site.btaSmall Distilleries' Production Increased to 1,000 Litres Annually

Small Distilleries' Production Increased to 1,000 Litres Annually

Sofia, January 18 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Parliament Wednesday conclusively amended the Excise Duties and Tax Warehouses Act, re-establishing the pre-2015 rules for specialized small distilleries.

The Act, as last amended, defines a specialized small distillery as a distillation unit with a total volume of the containers of up 1,000 litres inclusive (up from 500 litres before), where ethyl alcohol (rakiya) is produced from grapes and fruits.

The revisions added to the definition of specialized small distillery "which produces not more than 10 hectolitres of ethyl alcohol per annum per household from grapes and fruits grown by the household for own consumption."

The MPs also resolved that a tax warehouse management licence will be issued acting on a written request to the Director of the National Customs Agency enclosing documentary proof that the distillation equipment for the production of ethyl alcohol, distillates and spirit drinks have been purchased by a person registered under the Wine and Spirit Drinks Act.

Another important amendment establishes a register of all traders, producers and importers of alcohol distillation equipment, which will enable the National Customs Agency to check where the equipment was purchased with a view to guaranteeing the safety of drinkers.

Registrants will be obliged to submit data to the Ministry of Economy on the persons to whom alcohol production facilities have been sold or provided.

The revisions will enter into force as from their promulgation in the "Official Gazette"