The TTB chemist certification program, established under the authority of section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act; 27 U.S.C. 205(e)) and explained in TTB Procedure 2018-2, is a voluntary program that certifies private industry chemists to analyze alcohol beverages and report the results of specific chemical analyses on alcohol beverages to the governments of importing countries. As a condition of importation, some countries require that their own government laboratories (or laboratories certified by their government) perform these analyses, while other countries allow a person certified by the government of the exporting country to perform the analyses. TTB conducts its chemist certification program as a service to the alcohol beverage industry to facilitate the export of domestic alcohol beverage products. This certification program helps ensure that chemists, enologists, brewers, and technicians generate quality data and have the required proficiencies to conduct chemical analyses associated with exportation of alcohol beverages from the United States. This program includes application and notice requirements, including letterhead applications for certification, submission of the results of qualifying analyses of TTB-supplied alcohol beverage samples, and miscellaneous letterhead applications and notices regarding additional certifications, requests for TTB-affirmed reports of analysis, and notices of changes in employment place or status. Under this program, certified chemists and their laboratories must also maintain usual and customary records regarding all analysis results conducted under the authority of a TTB certificate, and records related to laboratory equipment, quality control policies, procedures and systems, and analyst training and competence.
US Code:
27 USC 205(e)
Name of Law: Federal Alcohol Administration Act
This information collection approval request is for the reporting and recordkeeping requirements associated with TTB's Voluntary Chemist Certification Program for the Analysis of Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Beer for Export. To assist United States alcohol beverage exporters, TTB establishes this program as a matter of agency discretion under its FAA Act authority at 27 U.S.C. 205(e). Under this voluntary program, TTB certifies private industry chemists in the analysis of alcohol beverages and the reporting of their chemical analyses to the governments of importing countries that require such information for imported alcohol beverages.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Chemist Certification Program Support Statement (09-2018).docx
Applications, Notices, and Records Related to the Voluntary Chemist Certification Program for the Analysis of Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Beer for Export