, outdoor billboards, and the internet under Law No. 225-Z 'On Advertising'. Advertising of alcoholic products in mass media and public spaces is prohibited (beer has…

Regulated under EAEU technical standards and national STB standards (e.g., STB 978 for vodka; STB standards for cognac, whisky, rum): Vodka must have a minimum alcoholic strength of 37.5%–40% ABV depending on standard…

No permanently dry regions exist, but local executive committees regularly introduce temporary localized prohibition ('sober days') during high school graduation celebrations ('Last Bell'), youth festivals, or regional campaigns.…

Presidential Decree No. 150 (May 4, 2026) updated regulations and tender procedures for exercising the state's exclusive right to import alcoholic products, restructuring the Coordination Group. The Ministry of Finance increased…

Belarus remains a tightly restricted and state-dominated spirits market, but opportunities exist for high-end international whisky, cognac, and rum brands that qualify for MART's annual monopoly-exemption quota list. Exporters…

1. Decree No. 150 of 4 May 2026 on Production and Turnover of Alcoholic Products - Official Internet Portal of the President of the Republic of Belarus
2. Belarus Proposes 50% Higher Tax on Premium Imported Spirits in 2027 - Vinetur / Reform.news
3. Belarus Tightens Alcohol Import Controls for 2026 - MART Decree / Belsat
4. Law of the Republic of Belarus On State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Alcoholic Products (No. 429-Z)
5. Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 213-Z On Licensing
6. Law of the Republic of Belarus On Advertising No. 225-Z