(a) General. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, every person who manufactures tobacco products must qualify for, and obtain, a permit as a manufacturer of tobacco products in accordance with the provisions of this part.

(b) Exceptions. The following persons are not considered to be engaged in the business of manufacturing tobacco products for purposes of this part:

(1) A person who produces tobacco products solely for that person's own consumption or use;

(2) A proprietor of a customs bonded manufacturing warehouse with respect to the operation of such warehouse;

(3) A retailer of tobacco products, such as a tobacconist, who takes taxpaid tobacco products out of the package, as that term is defined in § 40.11, in front of waiting customers and places the tobacco products into a different container for immediate delivery to those customers; or

(4) A person whose operations are limited to, and who holds a permit as, a manufacturer of processed tobacco.

(c) Minimum manufacturing and activity requirements. A permit to manufacture tobacco products will only be granted to those persons whose principal business activity under such permit will be the manufacture of tobacco products. A permit will not be granted to any person whose principal business activity under such permit will be to receive or transfer tobacco products in bond. As a minimum activity requirement, in order to qualify for a permit, the quantity of tobacco products manufactured under the permit must be equivalent to, or exceed, the quantity to be transferred or received in bond under the permit. For the purposes of this section, the activity of packaging processed tobacco may be sufficient to qualify as a manufacturing activity.

Any person who:

(a) On August 5, 1997, was engaged in business as a manufacturer of roll-your-own tobacco, and

(b) Before January 1, 2000, submits an application, as provided in this part, to engage in such business, may, continue to engage in such business pending final action on such application. Pending such final action, all provisions of chapter 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply to such applicant in the same manner and to the same extent as if such applicant were a holder of a permit to manufacture roll-your-own tobacco under such chapter 52.

Every person, before commencing business as a manufacturer of tobacco products as defined in § 40.11, shall make application for, and obtain, the permit provided in § 40.75, covering operations at each proposed factory. Such application shall be made on TTB F 5200.3, in duplicate, to the appropriate TTB officer. All documents required under this part to be furnished with such application shall be made a part thereof. Where the applicant for a permit under this section holds a permit or permits authorizing the production of any tobacco products at premises to be covered by the permit applied for, the applicant shall surrender such permit or permits for cancellation, upon the issuance of the permit applied for.

Every corporation, before commencing business as a manufacturer of tobacco products, shall furnish with its application for permit, required by § 40.62, a true copy of the corporate charter or a certificate of corporate existence or incorporation executed by the appropriate officer of the State in which incorporated. The corporation shall likewise furnish duly authenticated extracts of the stockholders' meetings, bylaws, or directors' meetings, listing the offices the incumbents of which are authorized to sign documents or otherwise act in behalf of the corporation in matters relating to 26 U.S.C. chapter 52, and regulations issued thereunder. The corporation shall also furnish evidence, in duplicate, of the identity of the officers and directors and each person who holds more than ten percent of the stock of such corporation. Where any of the information required by this section has previously been filed with the appropriate TTB officer and such information is currently complete and accurate, a written statement to that effect, in duplicate, will be sufficient for the purpose of this section.

Every partnership or association, before commencing business as a manufacturer of tobacco products, shall furnish with its application for permit, required by § 40.62, a true copy of the articles of partnership or association, if any, or certificate of partnership or association where required to be filed by any State, county, or municipality. Where a partnership or association has previously filed such documents with the appropriate TTB officer and such documents are currently complete and accurate, a written statement, in duplicate, to that effect by the partnership or association will be sufficient for the purpose of this section.

Every person, before commencing business under a trade name as a manufacturer of tobacco products, shall furnish with his application for permit, required by § 40.62, a true copy of the certificate or other document, if any, issued by a State, county, or municipal authority in connection with the transaction of business under such trade name. If no such certificate or other document is so required, a written statement, in duplicate, to that effect by such person will be sufficient for the purpose of this section.

Every person, before commencing business as a manufacturer of tobacco products, shall file, in connection with his application for permit, a bond on TTB F 5200.25 or 5200.26, in duplicate, in accordance with the applicable provisions of subpart G of this part, conditioned upon compliance with the provisions of chapter 52, I.R.C., and regulations thereunder, including, but not limited to, the timely payment of taxes imposed by such chapter and penalties and interest in connection therewith for which he may become liable to the United States: Provided, That any person who, on the effective date of this part, October 1, 1961, has on file a valid and adequate bond, Form 2100, “Bond—Manufacturer of Cigars and Cigarettes,” may continue, under such bond, the operations with respect to the permit to which that bond relates, in accordance with the provisions of this part.

Where a manufacturer of tobacco products operates more than one factory he may, in lieu of filing separate bonds, file a blanket bond on TTB F 5200.25 or 5200.26, in duplicate, in accordance with the provisions of § 40.134, for any or all of the factories. The total amount of any blanket bond given under this section shall be available for the satisfaction of any liability incurred at any factory covered by the bond.

If the application for permit or any report, return, notice, schedule, or other document required to be executed is to be signed by an individual (including one of the partners for a partnership or one of the members of an association) as an attorney in fact for any person, or if an individual is to otherwise officially represent such person, power of attorney on TTB F 5000.8 shall be furnished to the appropriate TTB officer. (For power of attorney in connection with conference and practice requirements see 26 CFR 601.501 through 601.527.) Such power of attorney is not required for persons whose authority is furnished with the corporate documents as required by § 40.63. TTB F 5000.8 does not have to be filed again with a appropriate TTB officer where such form has previously been submitted to that appropriate TTB officer and is still in effect.

