Russian govt classifies alcoholic ice cream and desserts as alcohol products

MOSCOW. Jan 10 (Interfax) - The Russian government has classified alcoholic ice cream, desserts and some other products as alcohol products.

The order to this effect was signed on December 29, 2023 and posted on the official legal information portal.

The order says that ice cream, frozen fruit and vegetable desserts, sherbets and mixtures for their preparation, as well as edible ice products containing ethyl alcohol at over 0.5% of the volume of the finished product are excluded from the list of non-alcoholic food products.

Other regulatory actions could be taken with respect to these products.

As reported, in November last year, the Ministry of Finance proposed limiting the maximum alcohol content in these products to 1.2% from the current 7%-10%.

"Now the strength of frozen desserts is at 7%-10%, the same as for low-alcohol drinks. At the same time, the distribution of alcoholic ice cream is not limited, nor is the product subject to the laws on regulation of the alcohol market and the restrictions established by it," the Ministry said. "As a result, alcoholic ice cream can be freely sold in parks and near children's institutions. There are no restrictions prohibiting the sale of these desserts to children and adolescents," it said.