Removal of moratorium on new licences for production of alcoholic drinks comes into force on 01st October 2021
September 30, 2021
The Statutory Instrument (SI) to remove the moratorium on the issuance of new licences for the manufacturing of alcoholic drinks has been issued.
SI 85 2021, which removes the moratorium, was issued by the Minister for Finance, Economic Planning and Trade, Naadir Hassan, on 27th September 2021.
The notice, was made, under section 4 (2) of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, which gives the Minister responsible for Finance such powers.
Speaking to the media, last week, Ms. Cillia Mangroo, Principal Secretary for Trade, explained that the removal of the moratorium is meant to bring ‘fairness’, in this sector.
“The moratorium is only on local production of alcoholic drinks, whereas the importation of such, is still going on, meaning foreign exchange is going out of the country. When we remove the moratorium, more companies can produce domestically, in a more regulated and controlled environment.”
PS Mangroo also pointed out that a new Excise Tax is due to come into force in January 2022, which will regulate and give more powers to Customs, to ensure compliance.
The moratorium was imposed in 2019.
The Alcoholic Drinks Control (Removal of Moratorium for Issuance of Licences for Manufacturing Alcoholic Drinks) Notice, 2021, is to come into force on 01st October 2021.
Below is the link to SI 85 2021