CUSTOMS DUTY OF IMPORTED VODKA TO BE RAISED

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. At the October 26 sitting, the
Armenian government approved a legislative package on making
amendments in a number of laws. Vakhtang Mirumian, Head of the State
Revenues Policy Department of the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy,
told reporters after the sitting that the amendments aim to protect
the interests of domestic producers. He said that according to the
amendments proposed to the RA Customs Code, the customs duty of vodka
imported into Armenia will be raised. Now it makes 240 drams (about
0.6 USD) for a liter. The amendment in the RA Law on State Duty
envisages lowering the state duty for granting a licence for
production of alcoholic drinks from fruits and berries – from the
current rate of 15 million drams to 50 thousand drams. The amendment
in the RA Law on Excise Tax envisages lowering the excise tax for
imported and locally produced beer by 20 drams (currently it makes 70
drams for a liter). V. Mirumian explained the last amendment by the
fact that in Armenia the excise tax of beer is higher than in other
CIS countries. In his opinion, its reduction will not result in a
decline of state revenues, because sales of beer will increase. The
above mentioned amendments will take effect from January 1, 2007.