Azerbaijan updates its pricing policy in the alcohol sector”/>
The reason for the proposed changes to the legislation to establish a minimum retail price for alcoholic beverages has become known.
According to Day.Az, the proposed amendment to the law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”, discussed today at a meeting of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, is designed to ensure the protection of the economic interests of the country, domestic producers, consumer rights, and suppression of the sale of alcoholic beverages that do not meet the minimum quality and safety standards in the domestic market, illegal entrepreneurship in this area. In this regard, within the framework of the order of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic dated February 7, 2023 “On strengthening state control in the field of import and production of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages,” the pricing policy for alcoholic beverages is being updated, for which a minimum selling price is established for the sale of alcoholic beverages domestically. countries.
Monitoring shows that there are alcoholic beverages in circulation on the consumer market that do not meet the minimum quality and safety indicators established by technical regulations. This fact also indicates the presence of illegal production and smuggling, and tax evasion. As a result, a threat to public health arises, reducing consumer confidence in the quality of similar products produced in our country, as well as creating an atmosphere of unfair competition and complicating the activities of enterprises that produce products in accordance with the requirements established by technical regulations in the field of food safety. The current situation requires improving government regulation in the field of sale of alcoholic beverages in the country and implementing additional measures in this area.
Regulation of the minimum retail price of alcoholic beverages is also used in international practice.
According to the bill:
– a minimum retail price for alcoholic beverages will be established;
– a corresponding rule will be approved to determine the minimum price;
– it will be prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages whose minimum retail price is lower than the established price.
The bill is aimed at protecting the rights of consumers in the field of ensuring the safety and quality of alcoholic beverages, protecting the interests of disciplined and professional business entities operating in this area, protecting the domestic market from low-quality products, and preventing illegal production.