State alcohol register abolished from 01.11.2026: alcohol no longer needs to be registered

From 01.11.2026 alcohol handled in Estonia no longer has to be entered in the state alcohol register: the requirement „olema kantud riiklikku alkoholiregistrisse“ (translation: to be entered in the state alcohol register) is removed from § 4 subsection 1 of the Alcohol Act (alkoholiseadus, AS) [1] [2]. AS § 8, which sets out how the state alcohol register operates, applies until 31.10.2026 [3].

What changes

• AS § 4 lg 1: until now alcohol handled had, among other things, to „olema kantud riiklikku alkoholiregistrisse“ (translation: be entered in the state alcohol register), to match the test report submitted on registration and, as regards packaging and labelling, the „riiklikku alkoholiregistrisse kandmisel esitatud tootenäidisele“ (translation: product sample submitted on entry in the state alcohol register) [1]. The new wording keeps the requirements that alcohol must „vastama alkoholi määratlemise, kirjeldamise ja müügiks esitlemise nõuetele“ (translation: meet the requirements for the definition, description and presentation of alcohol for sale) and, where the law so provides, be „maksumärgistatud“ (translation: bear tax stamps) [2].
• AS § 8 (general principles of the state alcohol register) applies until 31.10.2026; the register's purpose was to „avaldada teavet Eestis toodetud ja Eestisse toimetatud alkoholi kohta“ (translation: publish information on alcohol produced in or brought into Estonia) and to enable accounting and supervision [3].
• AS § 17 lg 2: the obligation of a wine handler to „edastama riikliku alkoholiregistri volitatud töötlejale iga kuu 15. kuupäevaks aruande“ (translation: submit a report to the authorised processor of the state alcohol register by the 15th of each month) on wine sent for export, wholesale or retail in the previous month is removed [4]. The obligation to keep records by the producer's batch code remains (AS § 17 lg 1) [5].
• RLS § 261³² (State Fees Act): the state fees of 10 euros for an application to enter alcohol in the register and 4 euros for extending a registration apply until 31.10.2026 [6].
• AS § 76³ (new): register data and files archived before 01.11.2026 are handed over to the Agriculture and Food Board (Põllumajandus- ja Toiduamet), which keeps them for „kümme aastat alates 2026. aasta 1. novembrist“ (translation: ten years from 1 November 2026); the data are then deleted [7].

Who is affected

Producers, importers and other alcohol handlers who have entered alcohol in the state alcohol register [1] [3], and wine handlers who filed the monthly report [4].

What to do

1. From 01.11.2026 new alcohol need not be registered, but make sure it meets the requirements for definition, description and presentation for sale and bears tax stamps where required [2].
2. Wine handlers: the monthly report to the register's processor is no longer filed [4] [5], but the obligation to keep records by batch code remains, except for a handler engaged only in retail sale of alcohol [5].
3. If you need earlier register data, the Agriculture and Food Board keeps them [7].