TURKMENISTAN TOUGHENS RULES ON IMPORT & SALE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO

Source from:  au.biz.yahoo.com ASHGABAT, June 26 Asia Pulse 06/26/2008

Minister of trade and foreign economic relations of Turkmenistan Nokerguly Ataguliyev briefed the president of Turkmenistan on measures taken to protect the domestic market from poor quality products, including imported ones, at a government meeting on June 23. N.Ataguliyev also reported to the president on preparation of a draft Regulations on Licensing and Sale of Imported Alcoholic Products and Tobacco Goods taking into account recommendations made by the head of state earlier, the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat. In this regard, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov demanded that Turkmen consumers' rights should be protected by "establishing strict control over quality of products sold by state trade organizations and private entrepreneurs." The head of state signed a decree saying that imports of alcoholic products and tobacco goods and their sale will be permitted under special state licenses only. The ministry of trade and foreign economic relations of Turkmenistan was put in charge of issuing state licenses. The document also instructs the state commodity and raw materials exchange of Turkmenistan to register all contracts for imports of alcoholic products and tobacco goods with valid licenses, and instructs the state customs service of Turkmenistan to prevent unlicensed imports of these products to Turkmenistan. The president of Turkmenistan also signed a decree and approved the Regulations with a view to executing the law of Turkmenistan "On licensing certain activities" and to regulating imports and sale of alcoholic and tobacco products. Enditem