Apply for approval of special denaturants

If you want to use denaturants other than the generally approved denaturants for the denaturing of alcohol products, you need an authorization.

Alcohol products can be used tax-free in a number of legally regulated cases if they have been denatured beforehand.

During denaturing, certain denaturants are added to the alcohol products to make them unusable for drinking and consumption purposes.

A distinction is made between

• "complete denaturation" and
• "denaturing".

Alcohol tax law regulates the cases in which complete denaturing or denaturing occurs.

Alcohol can be completely denatured with the following denaturants:

• per 100 liters of pure alcohol:
  • 1 liter of isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
  • 1 liter of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
  • 1 gram of denatonium benzoate

All other denaturants used in the denaturing process only lead to denaturation.

Certain approved denaturants must be used for (incomplete) denaturation. Different denaturants are permitted depending on the intended use of the alcohol used.

If the approved denaturants are unsuitable in individual cases, the competent main customs office can approve other denaturants on application. To do so, you must submit an informal application to the competent main customs office for the use of a special denaturant. You must justify why the generally approved agents are unsuitable for your purposes.

Denaturants that are generally approved in other EU member states are generally approved by the main customs offices as special denaturants. The denaturants generally approved in other member states are published on the website of the customs administration (www.zoll.de). The main customs office can request samples from you free of charge for testing purposes in order to process your application.

In the list below you will find the generally authorized denaturants for the different uses. All denaturants that are not included in the list are special denaturants for which you require an authorization from your main customs office.

List of generally approved denaturants (the quantities refer to 100 liters of pure alcohol):

1. For the manufacture of goods that are neither medicinal nor foodstuffs, as well as for heating or cleaning purposes or other purposes that do not serve the manufacture of goods:
   • 1.0 liter of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), consisting of 95 to 96 percent MEK by mass, 2.5 to 3 percent methyl isopropyl ketone by mass and 1.5 to 2 percent ethyl isoamyl ketone (5methyl-3-heptanone) by mass.
   • 6.0 kilograms of shellac
   • 2.0 liters of toluene
   • 2.0 liters of cyclohexane
2. For the production of cosmetic products or products to improve odor:
   • 0.5 kilogram phthalic acid diethyl ester
   • 0.5 kilogram of thymol
   • 5.0 kilograms of isopropanol and 78.0 grams of tertiary butanol
   • 0.8 grams of denatonium benzoate and 78.0 grams of tertiary butanol
3. For the production of scientific preparations for teaching purposes, for chemical tests of all kinds, for the preparation of chemicals and reagents for your own laboratory requirements, for the production, storage and sterilization of medical suture material and for the production of sealing wax:
   • 1.0 liter petroleum ether
4. For the production of emulsions and similar preparations for photographic purposes, collotype and light printing processes and for the production of dressing materials with the exception of collodion:
   • 5.0 liters of ethyl ether
5. For the production of fuels:
   • 2.0 liters of fuel
6. For the production of ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE):
   • 0.085 liters ETBE
7. For the production or dilution of printing inks:
   • 2 liters of ethyl acetate and 0.1 liter of isopropyl acetate or 0.1 liter of n-propanol

• informal application
• Samples for testing purposes, if applicable
• further documents if necessary

• Forms: no
• Online procedure: no
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: no

• You require denatured alcohol for the production of goods for whose commercial use a tax exemption is provided for under alcohol tax law. The generally approved denaturants are not suitable in your case.

• Appeal. You can find detailed information on how to lodge an objection in your tax assessment notice.
• Appeal to the tax court

You can apply for the permit online or in writing:

If you want to apply for the permit online:

• Go to the Customs Portal website.
• You must register the first time you use it.
• In order to access the service in the customs portal, identification with "ELSTER" is required. You can find more information under "Online services".
• Log in and click on "Other tax applications and notifications"
• Select the "Other applications and notifications" form.
• Complete the selected form in full.
• Describe the special denaturant and the application process in detail. Explain why the generally approved denaturants are unsuitable.
• Submit further documents electronically if required.
• The main customs office will check your application.
• In individual cases, your main customs office may request further documents or information or request free samples for testing purposes.
• You can call up the decision, i.e. the approval or rejection, digitally in the customs portal.

If you would like to submit the application in writing:

• Submit an informal application.
• Describe the special denaturant and the use process.
• Explain why the approved denaturants contained in the Alcohol Tax Ordinance are unsuitable.
• Send the application in writing or electronically to the main customs office in whose district you operate your business or, if you do not operate a business, in whose district you are resident.
• The main customs office will check your application.
• The main customs office may request further documents, information or free samples from you for examination purposes.
• You will receive your notification of approval or rejection by post.

There is no deadline. However, as special denaturants may only be used with the approval of the main customs office responsible for you, please submit the application in good time before the planned first use.

The processing time is usually 1 to 4 weeks. The processing time depends on the specific circumstances of each individual case.

There are no costs.