New rules easing controls on alcohol production come into effect
A new regulation on alcohol production was published on the Royal Gazette website on Monday evening and takes effect from today, November 2.
A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved a Finance Ministry regulation easing controls on alcohol production ahead of Parliament’s deliberation of the opposition’s “progressive liquor bill”.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Tuesday the draft liquor bill proposed by the Move Forward Party was too loose and might endanger consumers and state revenue.
The newly approved regulation, however, would not affect government revenue while allowing small brewers to operate without official permission, he said.
The regulation stipulated that producers of craft beer for commercial purposes must be a juristic person under Thai laws and have at least 51 per cent of shares held by Thai shareholders.
Producers of non-beer liquors for commercial purposes must either be a registered agricultural group, cooperative, community enterprise, or a company/partnership under laws with all shareholders being Thai nationals.
Furthermore, candidates must not have broken any laws related to excise tax in the past year.
As for producers for non-commercial purposes, applicants must be over 20 years old and present evidence including a map of their production facilities, details of liquor, ingredients, production process, distilling machines used and production volume for Excise Department approval.
Producers who wish to extend their licence can file an application and are required to submit evidence within 90 days before the expiration date of their current licence.
