Apply for an alcoholic products producer approval (APPA)
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-18)

Apply for approval from HMRC to produce alcoholic products such as beer, cider, spirits, wine, and other fermented products in the UK.

Before you start

If you want to produce alcoholic 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 APPA (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-an-alcoholic-products-producer-approval-appa).

When you should apply

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, including their APPA ID
- 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 (UTR)
- the categories of alcoholic products you’ll produce on the premises
- the date that you intend to 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, including the approval numbers assigned to that approved person or excise warehouse
If an officer or employee makes the application on behalf of your business, they’ll need to provide their name, position in the business and contact details.

You’ll need to give us an estimate of how much alcohol you’ll produce in the calendar year that you apply. You must make a note in your business records of how you’ve made this estimate.

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
When you apply, you should tell us about all the alcoholic products, activities and premises you need approval for. If you’re going to produce more than one alcoholic product, or produce at more than one premises, include these details in your application.

Once you’ve applied

We’ll consider 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 APPA, you must email or write to HMRC (https://www.gov.uk/find-hmrc-contacts/excise-warehousing-excise-goods-movements-and-alcohol-duties-enquiries) to withdraw your application.

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 APPA ID. As soon as you get this, you should enrol onto the Manage your Alcohol Duty online service (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-access-to-the-alcohol-duty-online-service).

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
Making changes to your APPA

Once you’re approved, you must notify us of any changes to your production. For example, if you intend to:
- produce a new category of alcoholic product
- use a new premises to produce alcoholic products
- stop production
You can notify us of any changes by emailing or writing to HMRC (https://www.gov.uk/find-hmrc-contacts/excise-warehousing-excise-goods-movements-and-alcohol-duties-enquiries) to withdraw your application.

Read more about making changes to your APPA in section 4 of the alcoholic products technical guide (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/alcoholic-products-technical-guide/section-4-approvals).

If we change or revoke your approval

You must follow the conditions set out in alcoholic products technical guide (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/alcoholic-products-technical-guide/section-4-approvals). 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
Apply online

You’ll need to sign in to apply online. If you do not already have sign in details, you’ll be able to create them.

Apply now (https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/submissions/new-form/apply-for-alcoholic-products-producer-approval)

If you cannot apply online

Contact HMRC (https://www.gov.uk/find-hmrc-contacts/excise-warehousing-excise-goods-movements-and-alcohol-duties-enquiries) in writing to ask for a paper form, if you:
- object to using computers on religious grounds
- cannot use computers because of your age, a disability or because you do not have internet access where you live
Get more information

Read section 4 of the alcoholic products technical guide (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/alcoholic-products-technical-guide/section-4-approvals) to learn more about:
- the approval process
- making changes to your APPA