Brewing and Malting

Brewing and Malting is a craft trade listed in Annex No. 1 to the Trade Licensing Act, which authorises the management and performance of chemical-physical and biological processes in the production of beer and malt. To obtain it, you must document your professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Examples of activities

• Brewing beer and managing the chemical-physical and biological processes of wort fermentation and maturation
• Malt production (floor malting as well as modern malting, germination and kilning of grain)
• Operating a microbrewery, brewpub or industrial brewery
• Preparing and managing brews and the fermentation and lagering process, including beer quality control
• Racking, filtering and treating beer before dispatch
• Production of special and top-fermented beers (both top and bottom fermentation)
• Malting barley and other cereals for both brewing and food use
• Technological supervision of beer and malt production as a responsible representative

What the trade is and what it is for

The Brewing and Malting trade is a craft trade listed in Annex No. 1 to the Trade Licensing Act. It authorises you to manage and perform the chemical-physical and biological processes in the production of beer and malt - that is, to brew beer professionally, run the fermentation and lagering process, and produce malt as a key raw material.

This trade is intended for entrepreneurs who wish to operate a brewery (from a microbrewery through a brewpub to industrial production) or a malt house. As it is a craft trade, it carries the obligation to demonstrate professional qualification. The licence arises on the day of notification, so you can begin operating practically immediately after meeting the statutory conditions.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The trade covers in particular the following activities:

• brewing beer and managing the processes of fermentation, secondary fermentation and maturation,
• malt production (germination and kilning of grain, floor malting as well as modern malting),
• managing brews, quality control, filtering and racking beer,
• operating a brewery or malt house and technological supervision of production.

Boundaries with neighbouring trades. The mere sale of beer and serving it to guests fall under different regimes - hospitality activity is the craft trade "Hospitality activity", while the retail and wholesale of beverages is an unqualified (free) trade. If you were to produce spirits or distillates, that is a separate licensed (concession) trade. Growing hops or barley is agricultural production outside the regime of the Trade Licensing Act. If you are unsure how a specific activity is classified, verify it with the Trade Licensing Office.

Conditions for obtaining the trade under the law

You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: be fully legally capable and have a clean criminal record. Integrity is demonstrated for this trade (Section 6). Medical fitness and liability insurance are not required; an obstacle to operating the trade may be, for example, bankruptcy under Section 8.

You must also document your professional qualification. Under Section 21, you prove it by one of the following documents:

1. an apprenticeship certificate from secondary education in the relevant field,
2. a maturita certificate in the relevant field,
3. a diploma of higher professional education in the relevant field,
4. a university diploma in the relevant area of study programmes,
5. a document on recognition of professional qualification, or
6. a document on verification or recognition of an attained full qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

If you do not meet Section 21, you can use the substitute qualification under Section 22: education in a related field (apprenticeship certificate, maturita, higher professional education, university degree) and 1 year of experience in the field, or a retraining certificate and 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education.

You do not have to meet the professional qualification in person - you can appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the conditions on your behalf. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

1. Complete the Unified Registration Form (URF). It serves to notify the trade and at the same time to register with the tax office, the Czech Social Security Administration and your health insurance company.
2. Submit the notification. You may do so at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, online via the portal rzp.gov.cz, or at a Czech POINT contact point.
3. Submit the documents - identity, professional qualification (or the responsible representative's documents) and other attachments as required by the office.
4. Pay the fee - CZK 1,000 for notification, or CZK 800 for electronic submission.
5. Wait for the entry. The Trade Licensing Office will make the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days. The licence, however, arises already on the day of notification.

You can find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

• A completed Unified Registration Form (URF).
• Proof of identity (identity card or passport).
• Proof of professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (apprenticeship certificate, maturita certificate, diploma, retraining or experience document).
• When using a responsible representative - their proof of qualification and declaration under Section 11.
• Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 (in-person notification) / CZK 800 (electronically).
• Deadline for entry: within 5 working days of notification.

Frequently asked questions

Can I operate a microbrewery even without a brewer's apprenticeship certificate?

Yes. If you do not meet Section 21, the qualification can be documented under Section 22 - for example, by education in a related field with one year of experience, by retraining with one year of experience, or by 6 years of experience in the field. Alternatively, you appoint a responsible representative under Section 11.

Do I need any other permit to brew beer?

The trade licence is the basis. At the same time, beer production is subject to regulations on food, hygiene and the excise duty on beer, which are handled by other authorities (notably the customs and public health administrations). These obligations are not part of the Trade Licensing Act.

How quickly can I start doing business?

The licence arises on the day the trade is notified. You can therefore start doing business practically immediately; the office will make the entry in the register within 5 working days.

How much will I pay for the notification?

The administrative fee is CZK 1,000 for in-person notification and CZK 800 for electronic submission via the portal.

Does the trade also cover malt production?

Yes. Malting is an explicit part of this trade - it includes the germination and kilning of grain as well as other malting processes.

Sources

• MEYS - database of regulated activities (trade detail)
• Trade Licensing Act No. 455/1991 Coll.
• Ministry of Industry and Trade