Karnataka - Bangalore   

Wine policy notified

BANGALORE: In a move that could help grape growers in the State, the State Government has notified the draft wine policy in the gazette, simplifying procedures for production and marketing wine in Karnataka.

The notification follows the approval of some of the features of the “Karnataka Grape Processing and Wine Policy,” by the Wine Board recently. Among the salient features of the notification, brought out by the Excise Department, are encouragement to grape growers in the State, especially in districts of Bijapur, Bagalkot and Belgaum.In the light of the need for an integrated policy as related to production and marketing wines in the State, enforcing a ‘Wine Policy’ was declared in the 2006-2007 budget.

Following the notification, the rules for issuing licence and permit to the wineries have been simplified. The licences would henceforth be issued at the district level by the deputy commissioners concerned, and they would be empowered to clear the licence applications within 30 days of applying.

To encourage wine producers and also to facilitate sales, the draft rule permits sale of wine through wine-taverns, apart from sales at the point of production for a fee of Rs. 2,000 per annum. Permission will also be provided to undertake sale of wine in bottles in bars, which have obtained licence for the wholesale trade of wine.

The additional excise duty on every litre of wine produced in the State will be reduced to Rs. 2, while the wine that is brought to Karnataka from other States will attract a four-fold additional excise duty.

To tap the growing tourism potential of the State, the draft policy seeks to promote “wine tourism.” Under this, licensed wineries will be allowed to sell wine to those visitors who are interested to buy it for self-consumption.

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