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TELANGANA MICRO BREWERY RULES, 2015

TELANGANA MICRO BREWERY RULES, 2015

TELANGANA MICRO BREWERY RULES, 2015

PREAMBLE

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 72 read with Sections 17, 28 and 29 of the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act, 1968 (Andhra Pradesh Act 17 of 1968) the Governor of Telangana hereby makes the following rules.

Rule - 1. Short title, extent and commencement.

(1)     These rules may be called the Telangana Microbrewery Rules, 2015.

(2)     They shall extend to whole of the State of Telangana.

(3)     They shall come into force at once.

Rule - 2. Application.

These rules shall apply for the grant of Licence for establishment and functioning of Microbreweries and conditions governing thereof.

Rule - 3. Definitions.

(1)     In these rules, unless the context, otherwise requires:-

(a)      "Act" means the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act 1968,

(b)      "Bar" means the privilege granted under this Act to an establishment where food is served, for sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Foreign Liquor, in loose for consumption on the licensed premises.

(c)      "Beer" includes ale, stout, porter and all other fermented liquors usually made from malt.

(d)      Draught Beer: means Bulk Beer (filtered and carbonized and ready for bottling) drawn from a Vat /Barrel/ Cask or any other vessel before pasteurization is called Draught Beer.

(e)      "Dry day" means a day on which no liquor shall be served in the licensed premises;

(f)       "Form" means a form appended to these rules.

(g)      "Highway" means a national Highway or a State Highway but shall not include the part of the National Highway or State Highway which passes within the limits of a Municipal corporation, Municipal council or the Gouthan in any village or Panchayat area;

(h)     "Licence" means licence granted under these rules;

(i)       "Licensee" means holder of such licence;

(j)       "License Fee" means annual license fee as shown in the schedule appended to these rules and includes proportionate licence fee.

(k)      "Licence period" means a period of 12 months beginning from the 1st October of the year and ending with 30th of September of the succeeding year or part thereof.

(l)       "Microbrewery" means a small brewery with an installed capacity of not more than one thousand liters per day in a place having built-up area with spacious dining hall and parking facility, where Draught Beer is manufactured and the same is served to their customers for consumption within the premises.

(m)    "Population" means the figure of population as officially published in the latest census.

(n)     "Permit" means permit issued under these rules.

(o)      "Standalone Microbrewery" means a small brewery where draught beer is manufactured and served exclusively.

(2)     The words and expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act, 1968.

Rule - 4. Licence.

A licence in Form-MB-2B, may be granted to an establishment licensed by the local authority to serve food such as a Hotel or a Restaurant or having 2B/TD1/TD2 licenses for the sale of Indian Made Foreign liquor and foreign liquor in glasses or pegs for consumption within the licensed premises but not for sale of Indian Made Foreign liquor and foreign liquor for removing it out of the licensed premises. Such licence may be granted in the establishment functioning in GHMC municipalities and within a belt area of 5 kms of the periphery of such municipal corporations and in Tourism Centers (except places of religious tourism) as notified by the Department of Tourism of the State Government or Central Government.

Rule - 5. Application for licence.

(1)     A person intending to establish a Microbrewery may submit an application in Form-MB-1A to the Commissioner of Prohibition & Excise enclosing a challan of ` 5,000/- and No objection certificate from local body competent to issue to get prior clearance.

(2)     The Commissioner having due regard to requirement and other factors as he deems fit, may grant prior clearance in Form-MB-2A to such of the applicants covered under sub-rule (1).

Provided that, the grant of prior clearance shall not confer any right on the applicant for grant of licence in Form-MB-2B. The holder shall not claim any compensation or loss in case licence in Form MB-2B is not granted.

(3)     The holder of prior clearance in Form MB-2A shall erect the equipment and obtain licence within 90 days, failing which the prior clearance will expire and money paid vide sub-rule (1) above shall be forfeited.

(4)     As soon as the equipment is installed the holder of prior clearance shall submit an application in Form-MB-2A for grant of licence in respect of Microbrewery to the Commissioner along with challan towards licence fee.

(5)     The Commissioner of Prohibition & Excise, after making such enquiry as he may think necessary, to ascertain the bona fides of the applicant and verifying the particulars furnished in the application should examine the suitability of the premises for granting Microbrewery.

(6)     The Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise may grant the licence after causing such enquiry as he may deem fit.

(7)     The applicant before issue of the licence shall execute a counter-part agreement In Form-6 MB, on the stamp paper of requisite value as per provisions of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899.

Rule - 6. Restrictions on the grant of Licence.

(1)     A licence in Form-2 MB shall not be granted,

(i)       Unless the premises has:-

(a)      a minimum plinth area of 1000 Sq. meters. Out of which minimum 100 Sq. meters for serving area and minimum 100 Sq. Meters for restaurant and minimum 300 Sq. Meters for plant.

