Algeria: 1,100 drink producers operate in black market

Foreign ministry intervened to negotiate with Tunisian authorities and find a solution to the problem of Algerian drinks exporting. There are complaints of restriction on exporters who injected 260 billion centimes in 6 months only in 2017.

The ministry agreed with commerce officials not to impose taxes on Algerians only but also Tunisian products in order to open market and competition.

President of the Professional Association of Drinks and Juice Ali Hamani told Echorouk a request was submitted to the commerce ministry to ban taxes on drinks producers and exporters who import agricultural products made in the European Union (EU).

“Drink producers are the most import source out of hydrocarbons. Because of that, they should benefit from advantages to extend their exports list,” he added.

He also said the Association also asked the ministry to intervene after unjustified taxes had been imposed on Algerian drinks.

“A crisis cell of representatives of commerce, agriculture, finance and foreign ministries was set up. They asked Tunisian authorities to give clarifications and the problem was solved,” he added.

According to the Association’s president, drinks price will not increase.

“The market should be organized. There are 600 operators while more than 1,100 operate illegally. It is important to organize production and exporting. Producers should guarantee necessary quality and respect healthy criteria. Operators in the black market do not respect quality and threaten consumers’ health,” he said.