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 Declaration of Conformity. State hygienic registration/sanitary-epidemiological examination is conducted through the Ministry of Health prior to market entry.

Authority

Republican Centre for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health (Ministry of Health); accredited EAEU certification bodies; Gosstandart.

Documents and samples

Application, producer certificate of analysis, ingredient formulation, sample bottles for laboratory testing, draft Russian/Belarusian label, manufacturer ISO/HACCP certificates.

Fees

Varies by accredited laboratory and certification body; typically €300 to €800 equivalent per product declaration/hygienic certificate.

Renewal

EAC declarations are generally issued for batches or for terms of 1 to 5 years.

Time to obtain

2 to 4 weeks.

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 specifically listed by MART. All consumer containers must be marked with Belarusian state excise stamps (ordered through the tax authority and applied abroad or in licensed customs warehouses before customs clearance). Consignments require certificates of origin, EAC declarations of conformity, commercial invoices, and transit control marks for intra-EAEU tracking.

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 premium spirits. Value-Added Tax (VAT): standard 20%. Excise stamp cost: 10 kopecks per stamp.

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 and may only sell alcohol by the glass in on-premise catering establishments. Hours are regulated by regional authorities; late-night off-premise sales (e.g. between 22:00/23:00 and 08:00/09:00) are commonly restricted.

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, list of ingredients, storage conditions, EAC conformity mark, and a mandatory health warning covering the hazards of excessive alcohol consumption and contraindications for minors, pregnant/nursing women, and drivers. State excise stamp must be affixed across the closure/bottle neck.

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 limited late-night TV exceptions from 20:00 to 07:00). Free distribution, promotional lotteries, consumer contests, and brand sponsorship of sports or cultural events using spirits trade marks are prohibited.

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 classification; whisky, rum, and brandy/cognac generally require a minimum of 40% ABV (or minimum 37.5%–40% ABV under EAEU technical specifications). The statutory threshold for 'alcoholic beverages' begins at 7% ABV for general strong-spirit regulatory measures.

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. Off-premise retail sales are banned inside or directly adjacent to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, sports complexes, religious institutions, and military sites.

• 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 the purchase price of state excise stamps for alcoholic beverages to 10 kopecks per stamp.
• MART annually updates and limits the list of foreign premium spirits (around 145 items including specified whiskies, cognacs, and rums) and minimum wine values (€13/L FCA) permitted for import outside the state monopoly.
• Draft amendments to the Tax Code introduce a 50% surtax on imported premium non-EAEU spirits, raising their excise rate to 41.85 BYN per litre of pure alcohol compared to 27.90 BYN for standard spirits.
• Enforcement of Law No. 213-Z 'On Licensing' standardizing electronic licensing under the Unified Digital Register of Licenses.

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 must work closely with vetted local importers authorized under state tenders or utilize the premium brand carve-outs.

• Ministry of Taxes and Duties of the Republic of Belarus
• Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MART)
• State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus
• State Committee for Standardization (Gosstandart)
• Republican Centre for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health (Ministry of Health)

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