Ministry of Commerce, Measures for the Administration of the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages

Promulgated: November 7 2005
Effective: January 1 2006, with a transition period of three months from the effective date
Interpreting authority: Ministry of Commerce
Applicability: The term 'alcohol beverages' refers to alcoholic liquor with alcoholic strength (methyl alcohol content) of more than 0.5% (as a fraction of volume), including fermented liquor, distilled liquor, mixed alcoholic beverages, edible alcohol and other beverages that contain alcoholic content. Production of medicinal liquor, healthy alcoholic beverages approved by the relative state administrative departments in accordance with the law are not included. The term "circulation of alcoholic beverages" includes such business activities as wholesale, retail, storage and transport (Article 2).

Main contents: Work units or individuals engaging in the wholesale or retail of alcoholic beverages (hereinafter collectively known as Alcoholic Product Operators) shall, within 60 days of obtaining business licences and in accordance with the principle of administration by the local authority, handle record filing and registration with the department in charge of commerce of the same level as the administration for industry and commerce at the place of registration (Article 6). In the wholesale process of alcoholic beverages, the Alcoholic Product Operator (the Supplier) shall fill out the Attachment to the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages and record the information on alcoholic goods circulation in detail. The Attachment to the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages shall accompany the alcoholic beverages throughout the whole process of circulation, and the information on the attachment shall be in line with the actual situation so as to achieve the traceability of the circulation information of alcoholic goods throughout the whole process, from the ex-factory point to the point of sales (Article 14).