California Wine Export Program

Chinese Customs officials are now requiring a Certificate of Sanitation that states that imported wines are safe for human consumption. TTB has modified its certification forms to address this need. Please find attached a copy of the form and information below regarding its use.

Many countries require that wine import shipments contain a valid export certification to accompany export shipments. The requested certificates can be:

• Certificate of Origin
  In the US, the validity of origin for wines is declared by the producing winery and, if need be, authenticated by TTB. Certificates of Origin are often requested from Asian Countries, a few examples being China, S. Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.
• Certificate of Free Sale
  This Certificate denotes the same meaning as the Certificate of Origin; however, many countries in Latin America prefer this wording on the Certificate. Export markets requiring this Certificate include Peru and Venezuela.
• Certificate of Sanitation or Health Certificate
  With import safety becoming a major issue in many countries, a Certificate of Sanitation/Health Certificate is being requested more and more by many trading partners. Many U.S. wine exporters have run across such Certification requests in China and Japan.

The TTB has created the following form to address these Certification needs. The form can be used as a Certificate of Free Sale, a Certificate of Origin, or a Certificate of Sanitation. In China’s case, a separate Certificate of Origin & Certificate of Sanitation is necessary. TTB’s website (see below for link) gives information about required documentation by specific countries. Each winery may adapt the form to comply with specific export requirements of a particular country. The form is in Microsoft Word format and may therefore be amended on any computer.

Certification Procedure

Following is a step-by-step process for completing the form and gaining TTB certification as part of your export documentation.

1. Download the Microsoft Word form.
2. Check on TTB’s International website at http://www.ttb.gov/itd/interre1.shtml for specific certificate requirements for export countries.
3. For countries requiring a Certificate of Free Sale such as Argentina, amend the Word document to have this be the heading. For countries requiring a Certificate of Origin such as Taiwan & Thailand, amend the heading accordingly. Likewise for the Certification of Sanitation requirement for China and Japan.
4. Complete the form as indicated on the word document. The form offers instructions on where to apply winery letterhead and where and what information to list.
5. Leave the bottom area (For TTB use only) blank and send the form (by express or regular mail) to:
   Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
   Attn: Mary D. Savage
   550 Main Street, Suite 8002
   Cincinnati, OH 45202
6. Our contact for Certification concerns is currently Mary D. Savage.
   For inquiries and assistance, contact her at:
   Mary D. Savage
   Supervisor, Document Processing and Analysis Group
   TTB/NRC
   550 Main Street, Room 8002
   Cincinnati, OH 45202
   (513) 684-6402
   mary.savage@ttb.gov
7. The signed and stamped form will be returned to the winery and ready for use with export shipments.

Eric F. Pope
Regional Director, Emerging Markets
International Department
Wine Institute
425 Market St., Suite 1000
San Francisco, CA 94105
USA
Tel: 1-415-356-7551
Fax: 1-415-512-8416