Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has suggested that lawmakers revoke the state's monopoly of ethyl alcohol production from January 1, 2020.

The respective bill, No. 1567, was registered in parliament on December 22.

In keeping with the bill, all economic entities, irrespective of the type of their ownership, will be allowed to produce ethyl alcohol from January 1, 2020, on the condition that they operate under a license.

As reported, the state-owned Ukrspyrt Concern ethyl alcohol distillery is subordinate to the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.

Late in July 2010, the Cabinet decided to liquidate Ukrspyrt Concern and create a state-owned company with the same name.

In 2013, Ukrspyrt's facilities boosted ethyl alcohol output by 4.3% from 2012, to 18.2 million decaliters. At the same time, ethyl alcohol sales in 2013 decreased by 14.2%, to 15.3 million decaliters, including 15.1 million decaliters sold on the domestic market.

Ukrspyrt's management earlier criticized initiatives to privatize the company, noting the importance of state controls in the alcohol production industry, while pointing out Ukrspyrt's improved performance and an increase in state budget revenue coming from the company.