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Alcohol Importer
Requirements New Alcohol Importers
TTB has approved your application for an Alcohol Importer. You must keep all approval documents readily available for examination by TTB officials.
The following information explains the requirements you must meet to maintain your business.
For information on duties, visit the Duty Rates page at the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website. For more information on excise taxes, please see our tax and fee rates page.
Federal regulations require every importer to keep daily records of both physical receipt and disposition of distilled spirits, beer, and wine. These records are to be kept at your place of business and are to show all information required by 27 CFR 27.133.
You are not required to submit reports relating to such transactions unless we specifically request that you do so.
You must report to us any change in the name, address, ownership, management, or control of the business without delay. If you filed your original application on paper, and haven't requested that your data be migrated to our Permits Online system, you should file these amendments on the TTB forms described in the applicable regulations. If you filed your original application through Permits Online, you should also electronically file your amendments in Permits Online. For more information about changes to your permit see the regulations at 27 CFR 1.40-44.
- Change in Location Select this amendment if you will be moving your business operations to another location within the same state. If moving to another state you will need to file an original application.
- Change in Mailing Address
Select this amendment if there has been a change to where you will receive mail. - Change in Permit Address – USPS
Select this amendment if your address was changed by the United States Postal Service but no physical move has taken place. - Add/Remove Signing Authority
Select this amendment if you will be making any changes to the existing signing authority on file. You will be required to attach the appropriate documentation showing where the authorization is granted. - Add/Remove Power of Attorney
Select this amendment if adding or removing individuals from outside your company with the power to sign and/or act on behalf of the company. When adding a Power of Attorney you can scan and upload your form into Permits Online. Download TTB F 5000.8 [PDF]. - Change in Operations
Change in Operations Amendments are no longer necessary. All existing wholesaler and importer permits are now inclusive of wine, beer and distilled spirits commodities and will not require an amendment to either add or remove commodity types. New permits issued in our Permits Online system will automatically reflect all three commodities. - Change in Business Name
Select this amendment if there has been a change to your legal business entity's name. You will need to submit a copy of your amended Articles showing the name change. - Change in Control
A change in actual or legal control occurs when there are changes in stock ownership, LLC membership ownership, or possibly major changes in the corporate officers or directors of a corporation. In such situations, the legal business entity which operated the business in the past continues to operate the subject business. In other words, the same legal entity remains in existence which continues to operate the business in question.
If adding a new person an Owner Officer Information Application must be completed through Permits Online if originally approved through Permits Online. - Change in Officer, Director, Member, or Stockholder/Interest
Select this amendment when there is a change in the officers, directors, members and managers, as well as any stockholders/interest holders who hold 10 percent or more. An Owner Officer Information Application must be completed for each new person through Permits Online (if originally approved through Permits Online). - Termination of Business
Select this amendment if you are discontinuing business.
The regulations for importers can be found at Title 27 Part 1 for the basic permit requirements and Part 27 for the regulations to import distilled spirits, wine, and beer.
- Regulations
27 CFR Part 1, Basic Permit Requirements under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, Non-Industrial Use of Distilled Spirits and Wine, Bulk Sales and Bottling of Distilled Spirits
27 CFR Part 12, Foreign Non-Generic Names of Geographic Significance Used in the Designation of Wines
27 CFR Part 27, Importation of Distilled Spirits, Wines, and Beer
The importer must also obtain a TTB-issued Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) for each unique product/label.
- COLAs Online – Electronic Filing
To obtain a COLA, importers must file an Application for and Certification/Exemption of Label/Bottle Approval with TTB’s Alcohol Labeling and Formulation Division (ALFD). The process may be done electronically through COLAs Online (recommended) or by submitting a paper copy of the form (see address below). Download Application for Certificate/Exemption of Label/Bottle Approval, form TTB F 5100.31 [PDF]. - Where to File using a Paper Form:
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Alcohol Labeling and Formulation Division
1310 G Street, NW, Box 12
Washington, DC 20005
For specific questions having to do with labeling, please contact the Alcohol Labeling and Formulation Division at 866-927-2533, or see our Labeling page for more information.
