Alcoholic beverages
- Document symbol
- G/LIC/N/3/NOR/10
- Original language
- English
- Published on
- 27/04/2021
Outline of Systems
Q1. Give a brief description of each licensing system as a whole and, with respect to each, reply to the following questions as relevant, placing all of the material with respect to a given system in sequence together, and using cross references as appropriate when elements which have already been described are also present in another system.
Alcoholic beverages may only be imported by parties who hold an import licence, an extended retail licence or a serving licence extended to cover imports. Alcoholic beverages may also be imported by Vinmonopolet. Private persons may, for their personal use, import alcoholic beverages without a licence. This is regulated by Act No. 27 on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages (Alcohol Act) of 2 June 1989.
When a private person imports alcoholic beverages the Directorate of Health and the Customs and Excise Authorities may require documentation that the alcoholic beverage is for personal use, if the quantity, or other circumstances, give reason to believe that it is not. If such documentation cannot be submitted, the goods cannot be imported without authorization or licence mentioned above. This is regulated by Regulation No. 538 on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages (Alcohol Regulation) of 8 June 2005.
Purposes and Coverage of Licensing
Q2. Identify each licensing system maintained and state what products, appropriately grouped, are covered.
Alcoholic beverages covered by the import provisions in the Alcoholic Act are beverages containing more than 2.5% alcohol by volume. Alcoholic beverages containing more than 60% alcohol by volume can only be imported by undertakings holding an import licence in Norway (to be used in production).
The types of licensing systems that gives the right to import alcoholic beverages:
Trading activity
(a) Import licence in Norway.
(b) An extended retail licence in Norway.
(c) A serving licence extended to cover imports in Norway.
(d) Imports by Vinmonopolet.
Private imports for personal use require no licensing, but documentation that the alcoholic beverage is for personal use may be required.
Q3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from which countries?
The systems apply to alcoholic beverages from all countries.
Q4. Is the licensing intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports, and if not, what are its purposes? Have alternative methods of accomplishing the purposes been considered and if so which? Why have they not been adopted?
The purpose is to curb the harm to the society and the individual that may result from the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Q5. Cite the law, regulation and/or administrative order under which the licensing is maintained. Is the licensing statutorily required? Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion? Is it possible for the government (or the executive branch) to abolish the system without legislative approval?
Trading activities under letters (a)–(e) in answer 2 are regulated by Act No. 27 on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages (Alcohol Act) of 2 June 1989, Chapter 2. Authorization to engage in wholesaling is also regulated by Regulation No. 1451 of 11 December 2001 on special duties. Private imports for personal use are regulated by Regulation No. 538 of 8 June 2005 on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages (Alcohol Regulation), Chapter 15, § 2-1, paragraph 3.
Procedures
Q6. For products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally):
Q6.I. Is information published, and where, concerning allocation of quotas and formalities of filing applications for licences? If not, how is it brought to the attention of possible importers? Of governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries and their trade representatives? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?
Q6.II. How is the size of the quotas determined: on a yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?
Q6.III. Are licences allotted for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are the names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate.)
Q6.IV. From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?
Q6.V. What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?
Q6.VI. How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?
Q6.VII. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
Q6.VIII. If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and, if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?
Q6.IX. In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?
Q6.X. In cases where imports are allowed on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?
Q6.XI. Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?
Q7. Where there is no quantitative limit on importation of a product or on imports from a particular country:
Q7.a. How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made? Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence (for example, owing to inadvertency)?
Applications for authorization to be engaged in wholesaling one month in advance.
Q7.b. Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
Import licence is not required as long as the alcoholic beverage is for personal use.
Q7.c. Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made? If so, explain.
No.
Q7.d. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
To obtain an authorization to be engaged in wholesaling, approaches have to be made to the Tax Assessment Office.
Q8. Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria? Are the reasons for any refusal given to the applicant? Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence and, if so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?
None.
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
The applicant may appeal.
If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
The applicant may appeal in accordance with Act on Tax Administration of 27 May 2016.
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence
Q9. Are all persons, firms and institutions eligible to apply for licences: (If not, is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation? What persons or firms are eligible? Is there a registration fee? Is there a published list of authorized importers?) a) under restrictive licensing systems? b) under non-restrictive systems?
What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?
ll persons over 18 years old (over 20 years old for alcoholic beverages containing more than 22% alcohol by volume) are eligible to import alcoholic beverages for personal use. To be authorized to engage in wholesaling you must be a registered firm (at your current Tax Assessment Office) of good repute in relation to several acts.
Is there a registration fee?
There is no registration fee.
Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence
Q10. What information is required in applications? Submit a sample form. What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
To be authorized to engage in wholesaling you have to provide the information required by the Tax Authorities in the form used for registration, on basis of the Act on Tax Administration Section 8-15 (2) of 27 May 2016, including information about the stock, the warehouse, the account routines and turnovers.
Q11. What documents are required upon actual importation?
When wholesalers import the registration number must follow the imported goods.
Q12. Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge? If so, what is the amount of the fee or charge?
No administrative charges.
Q13. Is there any deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of licences? If so, state the amount or rate, whether it is refundable, the period of retention and the purpose of the requirement.
No deposit required, however Section 14-21 second paragraph of the Tax Payment Act provides that, at the time of registration or later, the Tax Assessment Office may require the undertaking to furnish security for excise duties that the entity becomes liable for in the future.
Conditions of Licensing
Q14. What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity of a licence be extended? How?
There is no validity period for the registration as liable for excise duties (wholesalers).
Q15. Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
There is no penalty for non-utilization.
Q16. Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
The licence is not transferable.
Q17. Are any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence? a) for products subject to quantitative restriction? b) for products not subject to quantitative restriction?
There are no other conditions.
Other Procedural Requirements
Q18. Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
No.