Apply for an alcoholic products producer approval (APPA)
Apply for approval from HMRC to produce beer, cider, spirits, wine, and other fermented products in the UK.
Before you start
If you want to produce beer, cider, spirits, wine, and other fermented products in the UK, you’ll need an alcoholic products producer approval (APPA). You must not start to produce alcoholic products without it.
Check if you need to apply for an alcoholic products producer approval (APPA).
You should apply at least 45 working days before you intend to start production. It might take us longer than this to process your application if:
- it’s more complex
- we need to ask you for more information
What you’ll need
To apply, you’ll need to tell us:
- your name and contact details
- the details of anyone who is, or will be, connected to your business
- the addresses of your premises, and a correspondence address, if this is different
- your current business status — for example, whether you operate as a sole trader, in a partnership, or as a limited company
- your Unique Taxpayer Reference
- the categories of alcoholic products you’ll produce on the premises
- the date that you’ll start production
- the categories of any alcoholic products you plan to import or export
- details of any alcoholic products you send to, or receive from, other approved businesses or excise warehouses
You’ll need to give us an estimate of how much alcohol you’ll produce in the current year.
You’ll also need to give us a plan of your premises. This must show the position and description of all the equipment you’ll use to produce and store alcoholic products. The plan must:
- be A4 sized or smaller
- be in black and white
- have duty suspended areas shaded
- have fire exits clearly marked in red
Once you’ve applied
We’ll check your application and run background checks. This may include:
- making sure the information you’ve provided is complete and accurate
- making sure you’ve complied with your tax obligations
- contacting other government departments and agencies
- contacting credit reference agencies
- a criminal records check
- a Companies House check
We may also visit your premises to look at your trading activities. During the visit, we’ll ask for details about your:
- suppliers
- customers
- business plan
- accounting and stock control systems
- premises
- financial viability
Withdrawing your application
If you will no longer need an alcoholic products producer approval (APPA), you must contact us in writing to withdraw your application by:
- email: nru.alcohol@hmrc.gov.uk
- post, to the address at excise and gambling duties enquiries
You cannot withdraw your application once we’ve already approved it.
If we approve your application
If we approve your application, we’ll give you your 15-digit alcoholic products producer approval (APPA) ID. You can use your APPA ID to get access to the Manage your Alcohol Duty online service.
Making changes to your approval
Once you’re approved, you must notify us within 14 calendar days of any changes to your alcoholic products producer approval (APPA). For example, if you intend to:
- produce a new category of alcoholic product
- use a new premises to produce alcoholic products
- stop production
Read more detailed information about changes in section 4 of the alcoholic products technical guide.
You can notify us of any changes:
- by email, at: nru.alcohol@hmrc.gov.uk
- in writing, using the address at Excise and gambling duties enquiries
If we change or revoke your approval
You must follow the conditions set out in alcoholic products technical guide. If you do not, we can change the conditions of your approval or revoke it at any time.
If we change or revoke your approval, you can:
- ask us to review our decision
- appeal to an independent tribunal
If we refuse your application
If we find out that the information you’ve provided is incorrect or incomplete, we can refuse your application. If you’ve deliberately misled us, you may have to pay a penalty. If we refuse your application, we’ll write to you to explain why.
If we refuse your application, you can:
- ask us to review our decision
- appeal to an independent tribunal
Apply online
To apply online, you’ll need a Government Gateway User ID and password.
Get more information
For more detailed information about alcoholic products producer approval, read the alcoholic products technical guide.
Updates to this page
Published 11 December 2024Last updated 4 February 2025 + show all updates
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A link to apply for alcoholic products producer approval (APPA) has been added to the section 'Apply online'.
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Information about what you'll need when you apply for an alcoholic products producer approval (APPA) has been updated. Contact details if you need to withdraw an application or make changes to your approval have been updated.
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Added translation