Import quotas for Czech spirits at 40,000 hectoliters

The Association of Slovak and Czech Spirits Producers has reached a preliminary agreement to set quotas for Czech spirits imported to Slovakia at 40,000 hectolitres, Anna Joštiaková, the head of Economy Ministry's Trade Policy Section, announced on March 12. The Customs Union Council will decide on the introduction of import quotas at its April session, she added. Slovakia has for a long time been losing the battle on the field of trade with alcoholic beverages, especially beer. Last year, Slovakia imported 511,449 hectoliters of beer, worth 439 million Sk, which was 96.1 percent of a set quota of 532,000 hectoliters. On the other hand, Czech beer imports from Slovakia totalled 120 million Sk.