All holders of alcohol licenses can continue to sell alcohol until the Ministry of Customs and Revenue (M.C.R.) gives further details, says the Alcohol Control Board.

The M.C.R. had initially issued a notice in early February this year that advised that all business licenses issued for the year 2022 expired on 31 December 2022.

However, last week the Ministry issued a public notice approved by the Chair and members of the Alcohol Control Board which stated that the deadline for the submission of renewal applications for business licenses for this year has been extended to 31 March 2023.

"The last day for submitting your renewal application for the year 2023 will be the 31st of March 2023 at Customs Office at Matautu-Tai and Ministry of Customs and Revenue at Salelologa, Savaii," the public notice reads. 

"Failure to submit your application by the due date will result in the revocation of your alcohol license. For all alcohol license holders who applied for renewal, the Alcohol Control Board is now reviewing all applications received.

"In the meantime, holders of Alcohol license 2022 can continue to sell alcohol until further notice."

The public notice issued by the Ministry further stated that Alcohol Control Board convened a special meeting on 21 March 2023 with alcohol license holders advised that both successful and non-successful renewals will be advised on the first week of April.

The Samoa Observer understands another extension was approved earlier in February this year by the Ministry which ended on 28 February 2023 to allow business owners more time to comply with all the requirements.

The Acting Inland Revenue CEO Fonoti Talaitupu Li'a Taefu at the time reminded the business community of a SAT$200 penalty to be imposed on any business license which was unpaid after 28 February 2023.

"All business issued for the year 2022 expired on 31 December 2022. Business license holders are therefore reminded to renew their 2023 business licenses prior to the end of the extension granted," the notice issued by the Ministry in February reads.

"A late payment penalty of $200 will be imposed on any business license which remains unpaid after 28 February 2023. 

"It is also emphasised that anyone who operates a business without the required business license will be prosecuted under the provisions of the Business Licenses Act 1998."

In December last year, the Ministry announced the changes to the requirements for business licenses in Samoa. 

The Minister of Customs and Revenue, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio in previous interviews with this newspaper said the amendments made by the Ministry are an attempt to identify the real beneficial owners of the different companies in the country. 

He said the amendments are part of the requirements of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (O.E.C.D.) which he says can help Samoa get off the European Union blacklist. 

Tuala said the amendments will help the authorities identify who the real beneficial owners of businesses are, which also means filtering and identifying illegal foreigners who are establishing and running businesses in Samoa. 

"The most important thing is this is a requirement from the O.E.C.D. to identify the real beneficial owners for the businesses," said Tuala.

"With the new amendments, it's not going to be easy for any foreigner to come and set up a business in Samoa, and work behind the scenes while Samoans run and operate the business, they must now have a valid passport and visa."

The new changes mean that any businesses renewing their license from 1 December 2022 will have to re-apply, produce a legitimate identification, and fill out the registration form. 

It will be like applying for a new license as they need to go through the entire process again, according to Tuala, 

"And if you can't meet the requirements, you will not get a business license."