EEU to Simplify Alcohol and Tobacco Trade Procedures

Source from:  Arka News Agency 04/01/2015

Alcohol and tobacco trade procedures will be simplified within the Eurasian Economic Union, said Tatyana Valovaya, member of the board for integration and macroeconomics at the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Today certain excise stamps are required and certain rules need to be followed in selling Armenian alcohol and tobacco products in the EEU markets, Valovaya said.

But an international agreement is being elaborated to amend these procedures, she said at a round-table discussion on barrier-free Eurasian market. The discussion was held to look into problems in economic relations between Armenia and the EEU and to facilitate faster adaption to the new conditions.

Today efforts are made to complete the transition and ensure the EEU functions without exceptions and barriers, as instructed by the presidents, Valovaya said. She said meetings are arranged with businessmen in different countries to reveal and eliminate the barriers.

Over the last one and a half years similar barriers were eliminated between businesses in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, and the same is being done now with Armenia, she said.

According to Armenia's National Statistical Service, tobacco production output amounted to 65.4 billion drams in 2014, an increase of 36.5%.

Armenia's cognac production output grew by 8.1% to 18,725,500 liters in 2014 compared to 2013. Wine production dropped by 8.2% to about 130,900 liters in the period. A total of 9,502,300 liters of vodka was produced in 2014 (4.1% decline). Champagne production totaled 634,400 liters (18.3% growth). Apart from this, 23,716,500 liters of beer were produced in the country in 2014 (19.5% growth). Enditem