Notification Detail | TRIS - European Commission

Act amending the Alcohol Act

Notification Number:

2018/0324/FIN (Finland)

Date received:

06/07/2018

End of Standstill:

08/10/2018 (07/01/2019) (withdrawn)

Issue of detailed opinion by:

European Commission

Draft Text:

FI NL RO EN CS LT HR DA SV LV SL EL HU SK BG FR DE ET MT IT ES PT PL

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Message

Message 002

Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2018) 01831
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Translation of the message 001
Notification: 2018/0324/FIN

No abre el plazo - Nezahajuje odklady - Fristerne indledes ikke - Kein Fristbeginn - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délais - Non fa decorrere la mora - Neietekmē atlikšanu - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Ma’ jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dawmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Neotvorí oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Inleder ingen frist - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare.

(MSG: 201801831.EN)
1. MSG 002 IND 2018 0324 FIN EN 06-07-2018 FIN NOTIF

2. FIN

3A. Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö
Työllisyys ja toimivat markkinat -osasto
PL 32
FI-00023 VALTIONEUVOSTO

Puhelin +358 (0)295 16001, maaraykset.tekniset@tem.fi

3B. Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö
Hyvinvointi- ja palveluosasto
PL 33
00023 Valtioneuvosto

Yhteyshenkilö: Ismo Tuominen (ismo.tuominen@stm.fi, p.+358 (0)2951 63341)

4. 2018/0324/FIN - C50A

5. Act amending the Alcohol Act

6. Alcoholic beverages

7. – Directive 2006/123/EC on services in the internal market
– Requirements, according to which access to certain activities is reserved to particular providers
– Retail sales of alcoholic beverages in Finland and to Finland require a retail licence which is contingent upon approval as a retail premises in Finland. The bill clarifies that cross-border distance sales of alcoholic beverages is not permitted.

8. The Finnish government intends to submit a bill amending the Alcohol Act to Parliament.

Cross-border distance sales of alcoholic beverages would be defined in the Alcohol Act in largely the same way that distance selling is defined in Article 36 of Council Directive 2008/118/EC concerning the general arrangements for excise duty and repealing Directive 92/12/EEC.

The Act would clarify that the provisions applicable to retail sales of alcoholic beverages subject to approval and retail monopoly legislation would also apply to imported alcoholic beverages. The Act would stipulate, however, that the wholesale distribution of alcoholic beverages carried out from abroad would not require any licences. On the other hand, since the retail licence for alcoholic beverages may be granted only to an approved sales premises, cross-border distance sales would be prohibited. Distance vendors would not be allowed to import, contrary to the Alcohol Act, distance-sold alcoholic beverages containing more than 2.8 % alcohol by volume.

In addition, a procedure would be laid down through which individuals could still purchase and import all alcoholic beverages for their own use, including by having them transported to Finland by another individual or a trader.

9. The existing Alcohol Act prohibits cross-border distance sales of alcoholic beverages in Finland, but the compatibility of its provisions with EU law is open to interpretation.

The Judgment of the Court in Case C-198/14 Visnapuu and the judgement handed down by the Supreme Court of Finland on the same case KKO 2018:48 have now clarified that the prohibition of cross-border distance sales of alcoholic beverages under the Finnish Alcohol Act is compatible with EU law.

The existing provisions would be clarified on the basis of the considerations presented in the aforementioned judgments. At the same time, it would be ensured that individuals may purchase and import all alcoholic beverages, subject to certain procedures.

10. Reference(s) to basic text(s): Alcohol Act (1102/2017)

11. No

12. -

13. No

14. No

15. Pages 1 to 10 of the explanatory memorandum

16. TBT aspect

No - the draft has no significant impact on international trade.

SPS aspect

Yes

**********
European Commission

Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Fax: +32 229 98043
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu

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