The government of Ukraine proposes to increase the excise tax rate for alcoholic beverages classified as “intermediate products” from 8.42 to 12.23 UAH per 1 liter, i.e. to the level of the rate for sparkling and carbonated wines.
As reported by the Ministry of Finance, the corresponding bill with amendments to the Tax Code, the Cabinet of Ministers approved at a meeting on Friday.
“Revision of excise duties is due to the need to bring national legislation closer to the legislation of the European Union, which is relevant in view of Ukraine’s status as a candidate country for EU membership,” the Finance Ministry said.
The document provides for bringing in compliance with the norms of the EU Council Directive No. 92/83/EEC classification of alcoholic beverages in the part concerning the definition of the term “intermediate products” – wines and other fermented beverages referred to codes 2204, 2205, 2206 according to the Ukrainian classification of goods for foreign economic activity. In particular, we are talking about vermouth, cider and perry.
The Ministry of Finance predicts an increase in revenues from such an increase at the level of 4.5 million UAH per month.
Ascania group of companies, a diversified Ukrainian holding, in 2018-2019 invested UAH 17 million in the launch of production of cider and non-alcoholic beverages in PET bottles at the Kvass Beverages plant (Zaporizhia).
“This year we’ve presented a large number of new products in the Ukrainian market. For the first time, we bottled cider in PET under the GardenZ brand, produced the Yarylko Karamelny kvass for children, launched the Yarylo Bily Imbyrny (Yarylo White Ginger) brand. In August 2018, we started producing lemonade in PET at the Kvass Beverages plant. Investments in the enterprise to launch output of cider and new products in PET accounted for a total of about UAH 17 million,” Inna Syrchenko, the head of the marketing department at Ascania FMCG, told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to her, the products of the plant are represented in the stores ATB, Silpo, Novus, Billa and other retail outlets.
Ascania group of companies unites 12 companies. Their activities include import, production and distribution of food, honey processing and exports, logistics services, electricity supply, production of small arms, security services and training for the security personnel of private and state structures, agriculture (growing roses).
ASCANIA GROUP, CIDER, INVESTS, NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, PRODUCTION
