Alcohol regulations in Russia

Licences needed

Licence for production, storage, and supply of produced alcoholic products (spirits) or ethyl alcohol

Authority

Federal Service for Control over Alcohol and Tobacco Markets (Rosalkogoltabakkontrol)

Documents

Application, constituent documents/charter, confirmation of paid-in charter capital (minimum 10 million RUB for spirits over 15% ABV; 100 million RUB for rectified ethyl alcohol), ownership or registered lease of manufacturing and warehouse facilities, equipment compliance certificates, ASIIU meter verification certificates, proof of EGAIS system integration, technical calculation of annual production capacity, fire and environmental compliance approvals

Fees

9,500,000 RUB state duty (pursuant to Tax Code Article 333.33)

Time to obtain

30 calendar days from registration (shortened towards 15 working days under recent digitization reforms; extendable up to 25–30 days for additional on-site inspections)

Who can import

Russian legal entities (e.g. OOO, AO) holding a wholesale alcohol licence and connected to EGAIS; foreign entities cannot act as direct importers without a local Russian entity

Licences or registrations

Licence for purchase, storage, and supply of alcoholic products (wholesale licence); EGAIS registration; customs broker/importer registration

Authority

Rosalkogoltabakkontrol and the Federal Customs Service (FTS)

Documents

Application, corporate charter, lease/ownership proof for temperature-controlled warehouse facilities, authorized capital proof (minimum 10 million RUB for beverages over 15% ABV), EGAIS technical compliance confirmation, tax registration certificate

Fees

800,000 RUB for a wholesale alcohol licence valid for up to 5 years

Time to obtain

30 calendar days (extendable by up to 30 days)

Required: yes Process: EAC Declaration of Conformity under EAEU technical regulations (TR CU 021/2011, TR CU 022/2011, TR CU 029/2012, and TR EAEU 047/2018); sample testing in an accredited EAEU laboratory; registration of…

Importer must be an authorized Russian entity holding a wholesale licence and linked to EGAIS. Shipments require Federal Special Stamps (FSM / Федеральные специальные марки) displaying 2D DataMatrix codes, which under Federal Law…

Standard EAEU Common Customs Tariff (CCT HS 2208) is generally €1.40 to €1.50 per litre of 100% anhydrous alcohol or 10–15% ad valorem. For imports originating from designated 'unfriendly countries', a retaliatory duty of 20% of customs value (not less than €3 per litre) applies, with proposals to increase to €5 per litre.

Excise duty on spirits (Article 193 of the Tax Code) is 740 RUB per litre of anhydrous alcohol in 2025 and 824 RUB per litre of anhydrous alcohol effective January 1, 2026 (Federal Law No. 425-FZ). Import VAT is 20% (applied on…

Sold through private licensed retail chains, specialized liquor stores, and licensed on-premise venues (restaurants, bars); no state retail monopoly. Federal law prohibits retail sales between 23:00 and 08:00, while regional…

banned, remote/online sale and home delivery of alcohol is strictly illegal under Federal Law No. 171-FZ and consumer protection decrees; online ordering is only allowed under a 'click-and-collect' model where payment and age…

Russian-language consumer label (or back-label sticker) mandatory: product designation, volume (L/ml), ABV (% vol), ingredients (type of spirit/distillate), nutritional info, manufacturing and bottling dates, batch number,…

Almost completely banned under Federal Law No. 38-FZ 'On Advertising' (Article 21); prohibited on television, radio, internet/digital media, print publications, billboards, public transit, and within 100 metres of…

Defined under TR EAEU 047/2018 and Russian national GOST standards: Vodka (GOST 12712-2013 / GOST R 51355) must be 37.5%–56.0% ABV (traditionally min 40.0% ABV), made from agricultural rectified neutral ethanol (Extra, Lux,…

Federal subjects have authority to restrict sales hours or declare dry zones: Chechen Republic restricts retail sales to 08:00–10:00 (virtually dry); Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Tyva, and Ingushetia enforce stringent…

Excise duty on ethyl alcohol and spirits over 18% ABV increased to 740 RUB/L anhydrous alcohol in 2025 and to 824 RUB/L anhydrous alcohol effective January 1, 2026 under Federal Law No. 425-FZ (Tax Code Article 193). Imposition…

Exporters from non-sanctioning countries (e.g. Latin America, Asia, South Africa, and CIS/EAEU partners) have strong opportunities to supply premium spirits and bulk distillates, benefiting from standard tariffs while Western…

1. Federal Law No. 171-FZ on State Regulation of Alcohol Production and Turnover
2. Federal Law No. 425-FZ Amending Article 193 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation
3. Presidential Amendments to Federal Law on Regulation of Alcohol Products (Labelling and Stamping)
4. Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation (FTS)
5. EAEU Technical Regulation TR EAEU 047/2018 On Safety of Alcohol Products