Presidential Decree No. 150 “On the production and circulation of alcoholic, non-food alcohol-containing products, and non-food ethyl alcohol.

This Presidential Decree establishes a new regulatory framework for the production and circulation of alcoholic products, non-food alcohol-containing products, and non-food ethyl alcohol. It creates a permanent Coordination Group under the Council of Ministers to ensure coherent state policy in this sector. It approves the composition and operating rules of this body, as well as a new procedure governing competitive selection of legal entities authorized to exercise the state’s exclusive right to import alcoholic products.
The Coordination Group is defined as a collegial body responsible for coordinating the activities of state authorities and organizations involved in regulating alcohol-related production and trade. Its key tasks include balancing the domestic market, analyzing supply and demand, allocating production quotas, and organizing tenders to select entities entitled to import alcohol on behalf of the state. The Group has broad powers, such as requesting information, engaging relevant institutions, and adopting binding decisions for public authorities. Its composition includes high-level representatives of government bodies (ministries, committees, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies), ensuring cross-sectoral oversight.
The Decree also establishes detailed rules for organizing and conducting competitions to grant import rights. Participation is limited to Belarusian legal entities meeting strict financial, operational, and compliance criteria, including minimum capital, absence of tax debts, sufficient staffing, and appropriate licenses. The procedure regulates announcement, submission, evaluation, and selection of bids, with decisions taken by the Coordination Group and subject to approval by the President. Winning entities receive formal authorization but must comply with strict conditions, including reporting obligations, non-transferability of rights, and performance requirements, with non-compliance leading to exclusion from the list of authorized importers.