(b)      a separate Restaurant within the licensed premises for consumption.

(c)      Sanitary equipment like wash basin, water closet.

(d)      Facility for cooking and serving complete meals of good quality to the consumers as licensed by local authority.

(e)      Air conditioning or Air cooling facility where draught beer is consumed.

(f)       A minimum of 200 Sq. mts shall be provided for parking.

(ii)      Within 100 meters from educational institution recognized by the Government, places for public worship such as Temples registered by the Endowments Department, Mosques registered with the Wakf Board, Churches and Hospitals.

Provided that in the limits of Municipal Corporations and within the belt area of 5 Kms of the periphery of Municipal Corporations, the distance restriction mentioned above shall be 50 meters.

(iii)     Within 500 meters of predominantly residential area but licenses may however be sanctioned if the proposed premises is located on a main road used for shopping purposes.

Provided that the restrictions in clauses (i) to (iii) shall not be applicable to Star Hotels (3 Star and above) certified by the Tourism Department of the State or Central Government.

(iv)    within 50 meters of a Highway

(v)      Unless the applicant produces the permission or the no objection certificate from the local authority concerned for sale of draught beer at the premises by the applicant.

(vi)    Unless the applicant produces the lease deed on a Stamp paper for the proposed licensed premises from the owner of the premises.

(vii)   Unless the applicant produces the NOC from the PCB as required for small scale industries.

Explanation:- For the purpose of this rule-

(a)      "Place of public worship" means a temple registered with the Endowment Department, Mosque registered with Wakf Board and Church and includes such other religious institutions, as the State Government may by order specify in this behalf;

(b)      "Educational Institutions" means any Primary school, Middle School and High School recognized by the State Government or Central Government, Junior College or any College affiliated to any University established by law:

(c)      "High Way" means National High way or State Highway and shall not include the part of the National Highway or State Highway which passes within the limits of Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council or the Gouthan in any village or Panchayat area.

(d)      "Hospital" means any hospital which is managed or owned by a local authority, State Government or Central Government or any private hospital having a provision of at least thirty (30) beds.

The distances referred above shall be measured from the midpoint of the entrance of the proposed Bar premises along with the nearest path by which pedestrian ordinarily reaches to the midpoint of the nearest gate of the institution or a place of public worship, if there is a compound wall and if there is no compound wall to the mid-point of the nearest entrance of the Institution/place of public worship or to the entrance of the first house of the predominantly residential area.

Rule - 7. Persons not eligible for grant of licence.

The following persons are not eligible for grant of licenses:-

(i)       persons below the age of twenty one years,

(ii)      persons who are undercharged insolvents or who have been convicted of offences under the provisions of the Act or the Customs Act, 1962 or Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (Central Act 61 of 1985) or convicted under Andhra Pradesh intoxicating liquors (Prohibition of Advertisements) Act, 1978 or convicted of non-bailable offences or are habitual offenders.

(iii)     Persons suffering from leprosy or other contagious disease only in cases where such persons have to handle the stocks of liquor or beer in premises or elsewhere personally,

(iv)    Defaulters in the payment of excise revenue to the Government.

Rule - 8. Failure to comply with directions entails rejection of application.

In case the licence holder fails to operate the microbrewery according to specifications and quality standards, the licence granted shall be liable for cancellation without compensation for any damage or loss.

Rule - 9. Period of the Licence and commencement of business.

(1)     Every Microbrewery shall be valid for one year commencing from 1st October ending with 30th September of the succeeding year, subject to payment of licence fee as prescribed.

Provided that the licence issued on or after the 1st October shall be valid up to the 30th September of the succeeding year.

Provided that a licence granted for a part of the licence period shall be valid for such period as may be specified by the licensing authority.

Provided further that every licensee shall commence his business from 1st October or such other date as may be specified in the licence and shall keep the Microbrewery open every day during the hours fixed till the expiry of the licence period with sufficient stock of draught beer unless the closure of the Microbrewery is ordered by the competent authority for the period specified.

Rule - 10. License Fee.

(a)      The licence fee shall be ` 3,00,000/- per annum.

(b)      The licensee shall furnish a security deposit of an amount of ` 1,00,000/- in the shape of Bank Guarantee (Form-MB-BG)/ Fixed Deposit Receipt/Cash issued by any scheduled Bank in the name of Commissioner.

Rule - 11.

If a licence is surrendered in the middle of the licence period, the deposits and the Licence fee paid shall be forfeited to the Government.

Rule - 12.

The licence fee shall be paid into the concerned Government Treasury in the District in which the licensed premises is located.

Rule - 13.

