The 3rd Congress of the Polish Spirits Industry’s (PPS) was held on 22 June, hosted by the Ministry of Economic Development. After nearly two years of crisis associated with excise tax increases, the spirits industry is slowly stabilizing. Producers are willing to increase investment and are counting on exports within the EU and outside.
However, much depends on the actions and understanding on the part of the newly elected Government. PPS is calling for a reduction in tax discrimination between beer, wine and spirits, and a fight against illicit alcohol that is destroying the legitimate spirits market. Polish producers are undertaking a range of actions to end the negative perception of spirits drinks - and vodka in particular, the emblematic product of Poland - known and recognised across the world.
Mr Wieslaw Jasinski, Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Finance, said the new Government is not planning to increase excise tax on spirits and instead will intensify the fight against non-commercial alcohol. The Ministry is working on changes in legislation to reduce the number of contaminants of ethyl alcohol exempted from excise tax and to introduce an obligation to register each acquisition in EU of completely denatured ethyl alcohol. The Ministry of Finance will also investigate the increased imports of contaminated alcohol from Hungary. Regarding excise rate, Minister Jasinski declared his will to give alcohol industry a longer term perspective of excise changes but did not confirmed when the roadmap will be ready.
