Russia's Industry Ministry includes alcohol in parallel imports list

MOSCOW. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry has included alcoholic beverages in the list of goods for which parallel imports are permitted.

An order to make this change in the list was published on the official website for legal information.

The list of alcohol brands includes Aberfeldy, Aberlour, Aerstone, Auchentoshan, Aultmore, Bell's, Black & White, Bowmore, Bushmills, Bulleit, Caol Ila, Cardhu, Clan Macgregor, Copper Dog, Dalwhinnie, Jack Daniel's, Jagermeister, Jim Beam, Johnnie Walker, Jose Cuervo, Kahlua, Kilbeggan, Lagavulin, Macallan, Malibu, Mortlach, Oban, Patron, Proper Twelve, Roe & Co, Sauza, Sheridan's, Tanqueray, The Deveron, The Singleton, Tullamore D.E.W., White Horse and Woodford Reserve.

Initially, the ministry proposed a far broader list of alcohol brands for which parallel imports would be permitted. The final list does not include brands such as Absolut, Ballantine's, Beefeater, Chivas, Jameson, Olmeca (producer of Pernod Ricard), Baileys, Captain Morgan, Talisker (Diageo), Grey Goose, Dewar's, Bombay Sapphire and William Lawson's (Bacardi), among others.

However, other Diageo brands (Tanqueray, Johnnie Walker, The Singleton, Lagavulin), for example, stayed on the list.

Parallel imports will be extended to those alcohol products that are not currently produced in Russia, the ministry said.

"Stimulation of imports is aimed at those niches in which Russian production cannot yet fully meet the needs of industrial enterprises and end consumers. For wine, brandy and other alcohol products, domestic needs are covered completely," the ministry said.

Going forward, the ministry and other government agencies will continue to monitor the situation with imports and add or exclude products to/from the list as needed.