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Attorney. Specialist in commercial and labor law. Over 16 years of experience in legal support of businesses - debt recovery, contract enforcement, recovery of damages, commercial property and lease disputes.
License for wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages
Obtaining a license for wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages is an important step for any entrepreneur who plans a business of storing and selling alcohol to other business entities (retailers, manufacturers). The licensing process involves checking the business entity for compliance with the established licensing conditions in accordance with the Law of Ukraine № 3817-IX of 2024 and guarantees the legality of the activities of licensees. In the article below, we will examine in more detail the main points of obtaining a license.
Wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages: licensing conditions
Firstly, to carry out wholesale trade in alcohol in Ukraine, you need to have a special premises, which are also called the place of wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages. Such premises must belong to the business entity on the right of ownership or use. Unlike the same license for wholesale trade in fuel, where the place of sale must be a building or a single property complex, when licensing the sale of alcohol, as a general rule, a warehouse with appropriate conditions for storing products must be used.
Secondly, to carry out such activities, you must have registered KVED 46.34 and 46.39, which are responsible for identifying a business in the field of specialized and non-specialized wholesale trade in beverages, food products and tobacco products.
Finally, depending on the type of product, the current national legislation provides for the possibility of obtaining the following types of wholesale licenses:
- alcoholic beverages, except cider and perry (allows the trade in vodka, spirits, wines (except table wines), cognacs, brandy, whiskey, rum, gin, low-alcohol beverages);
- cider and perry (without added alcohol);
- beer with a production volume of up to 3,000 hectoliters per year (for small producers).
Moreover, there is a single exception for the sale of alcoholic beverages, when the relevant permit is not required – wholesale trade in wine materials for primary winemaking. For more detailed information, we recommend that you contact the specialists of the company “Prikhodko & Partners” for legal advice.
Eligibility criteria for obtaining a wholesale license for alcoholic beverages
An entrepreneur must meet a number of criteria established by law:
- first, have official registration as an individual entrepreneur or legal entity;
- second, have confirmation of the origin of the products (customs declarations, documents for internal movement, etc.);
- third, enter information about the premises for carrying out activities into the Unified State Register of Storage Places for Alcoholic Beverages;
- fourth, provide a properly equipped workplace for sales with all the necessary RRO and PRRO (a separate license is issued for each of the registrars);
- fifth, have equipment at their disposal that allows you to verify the authenticity of excise stamps on alcoholic products and comply with other standards for quality control.
Required documents for obtaining a license for wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages
To obtain a permit to sell alcohol, the applicant must submit the following package of documents to the State Tax Service:
- application for issuance of a license for wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages of the established sample;
- a copy of an extract from the Unified State Register confirming the presence of state registration of the business entity;
- a copy of a certificate of registration of the taxpayer (Form No. 4-OPP);
- documents confirming the right of ownership or use of premises for storing alcoholic beverages and the fact of their entry in a separate Unified State Register;
- a receipt for payment of the administrative fee;
- a document confirming the authority of the representative (if necessary).
It is worth noting that the list of documents may vary, as the licensing authority has the right to request additional information. To clarify the exact list of documentation in your specific case, we recommend that you contact one of our qualified lawyers.
Fines for wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages without a license
Conducting unlicensed alcohol activities entails a fine of 200% of the value of the sold batch of goods. At the same time, if there was no actual turnover, the applicant must still pay a fine equal to three minimum wages (as of April 2025 – 24,000 hryvnias, respectively).
Cost of a license for wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages
As already noted, when submitting documents for obtaining a license, an administrative fee must be paid in the amount prescribed by law (the amounts are the annual license fee and must be paid again before the start of activities in the following year):
- 85 MZP – 680,000 UAH (alcoholic beverages except cider and perry);
- 4.5 MZP – 36,000 UAH (distillates and beer);
- 5 MZP – 40,000 UAH (various categories of wines);
- 0.15 MZP – 1,200 UAH (cider and perry).
Obtaining a license for wholesale trade in alcoholic beverages is a key stage for entrepreneurs, and its absence entails significant penalties. Lawyers Prikhodko and Partners provide their professional consultations and legal support for obtaining a license, guaranteeing timely and correct completion of all procedures. To find out the cost of such a service, fill out the form below.
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