KazAlcoTabak: 40% of alcohol in Kazakhstan is counterfeit
The level of alcohol consumption in Kazakhstan is hidden.
During the working meeting, representatives of alcoholic beverages producers and the management of Atameken discussed the issues of changes in the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in terms of combating the illegal trade in alcohol. Today, the industry is represented by two large associations - KazAlcoTabak and KazSpirits, which bring together almost all producers and importers of alcoholic beverages.
Statistics for 2014-2018 show that the level of alcohol consumption in Kazakhstan is declining. Over the past five years, vodka production has declined by 18.1% (from 37.5 to 30.7 million litres). At the same time, the import of alcohol is growing and retains a significant share in the total consumption of products - up to 40% in some markets. Statistics do not take into account the illegal circulation of alcohol, which causes damage to the country's budget in the form of unpaid taxes and conscientious entrepreneurs in the industry.
According to the Statistics Committee, in 2016, domestic consumption, exports and stockpiling accounted for 113.3 million liters of vodka and liquor products, 74.1 million liters were sold directly to the population. At the end of 2016, the sources of liquor and vodka production resources were underreported. The statistical deviation was 20.3% at once, i.e. every fifth bottle of vodka in the country was in the shade.
The data of the KazAlcoTabak Association are even more threatening: according to the Association's experts, 35 million liters, or 40% of the vodka market, are sold illegally. The TALAP research center calculated that 58% of illegal vodka is sold in rural areas and 27% - in urban areas. Moreover, a part of illegal vodka is surrogates, which are dangerous for the life and health of people.
"It is necessary to amend the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan in terms of increasing responsibility for the production of illegal alcoholic beverages and the responsibility of trade entities for the sale of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, up to and including the revocation of the license. It is possible to actively introduce elements of indirect control over the production and sale of products. Based on the number of bottles purchased and electricity consumption, we can calculate the production volume of each plant," Amirzhan Kaliyev, head of KazAlcoTabak, said.
As a result of the meeting, Atameken will develop and submit proposals to the authorized government agency to strengthen the fight against illegal trafficking of alcoholic beverages. Another problem for the industry is the trade barriers within the EAEU, which hinder the export of alcoholic beverages from Kazakhstan.
The representative of KazSpirits Zhukov noted that the harmonization of policies in the excise industry in the EAEU has only led to an increase in excise taxes, but did not remove the barriers and restrictions. The main export of vodka products went to Russia (in 2013 - 1,610.9 thousand liters, or 96.1% of the total volume). In the first 9 months of this year, there were no exports to Russia at all. The main problem on the way of Kazakhstan ethanol and alcoholic beverages to the Russian market remains the existing tacit ban on the part of "Rosalcohol regulation".
It is almost impossible to import vodka products to Belarus. The system of special importers remains in place in the country, whose activity is severely limited due to strict control by the state through quotas.
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