Technical Spirit and Alcohol-Containing Preparations

Alcohol-containing goods that are not alcoholic beverages or medicines are classified as technical spirit or alcohol-containing preparations. Technical spirit is mainly used in commercial activities (CN codes 2207 or 2208), for example as consumables and input materials in manufacturing industry or for scientific and medical purposes.

Alcohol-containing preparations contain more than 2.25 percent alcohol by volume and are not technical spirit, alcoholic beverages, or medicines. Examples are cosmetics, disinfectants, windshield washer fluid, fuel, dietary supplements, and alcohol-containing ice cream. Those who sell, manufacture, or import these products must notify the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten).

Requirements

  • Technical spirit: Notification to the Public Health Agency is required for selling technical spirit that is not completely denatured according to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3199/93. To sell, import, or introduce requires approval as a warehouse keeper from the Tax Agency (Skatteverket).
  • Alcohol-containing preparations: Those who manufacture, import, or introduce alcohol-containing preparations (not containing completely denatured technical spirit) and sell on the Swedish market must notify the Public Health Agency.
  • Compliance: Operators must know and follow the Alcohol Act (2010:1622) and the Public Health Agency's regulations (HSLF-FS 2022:63).

Procedure

  • Notification: Submit notification to the Public Health Agency using the form for notification of sale of technical spirit and alcohol-containing preparations.
  • Registration: The notification is a registration that you intend to conduct trade. The Public Health Agency does not issue approvals to start trading.
  • Supervision: The Public Health Agency exercises supervision over operators covered by alcohol-related laws and regulations.