The premises to be used by a manufacturer of tobacco products as his factory may consist of more than one building, or portions of buildings, which need not be contiguous but must be located in the same city, town, or village: Except that, where the appropriate TTB officer determines that a building or portion of a building which is not within the city, town, or village, is so conveniently and closely situated to the general factory premises as to present no jeopardy to the revenue and as to offer no hindrance to the administration of this part, he may authorize the inclusion of such building or portion of building as part of the factory. The buildings or portions of buildings shall be described in the application for permit and the bond by number, street, and city, town, or village, and State. If any of the following conditions exist a diagram shall also be furnished, in duplicate, showing the information indicated:

(a) Where the factory is in more than one building, and each building is not identifiable by a separate street address—identify each building by a letter, number, or similar designation;

(b) Where the factory consists of a portion of a building or where portions of buildings are part of the factory—show the particular floor or floors, or room or rooms, comprising the factory;

(c) Where there is an adjoining retail store operated by the manufacturer tobacco products including any doors or other openings between the premises.

Where the factory consists of a portion of a building, or where portions of buildings are part of the factory, the factory shall be completely separated by walls from adjoining portions of the building. Such walls shall be securely constructed of substantial materials. The appropriate TTB officer may, wherever he finds that the revenue will not be jeopardized, authorize openings and doors in such walls or means of separation other than walls if such means adequately delineate the factory. The factory shall be accessible directly from a street, yard, common passageway, or other common means of entrance.

Factories established prior to the effective date of this part, October 1, 1961, shall not be subject to the provisions of § 40.70 if, in the opinion of the appropriate TTB officer, the existing premises afford adequate protection to the revenue.

(a) General. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate TTB officer as provided in § 40.47, the premises used by a manufacturer of tobacco products for his factory shall be used exclusively for the purposes of manufacturing and storing tobacco products; storing materials, equipment, and supplies related thereto or used or useful in the conduct of the business; and carrying on activities in connection with business of the manufacturer of tobacco products.

(b) Processed tobacco. (1) A manufacturer of tobacco products that processes tobacco or receives processed tobacco on its factory premises solely for use in the manufacture of tobacco products under its permit, that removes processed tobacco from the factory premises only for purposes related to its business of manufacturing tobacco products as set forth in (b)(2) of this section, and that maintains records sufficient to show the final disposition of any processed tobacco removed from the factory premises may engage in such activities on the factory premises under the authority of its existing permit without prior authorization from TTB under § 40.47. If a manufacturer of tobacco products removes processed tobacco for purposes other than those specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, that manufacturer must obtain prior authorization from TTB in accordance with § 40.47 and must keep records and submit reports as prescribed in §§ 40.521 and 40.522.

(2) The following activities are considered to be activities related to the manufacture of tobacco products: Removal of samples of processed tobacco for the purpose of soliciting orders of tobacco products; removal of processed tobacco for destruction; removal of processed tobacco for scientific testing or testing of equipment which results in the destruction of the processed tobacco or the return of the processed tobacco to the factory premises; and transfer of processed tobacco between permitted premises of the same manufacturer. Any removal of processed tobacco other than those listed above requires the manufacturer to first obtain authorization to engage in another business within the factory under § 40.47 and to keep records and submit reports under §§ 40.521 and 40.522, unless the manufacturer can show to the satisfaction of the appropriate TTB officer that the removal is connected with the business of a manufacturer of tobacco products rather than with the business of a manufacturer of processed tobacco.

The appropriate TTB officer may require such additional information as he may deem necessary to determine whether the applicant is entitled to a permit under the provisions of this part. The applicant shall, when required by the appropriate TTB officer, furnish as a part of his application for such permit such additional information as may be necessary for the appropriate TTB officer to determine whether the applicant is entitled to a permit.

(a) Investigation. The appropriate TTB officer may cause inquiry or investigation to be made to verify the information furnished in connection with an application for permit and to ascertain whether the applicant is eligible for a permit. Any of the following conditions may be grounds for denial of a permit:

(1) The premises on which it is proposed to conduct the business are not adequate to protect the revenue;

(2) The activity proposed to be carried out at such premises does not meet the minimum manufacturing or activity requirements of § 40.61(b); or

(3) The applicant (including, in the case of a corporation, any officer, director, or principal stockholder and, in the case of a partnership, a partner)—

(i) Is, by reason of his business experience, financial standing, or trade connections or by reason of previous or current legal proceedings involving a felony violation of any other provision of Federal criminal law relating to tobacco products, processed tobacco, cigarette paper, or cigarette tubes, not likely to maintain operations in compliance with this chapter;

(ii) Has been convicted of a felony violation of any provision of Federal or State criminal law relating to tobacco products, processed tobacco, cigarette paper, or cigarette tubes; or

(iii) Has failed to disclose any material information required or made any material false statement in the application therefor.

(b) TTB action. The appropriate TTB officer, if there is reason to believe that the applicant is not entitled to a permit, shall promptly give the applicant notice of the contemplated disapproval of the application and opportunity for hearing thereon in accordance with part 71 of this chapter, which part (including the provisions relating to the recommended decision and to appeals) is applicable to such proceedings. If, after such notice and opportunity for hearing, the appropriate TTB officer finds that the applicant is not entitled to a permit, he shall, by order stating the findings on which his decision is based, deny the permit.

If the application for permit, together with the bond and supporting documents, required under this part is approved by him, the appropriate TTB officer shall issue a permit on TTB F 5200.10 to the applicant as a manufacturer of tobacco products.

The manufacturer shall retain his permit, together with the copy of the application and supporting documents returned to him with the permit, at the same place where the records required by this part are kept and they shall be made available for inspection by any appropriate TTB officer upon his request.