We sometimes require you to submit your formula as part of the COLA process, depending on the product to be imported. Formula approval, which you can do using Formulas Online, includes a review of your product's ingredients and your production process. We may also require a product sample for lab analysis. Learn which products require formula approval.
For more information on formula approval and laboratory analysis of samples, see Industry Circular 2007-4.
If you are an importer of natural wine produced after December 31, 2004, you must comply with certification requirements under the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 to ensure that the practices and procedures you use to produce the imported wine constitute proper cellar treatment.
- Certification Requirements
Certification may consist of:
- A statement from the producing country’s government or government-approved entity having oversight or control of enological practices. This form of certification includes the results of a laboratory analysis of the wine performed by either a government laboratory or a laboratory certified by the government of the producing country.
or…
- A statement from the importer, that is, a "self-certification." See Q&A #12 of our Certification Requirements Q&As for more information on this certification method and who may self-certify.
- Exceptions
For some grape wines imported from countries with which the Unites States has an enological practices agreement, no certification is required. Please refer to our list of excepted countries for a description of the excepted wines.
Importers must ensure that the producer of the alcohol beverage is registered with the FDA and provide FDA with advance notification of an importation. FDA administers these requirements which are part of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002. You may also visit the FDA’s Bioterrorism Act website for more information.
There are additional responsibilities and requirements that you may have to meet including state laws.
- TTB personnel have the right of entry into your premises.
- Please ensure you are in compliance with your State and local authorities before commencing operations (including building/use permits and zoning requirements).
- If you intend to sell your products in any other state (other than the state in which you are applying), you must contact each state individually because they all have different shipping laws.
Alcohol Exporter
Exporting Alcohol Beverages from the United States.
Federal Requirements
Federal export requirements may vary depending on what product is being exported (e.g. beer, wine, or distilled spirits), whether the exporter is also the producer of the product, and/or whether the product is being exported taxpaid or without payment of tax. Please select from the links below for requirements as they may apply to your particular situation:
Wine
Producers (Proprietors of Bonded Wine Premises)
Exporting Wine Taxpaid
Exporting Wine Untaxpaid
Wholesalers (Other than Proprietors of Bonded Wine Premises)
Exporting Wine Taxpaid
Exporting Wine Untaxpaid
Beer
Producers (Brewery Proprietors)
Exporting Beer Taxpaid
Exporting Beer Untaxpaid
Wholesalers (Other than Brewery Proprietors)
Exporting Beer Taxpaid
Distilled Spirits
Producers (Distilled Spirits Plant Proprietors)
Exporting Distilled Spirits Taxpaid
Exporting Distilled Spirits Untaxpaid
Wholesalers (Other than Distilled Spirits Plant Proprietors)
Exporting Distilled Spirits Taxpaid
Exporting Distilled Spirits Untaxpaid
State Requirements
Applicable State and/or local requirements must also be met in addition to those for the Federal requirements described above. As such, you should contact the alcohol control board for each state in which you will be conducting wholesaling operations for information regarding their licensing requirements.
Export Documents/Certificates
For further information on how to obtain export documents such as a Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Free Sale, and the EU Simplified Export Certificate, please visit our Export Certificates page. This page also has information on our electronic export certificate system, which can be used to prepare export certificates.
Wine exporters should also review TTB Industry Circular 2007-2 for information on the EU Simplified Export Certificate, which may be used by those exporting wine to European Union countries as of April 1, 2007. This form is a simplified version of the previous VI1 certificate required by the European Community for wine imported from third countries (e.g., the United States). Exporters are highly encouraged to use the simplified form.
IAD Import/Export Requirements Guide
Our Import/Export Requirements Guide offers exporters a wealth of information on international import requirements for various countries for beer, wine, and distilled spirits. The guide includes information on licensing, labeling, and taxation considerations. Please note that exporters should always contact the foreign agencies responsible (located in the Contacts section of each country page) in order to verify that the information as listed is current.
Any further questions on exporting beverage alcohol products may be directed to TTB's International Affairs Division at 202-453-2260, or by using the IAD Contact Form.
Other Export Resources
In addition to TTB’s International Affairs Division, U.S. exporters have a number of other resources within the Federal Government available to assist in exporting products to new markets:
- The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides loan, grant, and insurance information for small businesses interested in exporting. For more information, visit the SBA Export Library.
