Government approves new regulations and fees for Madeira's public cider houses

The Regional Government of Madeira has approved a new regulation for the operation and use of the region's public collective cider houses, known as SIDRAM. Ordinance No. 421/2026, published on August 28, repeals the previous Ordinance No. 592/2022 and establishes an updated framework for the management of these infrastructures and their respective tax warehouses.

The document follows the experience gained since 2019 with the Santo António da Serra - Machico Cider House and changes to the Code of Excise Duties, which since 2023 have again subjected ciders to the Tax on Alcohol and Alcoholic Beverages (IABA). To respond to this new fiscal reality, a network of production tax warehouses was created within the SIDRAM cider houses, managed by the Madeira Autonomous Region Cider Producers Association (APSRAM) as an Authorized Depositary.

Main Changes and Services#

The new regulation clarifies resource sharing rules, production management solutions, and establishes a table of processing fees. The operational and functional management of SIDRAM is ensured by APSRAM, while public ownership of the infrastructures remains with the Region, and supervisory and inspection powers lie with the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development (DRA).

Producers (users) can contract various types of services, divided into regular and supplementary:

• Regular Services: Technology without oenology (€0.074/kg), Technology with oenology (€0.085/kg), and Bottling/packaging of natural ciders obtained outside SIDRAM (€0.048/litre).
• Supplementary Services: Production of non-fermented natural juices (€0.048/kg), Production and preparation of other ciders and derived products (€0.085/kg), and Bottling/packaging of other ciders or derived products obtained outside SIDRAM (€0.048/litre).

Access Conditions and Priorities#

To access the services, producers must meet requirements such as regional origin of raw materials, customs compliance, tax regularization, and payment for previous services. Registrations for most services take place annually between August 16 and September 16.

In processing, priority is given to users whose production is destined for natural ciders, constitutes an individual batch, and who have subscribed to the technology service with oenology. Additional priority criteria include a history of regular use, production destined for the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) "Sidra da Madeira," and ownership of private orchards.

New Fees and Costs#

The ordinance defines detailed fees for all services. Notably, there is a 30% deduction in processing fees for producers whose natural cider is destined for use under the PGI "Sidra da Madeira."

Occupancy fees are also established for productions that remain on the premises beyond the collection deadlines (between €0.003 and €0.007 per litre/day), as well as an extra fee for second passes on the bottling line (€0.029/litre). VAT at the legal rate is added to all these amounts.

Transitional Provisions and Entry into Force#

The provisions of the ordinance apply, with due adaptations, from the 2025/2026 cider campaign. However, the registration and contracting deadlines, as well as the new processing fees, are mandatorily applicable from the 2026/2027 campaign.

The ordinance entered into force the day after its publication, on August 29, 2026.