Benefits for fruit vodka producers abolished in Armenia
YEREVAN, June 26. /ARKA/. The Armenian parliament has approved today in the second reading a government's proposal to abolish tax benefits for fruit vodka producers.
The current excise tax for production of fruit vodka is 800 drams per 100 liters. It is several times less than the excise tax for production of wheat vodka, which is 3,430 drams per 100 liters. According to the government, this causes unfair competition conditions.
Deputy Finance Minister Arman Poghosyan said earlier that taking advantage of this loophole, some unscrupulous entrepreneurs add fruit flavors to wheat vodka to market it as fruit vodka and to circumvent the higher excise tax.
He said this was evidenced by a fourfold increase in the production of fruit vodka, which does not correspond to reality.
The amendments will set the excise tax for fruit vodka at 3,800 drams starting from 2024, with a gradual increase. ($1 - 386.55 drams) -0-
