An acute shortage of excise stamps may cause a stop in the import of alcohol to Russia in the near future, writes Kommersant, citing a federal official and market participants. Currently, the issuance of old-style stamps is being completed. At the warehouse of the Central Excise Customs, their stocks are being depleted, and for some nomenclature items they have completely run out. New stamps are not issued. The Federal Customs Service, which is responsible for the process, does not comment on the situation.

Some companies have already suspended or sharply reduced the import of alcohol, according to data from the Union of Importers of Alcohol Products (SIAP). The union considers the situation critical and is preparing an appeal to First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, said Valery Filatov, chairman of the organization’s board. According to him, after the reorganization of FSUE Goznak into a joint stock company, which ended in May 2016, and in connection with changes in the requirements for labeling alcoholic products, the Federal Customs Service was obliged to hold a tender to select a contractor for the production of new excise stamps. The competition has not yet been announced, although new stamps should be issued from July 1. “Conducting a tender, development, ordering, production and delivery of excise stamps can take several months,” says Filatov.

A Bacardi representative reported difficulties in obtaining stamps, including old ones. The president of Simple Group, Maxim Kashirin, is familiar with the problem, having managed to stock up on stamps before September. Retailers have not yet experienced any problems.

Some popular positions on the imported alcohol market may end by the end of July, predicts one of the market participants. If the situation is not resolved by this time, importers may miss the high season in October-December, which brings about 50% of sales. The publication's interlocutor clarifies that about three months pass between receipt of stamps and delivery of products.

The state can extend the validity of old-style stamps, as it did last year, but the government admits that in this case we will be talking about a decrease in tax revenues from the import and sale of alcohol.

Supplies of imported alcohol to Russia may be suspended - Kommersant