Chandigarh, 6th March
2020: 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 2020-21. 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
for the year 2020-21 would help to earn revenue approx. Rs. 680 crores in
comparison with Rs. 617 crores for the year 2019-20, an increase of approximate
10% over the year 2019-20.
2. The allotment of
licensing units will be made through complete e-tendering system for more
transparency and complete 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 92 to 95. 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. 10,000/- per brand to Rs. 7500/- per brand.
5. Further the Excise
Duty of Microbrewery has not been increased and it will remain @ 30/- per BL to
shift the consumers from hard liquor to soft liquor and the license fees of
Microbrewery have also not been increased
from the last year.
6. Excise levies on
IMFL have been increased by approximately 10% except on high end brands.
7. 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.
8. The basic quota of
IMFL has not been increased which is 100 lacs PL whereas basic quota of Country
Liquor of 4 lacs PL has been increased to 8 lacs PL with 10% conversion into
IMFL.
9. Further, the quota
of Foreign Liquor (Bio Brand Whisky) has been reduced from 4 lacs PL to 3.30
lacs PL with 10% conversion into IMFL.
10. The quota of
country liquor has been rationalized keeping in view less demand in City Shops
and quota of IFL has also been rationalized keeping in view the less demand of
IFL in village shops
11. 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 and there is no change in quota
which is 3,000 PL.
12. To promote tourism
in Chandigarh, Five Star or above category Hotels are allowed to serve liquor
round the clock and the licence fee proposed to increase to Rs. 15 lacs from Rs. 12 Lac and also
allowed the facility of Mini Bar for the occupants of the rooms.
13. Alcometers for
voluntary assessment of alcohol level by consumers, have also made mandatory
for all hotels and restaurants serving liquor.
14. In order to promote
‘Swach Bharat Abhiyan’, the retail licensees will have to maintain cleanliness
and hygiene in and around the shop, failing which penalty will be imposed.
15. The Cow Cess has
been levied and will be applicable from 01st April, 2020. This cess will be
levied @ Rs. 5 per bottle of 750 ml of Country Liquor, Rs. 5 per bottle of
650ml of Beer and Rs. 10 per bottle of 750 ml of whisky and will be deposited
by the wholesale licensees in the dedicated bank account of Municipal
Corporation.
Comments
Post a Comment