Licence to produce alcoholic beverages

Anyone intending to produce alcoholic beverages must hold either a state production licence, granting the authority for wholesale distribution after registration with the Norwegian Tax Administration, a municipal sales licence allowing for producing and sale within their own business, or a municipal alcohol serving licence with the right to produce for serving within their own business.

The website helsedirektoratet.no offers an overview of the required attachments and documentation that must be submitted with the application. You need to include at least the following attachments:

• Organisational plan/information about the organisation.
• Shareholder register (updated as of today).
• Company agreement, or possibly memorandum of association.
• Tax certificate for individuals with significant influence on the business. This must be newer than 6 months and must be ordered by the individual at skatteetaten.no.
• Tax certificate for the applying business.
• Receipt/confirmation that the business is registered for food production with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
• Internal control system; procedures for inventory management, access control, prevention of losses, shortages, theft, etc. Procedures for properly securing goods during transport and possibly intermediate storage, as well as the transportation system/which vehicles are to be used. Procedures for ensuring the correct alcohol percentage.
• Floor plan of the business premises.
• Insurance document - confirmation of physical security of storage and production facilities. Should include the degree of insurance. (Insurance is not mandatory but is viewed favourably when assessing security adequacy.)
• For alcohol production in group 3: completion certificate for an FG-approved B2 alarm system.
• Any other attachments.

Norwegian Act No 27 of 2 June 1989 relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages etc. (the Alcohol Act) Section 1-4(a).

Norwegian Regulations No 539 of 8 June 2005 relating to wholesale and production of alcoholic everages etc.

The Norwegian Directorate of Health on Licence to produce alcoholic beverages.

If the business intends to engage in wholesale/resale to wholesalers or others with sales or serving permits (restaurants, stores, Vinmonopolet, etc.), a state production licence is required. The business must also register with the Norwegian Tax Administration (skatteetaten.no).

If such production is carried out for the sole purpose of selling or serving alcohol as part of one's own business, a municipal licence is sufficient. The business must also register with the Norwegian Tax Administration (skatteetaten.no).

The applicable fees can be found in the regulations on wholesale and production of alcoholic beverages, Chapters 3 and 4.

Regulations on wholesale and production of alcoholic beverages etc

Fee:

To apply for a production licence, an application fee must be paid. The fee is specified in the wholesale regulations §3-1:
• For the production of non-spirit alcoholic beverages: NOK 12,000
• For the production of spirits: NOK 15,000
• For the production of all alcoholic beverages: NOK 15,000
• For changing from non-spirit alcoholic beverages to alcoholic beverages: NOK 3,600

Right of appeal:

Permission for the production of alcoholic beverages, as stated in Chapter 6 of the Alcohol Act, is an individual decision that can be appealed to the Ministry of Health and Care Services pursuant to Sections 28 and 29 of the Public Administration Act. Any such appeal must be in writing and substantiated. The appeal should be directed to postmottak@helsedir.no.