Where a licence stands cancelled or suspended for any violation of the rules and conditions of licence, the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise may order forfeiture of the deposit/Bank Guarantee furnished by the licensee either in full or in part depending upon the nature of violation and such forfeited deposit/Bank Guarantee shall be made good by the licensee within the time fixed by the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise. In case the licensee fails to make good the extent of forfeited deposit/Bank Guarantee within the time fixed the licence automatically stands cancelled.

Rule - 14. Licensing authority.

(a)      The Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise shall be competent to grant microbrewery License in the prescribed Form-2 MB.

(b)      Brand Registration:-

(1)     The licensee shall submit an application in Form. MB-1R to the Commissioner duly affixed with Court fee stamp of requisite value as per the provisions of Indian Stamp Act, 1899 and shall enclose with ten copies of each variety of brand sought to be registered.

(2)     No application referred in sub-rule (1) shall be entertained unless the licensee remits the brand/brands fee of ` 1,000/- (Rupees One Thousand only) and the challan in support of the payment is produced with the application.

(3)     The licensee shall also get the brand/ brands re-approved for each licensed year by paying the brand/brands fee specified in sub-rule (2).

(4)     The Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise, on receipt of such application and after causing an enquiry, if necessary, and on being satisfied that there is no objection to approve the brand and that the conditions laid down in sub-rule (2) have been fulfilled, may approve the label in Form-MB 2R. One copy shall be sent to the Telangana State Beverages Corporation Limited and one copy shall be retained for further use by the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise in his office. One copy shall be sent to local SHO, One copy shall be sent to Local Prohibition and Excise Superintendent concerned, One copy shall be sent to Deputy Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise concerned, One copy shall be sent to Director of Enforcement, Telangana State, Hyderabad.

(5)     The brand/brands fee once remitted and the brand was duly approved it shall not be refunded or adjusted for any reason including withdrawal or cancellation of contract by the Telangana State Beverages Corporation Limited or non-issue of purchase orders.

(6)     The manner and the contents of the brand/brands shall be in the form as may be specified by the Commissioner from time to time.

Rule - 15. Conditions of Licence.

(i)       Installed Capacity of microbrewery shall not exceed 1,000 bulk liters per day

(ii)      The draught beer so produced shall not be bottled/sold outside the premises. The draught beer shall be served in glasses or pitchers.

(iii)     The finished product in the storage tanks is removed on site consumption as and when required.

(iv)    The shelf life of the beer manufactured in microbrewery shall be 36 hrs only.

Rule - 16. The licensee shall deploy a chemist holding a degree in Science with Chemistry as one of the subject preferably.

(i)       Organic Chemistry (or)

(ii)      Bio-Chemistry (or)

(iii)     Specialisation in Alcohol Technology.

(iv)    Must hire full time head brewer with at least 7 years industrial experience and must be certified by reputed brewing educational programme. Foreign work experience and foreign educational institutions are accepted.

(v)      The analysis report of the chemist shall be countersigned by authorized officer.

(vi)    Chemist shall be responsible for specifications and quality of the beer and safety.

(vii)   The sample from each bottle shall be sent to the Chemical Examiner for cross check.

Rule - 17.

An electronic flow meter shall be installed between the fermentation tanks and storage tanks and the flow meter shall be under the supervision of brewery inspector. The flow meter should be as per specifications as fixed by the Commissioner of Prohibition & Excise.

Rule - 18. Excise Duty and other levies.

The excise duty shall be paid at such rates as may be specified by the Government from time to time.

50% of Excise Duty, VAT and other applicable levies chargeable per one year on the installed capacity shall be paid in advance. Payment of Excise Duty, VAT and other applicable Levis on the produced beer shall be on the basis of monthly invoice raised by Telangana State Beverages Corporation Limited.

Rule - 19. Sale permitted at the licensed premises only.

(1)     The licensee shall sell the draught beer only at the premises specified in the licence.

(2)     No change or alteration of the licensed premises shall be made during the licence period without the prior approval of the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise.

(3)     No shifting of the licensed premises shall ordinarily be permitted during the licence period from one location to another. However, the shifting of the licensed premises under Form-2 MB may be considered by the Commissioner of Proh& Excise if the shifting of the original licensed premises of Hotel and Restaurant is permitted by the local authority.

Rule - 20. License and plan of the licensed premises to be exhibited.

The proforma licence shall be exhibited in a conspicuous place in the licensed premises. The Licensee shall also exhibit the approved drawings/plan of the licensed premises for verification by the Inspecting authorities.

Rule - 21. Hours of Business.

(1)     The Licensee shall transact business along with the supply of food in the Restaurant as per the timings specified in Rule 15 of the Telangana Excise (Grant of licence of selling by bar & conditions of licence) Rules, 2005 or as notified by the Government from time to time.