MOSCOW, December 24 (RAPSI) – Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev supported the initiative to improve the registration process for alcohol and alcohol-containing products, in an effort to combat counterfeit alcohol proudction and trade, according to information posted on the government’s website on Wednesday.

The Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation (Rosalkogolregulirovanie) and the concerned federal executive authorities are now required to draft a bill to amend legislation to require that alcohol retailers introduce the Unified State Automated Information System (USAIS) for registering the production and marketing of fermentation ethanol and alcohol and alcohol-containing products.

The USAIS would be required to register information about companies that produce beer and beer-containing drinks, cider, perry and mead and those that purchase, store and supply (including abroad) alcohol and alcohol-containing products and also sell alcohol in retail stores.

The previous attempt at implementing USAIS in 2006 caused nation-wide halt in alcohol trade, due to major faults in the system. Retail chains dealing in alcohol and perfume were left without supplies for several months.

The amendments would not cover the retail trade of the above drinks; alcohol products sold in the restaurant system; and alcohol products sold in rural areas with a population of below 3,000 people without Internet access.

The bill is aimed at ensuring reliable registration of the production and marketing of fermentation ethanol and alcohol and alcohol-containing products and to strengthen the effectiveness of efforts against illegal production.