Chandigarh, 8th March 2019: Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator
U.T., Chandigarh Sh. V. P. Singh Badnore, after a detailed presentation by the
Adviser, Secretary (E&T), ETC and other Senior Officers of the Excise
Department, has approved new Excise Policy for the year 2019-20. The new Excise
Policy aims at balancing the aspirations of the consumers, manufacturers,
wholesalers/ retailers and the Government. Some of the salient features of this
Policy are:-
1. The Excise Policy 2019-20 would help
to earn revenue approx. Rs. 600 crores in comparison with Rs. 510 crores last
year and increase of approx. 18% over the corresponding last year.
2. For the first time in U.T.,
Chandigarh, the allotment of licensing units will be made through
e-tendering system for more transparency and online system for issuance
of permit/passes to facilitate Trade and Industry has also been introduced.
3. The number of licensing units
(CL/IMFL) have been increased from 88 to 98. To curb the menace of
cartelization and monopolistic practices, a single person/entity will be
entitled to allotment upto a maximum of 10 vends only.
4. To promote low alcoholic contents
beverages i.e. Beer, Wine and particularly to boost Indian Wine Industry the
license fee has not been increased and kept at Rs. 12000/- for the whole year.
Further the label registration fee of wine has been reduced from Rs. 15,000/-
per brand to Rs. 10,000/- per brand.
5. Further the Excise Duty of
Microbrewery has also been reduced from Rs. 50/- per BL to 30/- per BL to shift
the consumers from hard liquor to soft liquor and the license fees of
Microbrewery, Restaurants/ Pubs and Bar have also not been increased from
the last year.
6. Excise levies on Country Liquor have
been increased by approximately 17% and excise levies on IMFL have been
increased by approximately 20%.
7. In terms of ease of doing business,
the conditions of security amount at the time of allotment have been relaxed
from 25% to 20% and the payment of monthly license fee installments have also
been increased from 8 to 10 installments.
8. The license fee of the License in
form L-2D to promote sale of Imported Wine, Indian Wine, Ready to Drink (RTD)
and Imported Beer to be granted to the shops/establishments registered under
Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 has been kept the same of Rs. 2 Lacs.
9. The basic quota of IMFL has been
increased from 90 lacs PL to 100 lacs PL whereas basic quota of Country Liquor
of 10 lacs PL has been reduced to 4 lacs PL with 20% conversion into IMFL.
10. Further for the first time in U.T.,
Chandigarh, the quota of Foreign Liquor (Bio Brand Whisky) has been fixed at 4
lacs PL with 20% conversion into IMFL to curb smuggling of liquor and to plug
evasion of Govt. revenue.
11. It will be mandatory for all the
retail licensees to issue an invoice on sale of liquor.
12. To promote sale of liquor through
departmental stores, there is no change in the license fee of departmental
stores which is Rs. 20 lacs only. However, the quota which was a major
constraint of Departmental Stores has been reduced from 5,000 PL to 3,000 PL.
13. Alcometers for voluntary assessment
of alcohol level by consumers, have been made mandatory for all hotels and
restaurants serving liquor.
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