Commission welcomes agreement on rules governing alcohol

The Commission welcomes the new rules governing excise duties on alcohol within the EU, which were agreed on 30 July 2020.

The Commission welcomes the new rules governing excise duties on alcohol within the EU, which were agreed on 30 July 2020. These pave the way for a better business environment and reduced costs for small alcohol-producing businesses. The agreed new rules will ensure that small and artisan alcohol producers have access to a new EU-wide certification system confirming their access to lower excise duty rates across the Union. Consumer health will also benefit from a crackdown on the illegal use of tax-free denatured alcohol to make counterfeit drinks. There will also be an increase in the threshold for lower strength beer to which reduced rates may apply to encourage brewers to produce beverages with a lower alcohol content. The Commission will also monitor the introduction of an excise duty or reduced excise rates for private production of ethyl alcohol and will report to the Council on this measure.

Excise Duty on Alcohol webpage

Communication

More information