In order to tighten the control over enterprises engaged in industrial production of liquor, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recently proposed a draft decree to prescribe conditions for licensing industrial production of liquor and provide rights and obligations of such producers.
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| Enterprises engaged in industrial production of liquor would be required to have a production plan in line with the approved master plan on development of the beer-liquor-beverage industry__Photo: Internet |
Accordingly, a licensed enterprise would be required to be established under Vietnamese law; have a liquor production plan in line with the approved master plan on development of the beer-liquor-beverage industry; be furnished with machinery, equipment and technologies meeting the planned production scale; own or legally use liquor labels in Vietnam; and have technicians with professional qualifications suitable to the liquor production.
Besides, it would have to ensure food safety, environmental protection and fire prevention and fighting conditions and health requirements for workers who are directly engaged in the liquor production.
Under the draft, the Ministry of Industry and Trade would be responsible for grant, re-grant, modification or supplementation of licenses for industrial production of liquor of enterprises with an annual output of three million liters or more. For those producing less than three million liters of liquor per year, provincial-level Industry and Trade Departments would grant licenses.
The validity duration of a license would be 15 years.
The draft decree goes on to provide rights and obligations of enterprises engaged in industrial production of liquor.
Specifically, they would be allowed to distribute liquor products they produce (directly or through subsidiary companies or branches) to enterprises licensed for liquor distribution, wholesale, retail or export; retail liquor products at their affiliated stores without having to apply for licenses for liquor distribution, wholesale or retail; and import food alcohol, semi-finished liquor products and additives to produce finished liquor products.
The draft requires these enterprises to provide training in fire prevention and fighting, environmental protection and food safety for their employees; strictly comply with the regulations on food safety and quality, and product labeling; make periodical reports on their operation; provide regular health checks for their employees; and not to sell liquor to under-18 persons.- (VLLF)
