Lithuania

TerraLex Cross-Border Guide to Cross-Border Food & Beverage Guide

The TerraLex Cross-Border Food & Beverage Guide provides crucial insights into international food and beverage law, aiding TerraLex members and clients in understanding the regulatory and operational environments across various jurisdictions. This concise guide covers food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, making it an essential resource for those involved in global matters.

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Lithuania Cross-Border Food & Beverage Guide Guide

Firms:: TEGOS (Lithuania)
Authors:: Dalia Tamasauskaite, Aleksandra Fedotova
Date posted:: 25/09/2024
Last update:: 25/04/2025

Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Is it regulated?

Yes, food and non-alcoholic beverages are regulated in Lithuania.

What are the regulatory agencies and what do they regulate?

The main regulatory agency responsible for food and non-alcoholic beverages is the State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS). The SFVC conducts national food inspections, monitoring various aspects of the safety of food and non-alcoholic beverages. This includes regulating safety requirements and hygiene throughout the marketplace and production process, ensuring proper labelling according to legal requirements, and monitoring the safety and quality of imported and exported food and beverages to meet Lithuania's and EU's standards.

What are the relevant statutes/regulations?

The main laws/regulations governing food and non-alcoholic beverages are:

Food Law of the Republic of Lithuania
Technical Regulation on the description, production and presentation of non-alcoholic beverages and kvass.

Any unique aspects of regulation?

The regulation of food and non-alcoholic beverages complies with the legal acts of the European Union.

Alcoholic Beverages

Is it regulated?

Yes, certain aspects of alcoholic beverages are regulated in Lithuania.

What are the regulatory agencies and what do they regulate?

The regulation of alcoholic beverages falls under the jurisdiction of the Drug, Tobacco, and Alcohol Control Department. The marketing, production, and advertising of alcoholic beverages are heavily regulated. The department is responsible for ensuring that businesses comply with the law to reduce the number of infractions and protect the interests of society.

What are the relevant statutes/regulations?

The main law that regulates the production, sale, import, and export of alcoholic beverages is the Law on Alcohol Control of the Republic of Lithuania.

Any unique aspects of regulation (including whether a license is needed for manufacturing/wholesale/retail and what is the timeline for issuance)?

Only businesses with a license to produce alcohol are permitted to manufacture alcohol products. Licenses are issued, updated, and amended by the Drug, Tobacco, and Alcohol Control Department. Licenses are issued indefinitely. The alcohol production license shall be issued within 30 calendar days upon receipt of all completed documents.

The law offers various types of licenses for selling alcoholic beverages wholesale or retail: • Wholesale of alcoholic products is restricted to companies holding a wholesale licence for alcoholic products or an alcoholic beverages licence. Their licenses are issued indefinitely. • Retail sale of alcoholic beverages is permitted only with a license for retail sale of alcoholic beverages. The mayor of the municipality or the municipal administration authorised by the mayor is responsible for the validity of these licences. These licenses are generally issued indefinitely, except in cases where authorization for the sale of alcoholic beverages in resorts may be granted for a season, or during events only for that event. The licenses for selling alcoholic beverages wholesale or retail shall be issued within 30 calendar days upon receipt of all completed documents.

Disclaimer: This guide contains summaries of general principles of law. It is not a substitute for specific legal advice and should not be relied upon in relation to the application of the law or subject matter covered.