(a) Scotch, Irish, and Canadian whiskies. (1) Scotch, Irish, and Canadian whiskies, imported in containers, are not eligible for release from customs custody for consumption, and no person may remove such whiskies from customs custody for consumption, unless that person has obtained and is in possession of an invoice accompanied by a certificate of origin issued by an official duly authorized by the appropriate foreign government, certifying:

(i) That the particular distilled spirits are Scotch, Irish, or Canadian whisky, as the case may be; and

(ii) That the distilled spirits have been manufactured in compliance with the laws of the respective foreign governments regulating the manufacture of whisky for home consumption.

(2) In addition, an official duly authorized by the appropriate foreign government must certify to the age of the youngest distilled spirits in the container. The age certified shall be the period during which, after distillation and before bottling, the distilled spirits have been stored in oak containers.

(b) Brandy and Cognac. Brandy (other than fruit brandies of a type not customarily stored in oak containers) or Cognac, imported in containers, is not eligible for release from customs custody for consumption, and no person may remove such brandy or Cognac from customs custody for consumption, unless the person so removing the brandy or Cognac possesses a certificate issued by an official duly authorized by the appropriate foreign country certifying that the age of the youngest brandy or Cognac in the container is not less than 2 years, or if age is stated on the label that none of the distilled spirits are of an age less than that stated. The age certified shall be the period during which, after distillation and before bottling, the distilled spirits have been stored in oak containers. If the label of any fruit brandy, not stored in oak containers, bears any statement of storage in another type of container, the brandy is not eligible for release from customs custody for consumption, and no person may remove such brandy from customs custody for consumption, unless the person so removing the brandy possesses a certificate issued by an official duly authorized by the appropriate foreign government certifying to such storage. Cognac, imported in bottles, is not eligible for release from customs custody for consumption, and no person may remove such Cognac from customs custody for consumption, unless the person so removing the Cognac possesses a certificate issued by an official duly authorized by the French Government, certifying that the product is grape brandy distilled in the Cognac region of France and entitled to be designated as “Cognac” by the laws and regulations of the French Government.

(c) Rum. Rum imported in containers that contain any statement of age is not eligible to be released from customs custody for consumption, and no person may remove such rum from customs custody for consumption, unless the person so removing the rum possesses a certificate issued by an official duly authorized by the appropriate foreign country, certifying to the age of the youngest rum in the container. The age certified shall be the period during which, after distillation and before bottling, the distilled spirits have been stored in oak containers.

(d) Tequila. (1) Tequila imported in containers is not eligible for release from customs custody for consumption, and no person may remove such Tequila from customs custody for consumption, unless the person removing such Tequila possesses a Certificate of Tequila Export issued by an official duly authorized by the Mexican Government or a conformity assessment body stating that the product is entitled to be designated as Tequila under the applicable laws and regulations of the Mexican Government.

(2) If the label of any Tequila imported in containers contains any statement of age, the Tequila is not eligible for release from customs custody for consumption, and no person may remove such Tequila from customs custody for consumption, unless the person removing the Tequila possesses a Certificate of Tequila Export issued by an official duly authorized by the Mexican Government or a conformity assessment body as to the age of the youngest Tequila in the container. The age certified shall be the period during which the Tequila has been stored in oak containers after distillation and before bottling.

(e) Other whiskies. Whisky, as defined in § 5.143(c)(2) through (7) and (10) through (14), imported in bottles, is not eligible for release from customs custody for consumption, and no person shall remove such whiskies from customs custody for consumption, unless that person has obtained and is in possession of a certificate issued by an official duly authorized by the appropriate foreign government certifying:

(1) In the case of whisky (regardless of whether it is mixed or blended) that contains no neutral spirits:

(i) The type of the whisky as defined in § 5.143;

(ii) The American proof at which the whisky was distilled;

(iii) That no neutral spirits (or other whisky in the case of straight whisky) have been added or otherwise included in the whisky;

(iv) The age of the whisky; and

(v) The type of oak barrel in which the whisky was aged and whether the barrel was new or reused, charred or uncharred; and

(2) In the case of whisky containing neutral spirits:

(i) The type of the whisky as defined in § 5.143;

(ii) The percentage of straight whisky used in the blend, if any;

(iii) The American proof at which any straight whisky in the blend was distilled;

(iv) The percentage of whisky other than straight whisky in the blend, if any;

(v) The percentage of neutral spirits in the blend and the name of the commodity from which the neutral spirits were distilled;

(vi) The age of any straight whisky and the age of any other whisky in the blend; and

(vii) The type of oak barrel in which the age of each whisky in the blend was attained and whether the barrel was new or reused and charred or uncharred.

(f) Miscellaneous. Distilled spirits (other than Scotch, Irish, and Canadian whiskies, and Cognac) imported in containers are not eligible for release from customs custody for consumption, and no person shall remove such spirits from customs custody for consumption, unless that person has obtained and is in possession of an invoice accompanied by a certificate of origin issued by an official duly authorized by the appropriate foreign government, if the issuance of such certificates with respect to such distilled spirits is required by the foreign government concerned, certifying as to the identity of the distilled spirits and that the distilled spirits have been manufactured in compliance with the laws of the respective foreign government regulating the manufacture of such distilled spirits for home consumption.

(g) Retention of certificates—distilled spirits imported in containers. The importer of distilled spirits imported in containers must retain for 5 years following the removal of the bottled distilled spirits from customs custody copies of the certificates (and accompanying invoices, if applicable) required by paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section, and must provide them upon request of the appropriate TTB officer or a customs officer.

(h) Distilled spirits imported in bulk for bottling in the United States. Distilled spirits that would be required under paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section to be covered by a certificate of age and/or a certificate of origin and that are imported in bulk for bottling in the United States may be removed from the premises where bottled only if the bottler possesses a certificate of age and/or a certificate of origin, issued by the appropriate entity as set forth in paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section, applicable to the spirits that provides the same information as a certificate required under paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section, would provide for like spirits imported in bottles.

(i) Retention of distilled spirits certificates—distilled spirits in bulk. The bottler of distilled spirits imported in bulk must retain, for 5 years following the removal of such distilled spirits from the premises where bottled, copies of the certificates required by paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section, and must provide them upon request of the appropriate TTB officer.