- The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) provides intelligence and analysis on foreign market opportunities, production forecasts, export marketing opportunities, and monitors changes in policies affecting U.S. agricultural exports and imports. For more information, visit the FAS website and FAS GAIN reports.
- The International Trade Administration (ITA) provides resources from across the U.S. Government to assist American businesses in planning their international sales strategies and succeeding in today’s global marketplace, including country commercial guides that provide information on foreign market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business customs. For more information, visit the ITA website.
Alcohol Wholesaler
Requirements for Wholesalers
TTB has approved your application qualifying you as a wholesaler. You must keep all approval documents readily available for examination by TTB officials.
The following information explains the requirements you must meet to maintain your business.
Federal regulations require every wholesale liquor dealer to keep daily records of both physical receipt and disposition of distilled spirits, beer, and wine.
Daily records are to be kept at the wholesaler’s place of business for at least three years and are to show all information required by Federal regulations. You are not required to submit reports relating to such transactions unless we specifically requested that you do.
You must report to us any change in the name, address, ownership, or management of the business without delay. If you filed your original application on paper, and haven't requested that your data be migrated to our Permits Online system, you should file these amendments on the TTB forms described in the applicable regulations. If you filed your original application through Permits Online, you should also electronically file your amendments in Permits Online. For more information see the regulations at 27 CFR 1.40-44.
- Change in Location
Select this amendment if you will be moving your business operations to another location within the same state. If moving to another state you will need to file an original application. - Change in Mailing Address
Select this amendment if there has been a change to where you will receive mail. - Change in Premises Address – USPS
Select this amendment if your address was changed by the United States Postal Service but no physical move has taken place. - Add/Remove Signing Authority
Select this amendment if you will be making any changes to the existing signing authority on file. You will be required to attach the appropriate documentation showing where the authorization is granted. - Add/Remove Power of Attorney
Select this amendment if adding or removing individuals from outside your company with the power to sign and/or act on behalf of the company. When adding a Power of Attorney you are required to submit Power of Attorney form TTB F 5000.8.If your application was submitted through Permits Online, you can upload your Power of Attorney in Permits Online. - Change in Business Name
Select this amendment if there has been a change to your legal business entity’s name. You will need to attach a copy of your amended articles showing the name change. - Change in Operation
Change in Operations Amendments are no longer necessary. All existing wholesaler and importer permits are now inclusive of wine, beer and distilled spirits commodities and will not require an amendment to either add or remove commodity types. New permits issued in our Permits Online system will automatically reflect all three commodities. - Change in Control
A change in actual or legal control occurs when there are changes in stock ownership, LLC membership ownership, or possibly major changes in the corporate officers or directors of a corporation. In such situations, the legal business entity which operated the business in the past continues to operate the subject business. In other words, the same legal entity remains in existence which continues to operate the business in question.
If adding a new person, an Owner Officer Information Application must be completed through Permits Online if originally approved through Permits Online. - Change in Officer, Director, Member, or Stockholder/Interest
Select this amendment when there is a change in the officers, directors, members, and managers, as well as any stockholders/interest holders who hold 10 percent or more. This does not apply to LLCs or partnerships. An Owner Officer Information Application must be completed for each new person. - Termination of Business
Select this amendment if you are discontinuing business.
We’ve provided easy access, for you to read the Code of Federal Regulations and public laws relating to wholesalers.
Select an item to view the relevant section of the Code of Federal Regulations.
- 27 CFR Part 1, Basic Permit Requirements under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, Non-Industrial Use of Distilled Spirits and Wine, Bulk Sales and Bottling of Distilled Spirits
- Public Law 107-188, The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
The Liquor Law Repeal and Enforcement Act, also referred to as the Webb-Kenyon Act, prohibits shipments of alcohol beverages from one state into another state in violation of any law of the receiving state. 27 U.S.C.§122.
You may have to meet additional responsibilities and requirements, including state laws.
- If you intend to sell your products in any other state (other than the state in which you are applying), you must contact each state individually because they all have different shipping laws.
- Please ensure you are in compliance with your state and local authorities before commencing operations (including building/use permits and zoning requirements). Find state contact information on our Alcohol Beverage Authorities in United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico page at TTB.gov.