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Memorandum of Understanding

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TTB has developed many partnerships with Federal agencies and foreign organizations that help the Bureau to carry out its mission more effectively and efficiently. Details on those agreements are provided below.

Domestic Agreements

AgreementScope of AgreementDate of Agreement
MOA with the Office of Technical AssistanceConsultation and collaboration on technical assistance to foreign governments to establish or strengthen excise tax systems for alcohol, tobacco, or other products that TTB regulates.March 6 (TTB) and 12 (OTA), 2014
MOU with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)Enforcement responsibilities of each agency (TTB and AMS) with respect to the labeling and advertising of alcohol beverages under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. 
(A similar agreement from 2002 existed between ATF and AMS.)
March 10 (TTB) and June 3 (AMS), 2010
MOU with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)Implementation of the Agreement Between USTR and Mexico's Secretary of Economy on Trade in Tequila.December 16, 2005
MOU with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Delineation of enforcement responsibilities of each agency (ATF and FDA) with respect to alcoholic beverages considered adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. 
(Expands upon a 1974 MOU between ATF and FDA.)
November 20, 1987
MOU with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Delineation of responsibilities regarding the labeling of distilled spirits, wine, and malt beverages.September 12 (FDA) and September 16 (ATF), 1974

International Agreements

AgreementScope of AgreementDate of Agreement
MOU with Wine Australia 
Wine Australia is an Australian Government statutory authority whose mission is to enhance compliance and trade, and its core responsibilities include export regulation and compliance; wine sector information and analysis; maintaining the integrity of Australia's wine labels and winemaking practices; defining the boundaries of Australia's wine producing areas; and assisting with negotiations with other countries to reduce trade barriers. 
Information exchange mutual interest in the regulation and trade of wine.Signed November 13, 2012
MOU with the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) 
ANVISA is an independently administered, financially autonomous regulatory agency that fosters protection of the health of the population by exercising sanitary control over production and marketing of products and services subject to sanitary surveillance.
Exchange of information regarding imported and exported tobacco products.Signed August 13, 2012
MOU with France's General Directorate for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) 
The DGCCRF is within France's Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industry, and ensures a fair and secure marketplace, including a special focus on wine.
Exchange of information regarding the import and export of beverage alcohol between France and the United States.Signed September 1, 2011
MOU with Italy's Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, Central Inspectorate for Quality Protection and Fraud Repression (ICQRF) 
The Ministry of Agriculture has jurisdiction in Italy over wine production, and ICQRF specifically has jurisdiction over food fraud.
Exchange of information for the purpose of combating fraud in the production of and trade in alcohol beverages.Signed April 12, 2011
MOU with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) 
CBSA is responsible for monitoring Canada's borders, interdicting illegal goods entering or leaving the country, protecting food safety and plant and animal health, and collecting duties and taxes on imported goods.
Establishment of consultative processes to strengthen cooperation in the administration of alcohol and tobacco, in the prevention of counterfeiting and smuggling, in the improvement of cooperation on technical and scientific development, and in the sharing of information on alcohol and tobacco counterfeit or smuggling cases and intelligence in those matters.March 23, 2011
MOU with Italy's Istituto Agrario di San Michele all'Adige (IASMA) 
IASMA promotes and carries out research, scientific experiments, education and training activities; and provides technical assistance and services to companies, with an aim toward promoting cultural and socio-economic growth in the agricultural sector.
Exchange of information on the science and technologies related to grape and wine analyses, research activities in these fields, and novel developments of analytical methodologies for the characterization of wine and grape varietals.            July 9, 2010
MOU with Italy's Guardia di Finanza (GdF) 
The GdF is an agency of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, which has police powers over smuggling, counterfeiting, and financial crimes.  
Exchange of information for the purpose of combating the smuggling of alcohol and tobacco products.April 15, 2010
MOU with Georgia's Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Vine and Wine (SAMTREST) 
SAMTREST supervises grape-growing, winemaking, and the marketing of wine in Georgia, in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Vine and Wine, and regulates export and import trade in wine.
Exchange of information regarding alcohol laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and labeling, including developing bilateral training and seminars, scientific cooperation, and exchange of information about alcohol counterfeit or smuggling cases.June 4, 2009
MOU with China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ) 
AQSIQ is in charge of national quality; metrology; entry/exit commodity inspection, health quarantine, and animal and plant quarantine; import-export food safety; certification and accreditation; standardization; as well as administrative law-enforcement.
Exchange of information regarding alcohol and tobacco laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and labeling, including developing bilateral training and seminars, scientific cooperation, and exchange of information about alcohol and tobacco counterfeit or smuggling cases.December 11, 2007

 

CONTACT US

For more information about RRD, contact us at 202-453-2265, or online.
Please direct correspondence to:

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau 
Director, Regulations and Rulings Division 
1310 G Street, NW., Box 12 
Washington, DC 20005

Last reviewed: April 17, 2019
Last updated: April 17, 2019