The application process for the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS), which was scheduled to start next month, has now been delayed until 1 January because of IT problems at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

HMRC officials have requested more time to prepare the online application process for the scheme, designed to prevent criminals trading in duty-evaded alcoholic drinks.

Treasury minister Damian Hinds sanctioned the delay after IT problems led to concerns about some of the data input, particularly in the case of group applications, according to the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD), which has been involved in AWRS since its inception.

The application process involves the inspection of applicants to ensure they are “fit and proper” alcohol traders.

An HMRC spokeswoman said rigorous pre-launch testing had pointed to “some technical issues that need to be fixed” before the service was launched.

She said HMRC was committed to giving customers a fully tested, first-class system. “We have chosen a new launch date to make sure the service is right before making it widely available and to avoid putting additional burden on industry during the busy winter trading period.

“This will include inviting a selection of customers to use the system from 1 October, and provide us with feedback which we will use to refine it. We will then open the scheme to all customers on 1 January 2016.”

James Bielby, chief executive of the FWD, said the late change - which comes less than a week before the expected start date for applications – was “very frustrating for us and our members”.

He said members had volunteered to test the application process over the past six months, and the FWD had put considerable effort into informing them and others of their obligations and the original timeline.

“However, we appreciate that the application process must be absolutely watertight before it is launched, and the delay will give HMRC time to ensure that applications are recorded and processed correctly and help deliver an effective registration scheme.”

The FWD said there was no suggestion the government would not go through with its commitment, made in the Finance Bill 2015, to introduce the register.

But Bielby suggested the deal could result in the register not going live until July 2017, three months later than originally planned. HMRC insisted it would still hit its April target.

Topics