Retailing Alcohol with Less than 5.5% ABV: Is Registration with the Economic Office Required?

First, regarding the obligation to register when trading alcohol under 5.5% ABV:

Based on the provisions of Clause 1, Article 16 of Decree 17/2020/ND-CP:

Industrial alcohol producers, craft alcohol producers intended for business purposes, alcohol distributors, wholesale alcohol sellers, and retail alcohol sellers with an alcohol content of 5.5% or more must have a license; merchants selling alcohol with an alcohol content of 5.5% or more for on-site consumption, merchants trading in alcohol under 5.5% must register with the District Economic Department or the District Economic and Infrastructure Department; households and individuals that produce craft alcohol with an alcohol content of 5.5% or more to sell to licensed alcohol producers for further processing must register with the People's Committee of the commune where the production facility is located.

According to this regulation, if your household business engages in the trade of alcohol with an alcohol content under 5.5%, you must register with the Economic Department. This regulation does not distinguish between wholesale or retail activities; therefore, as long as this business activity is conducted, you are required to fulfill the registration obligation as per the regulation.

Second, regarding the registration form, if you are subject to the obligation to register the alcohol trading business as per the above regulation, your household business needs to follow Form No. 14 - Registration of alcohol trading under 5.5% ABV, issued under Decree 17/2020/ND-CP.

Sincerely!