Wine Importing Guide
If this is your first time importing wine, congratulations! We can help guide you through this process to ensure a successful delivery to your door.
Importing Wine
Before you can stock your store shelves with amazing wine from all over the world, you must be aware of the steps that you need to complete before purchasing the wine from your supplier and organizing transportation with us to the US. This includes applying for and receiving an importer's permit from Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
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There are four agencies involved in the importation of wine to the US. They are:
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Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
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Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
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Your State and Local Laws
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What does each agency handle?
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CBP handles the excise taxes and import duties for your shipments once they arrive at the port.
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FDA requires that a Prior Notice of Imported Foods must be filed before any alcoholic beverages are imported into the US.
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TTB issues the importer's permit and handles all other requirements for importing bottled alcoholic beverages into the US.
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You must also comply with your state's importation requirements for alcoholic beverages (California, for example, department of Alcoholic Beverage Control).
Step 1
Importer's Permit
Persons seeking to engage in the business of importing distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages as defined in the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act) into the United States must apply for a Federal Basic Importer’s Permit (“Importer’s Permit”).
​To obtain an Importer’s Permit, the importer must maintain and staff a business office in the United States. If you are unable to conduct business in the United States, you must contract with an existing licensed importer in the United States. Making a commercial arrangement with an existing licensed importer eliminates the need to obtain an importer’s permit.
Step 2
Duties, Taxes, Registration
Importers are responsible for all applicable Federal excise taxes and duties. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects all applicable Federal excise taxes on distilled spirits, wine, and beer as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.
CBP also collects all applicable duties. Importers must register as alcohol dealers and complete TTB F 5630.5(d) (PDF), "Alcohol Dealer Registration," before engaging in business. Importers must also file this form with TTB when there is a change in registration information and when discontinuing their business.
Step 3
Certificate of Label Approval Requirements
After receiving the Importer’s Permit, the importer must obtain a TTB-issued Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) for each unique product/label for distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages as defined in the FAA Act.
To obtain a COLA, the importer must file an "Application for and Certification/Exemption of Label/Bottle Approval" with TTB’s Alcohol Labeling and Formulation Division (ALFD).
Step 4
Certificate of Age and Origin Requirements
A certificate of age or origin is required for certain wines and distilled spirits imported into the United States. The Certificate of Age and Origin Requirements for Imported Alcohol Beverages webpage provides a comprehensive list of such certificate of age and origin requirements.
Step 5
FDA Filings
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires that a Prior Notice of Imported Foods be filed before any food product–including alcoholic beverages–be imported into the United States. The FDA Prior Notice is required regardless on the quantity of products being imported. In addition, a separate FDA Prior Notice is required for each separate product code (such as a UPC) and for each different product size and supplier.
Foreign suppliers must also register with the FDA. Filing the FDA Prior Notice for each new product can be made easier when the non-US manufacturer and shipper appoints a U.S. Agent. After a manufacturer or supplier is registered, an authorized U.S. Agent can process the FDA Prior Notices for their products.
Step 6
State and Local Requirements
The importer must also meet the requirements of the State and local jurisdictions where the importer is engaged in the importation of beverage alcohol products. State and local jurisdictions may have their own importation requirements in addition to the Federal requirements. Importers should contact their State alcohol control board and/or local authorities for more information.
If you're located in California, it would be the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Need Help with your Imports or Exports?
Since 2009 we have been providing container shipping solutions for dry and refrigerated cargo to importers and exporters in Los Angeles, the United States, and around the world.
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