TTB Foreign Producers Survey Justification Statement

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for the Collection
of Routine Customer Feedback” (OMB Control Number 1513–0132)
TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION:
Foreign Producer Survey.
PURPOSE:
The Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) is a name used to describe recent U.S.
laws that reduced Federal excise taxes on alcohol. Under the CBMA, foreign distilled
spirits operations, foreign wineries, and foreign breweries may assign reduced tax rates
or tax credits to their U.S. importers. These tax benefits are subject to quantity
limitations in the law, and may be further limited when foreign producers are related
through common ownership to other foreign or U.S. producers.
Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) administers CBMA import
requirements and requires that U.S. importers obtain an Assignment Certification in
letter format from each assigning Foreign Producer, see CBP CSMS #50484790 and
the CBMA Assignment Certification available on CBP’s website.
Beginning in 2023, U.S. importers will no longer be allowed to take CBMA reduced tax
rates and tax credits when foreign alcohol is entered into the United States. Instead,
U.S. importers will need to file refund claims with the U.S. Department of the Treasury
(Treasury). Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is preparing
to administer this program. Through the program, foreign producers will provide
information about their business and their assignments directly to TTB through an online
module. This electronic registration and assignment process will replace the current
CBP Assignment Certification letter process.
TTB needs to learn more about foreign producers – a group with little to no prior
interaction with TTB – to ensure the online system is responsive to their needs. This
survey is part of a usability effort to ensure help designers build a user experience for
this new user group.
DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS:
Respondents are foreign producers of alcohol that are associated with permit or notice
holders. All respondents are either in or associated with the industries regulated by
TTB.
TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)
[ ] Customer Comment Card/Complaint Form

[ ] Customer Satisfaction Survey

[ ] Usability Testing (e.g., Website or Software) [ ] Small Discussion Group
[ ] Focus Group

[X] Other: Informational Survey

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CERTIFICATION:
I certify the following to be true:
1. The collection is voluntary.
2. The collection is low-burden for respondents and low-cost for the Federal
Government.
3. The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern to other
federal agencies.
4. The results are not intended to be disseminated to the public.
5. Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of substantially informing
influential policy decisions.
6. The collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have
experience with the program or may have experience with the program in the future.
Name:

Francisco R.
Riojas

Digitally signed by Francisco
R. Riojas
Date: 2022.03.17 16:45:28
-04'00'

To assist review, please provide answers to the following questions:
Personally Identifiable Information:
1. Is personally identifiable information (PII) collected?

[ ] Yes

[X] No

2. If Yes, will any information that is collected be included in records that are subject to
the Privacy Act of 1974? [ ] Yes [ ] No [ X ] N/A
3. If Yes, has an up-to-date System of Records Notice (SORN) been published?
[ ] Yes [ ] No [ X ] N/A
Gifts or Payments:
Is an incentive (e.g., money or reimbursement of expenses, token of appreciation)
provided to participants? [ ] Yes [ X ] No
BURDEN HOURS:
Category of
Respondent

No. of
Respondents

Participation Time

Burden

Private Sector

1,000

0.15 hours

150 hours

Totals

1,000

0.15 hours

150 hours

FEDERAL COST: The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is $700.

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If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical
methods, please provide answers to the following questions:
SELECTION OF YOUR TARGETED RESPONDENTS:
1. Do you have a customer list or something similar that defines the universe of
potential respondents and do you have a sampling plan for selecting from this
universe? [ ] Yes [X] No
If the answer is yes, please provide a description of both below (or attach the sampling
plan). If the answer is no, please provide a description of how you plan to identify your
potential group of respondents and how you will select them.
As these foreign producers have not yet interacted with TTB, the respondents will be
contacted by trade organizations and foreign regulators as part of outreach around the
legislative changes set to begin in 2023.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE INSTRUMENT
1. How will you collect the information? (Check all that apply)
[X] Web-based or other forms of Social Media
[ ] Telephone
[ ] In-person
[ ] Mail
[ ] Other, Explain:
_______________________________________________________.
2. Will interviewers or facilitators be used? [ ] Yes

[X] No

Please make sure that all instruments, instructions, and scripts are submitted
with the request.

Instructions for completing Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for
the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback”
TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION: Provide the name of the collection that is
the subject of the request. (e.g. Comment card for soliciting feedback on xxxx)
PURPOSE: Provide a brief description of the purpose of this collection and how it will
be used. If this is part of a larger study or effort, please include this in your explanation.
DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS: Provide a brief description of the targeted group

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or groups for this collection of information. These groups must have experience with
the program.
TYPE OF COLLECTION: Check one box. If you are requesting approval of other
instruments under the generic, you must complete a form for each instrument.
CERTIFICATION: Please read the certification carefully. If you incorrectly certify, the
collection will be returned as improperly submitted or it will be disapproved.
Personally Identifiable Information: Provide answers to the questions. Note:
Agencies should only collect PII to the extent necessary, and they should only retain PII
for the period of time that is necessary to achieve a specific objective.
Gifts or Payments: If you answer yes to the question, please describe the incentive
and provide a justification for the amount.
BURDEN HOURS:
Category of Respondents: Identify who you expect the respondents to be in terms of
the following categories: (1) Individuals or Households; (2) Private Sector; (3) State,
local, or tribal governments; or (4) Federal Government. Only one type of respondent
can be selected per row.
No. of Respondents: Provide an estimate of the Number of respondents.
Participation Time: Provide an estimate of the amount of time required for a
respondent to participate (e.g. fill out a survey or participate in a focus group)
Burden: Provide the Annual burden hours: Multiply the Number of responses and the
participation time and divide by 60.
FEDERAL COST: Provide an estimate of the annual cost to the Federal government.
If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical
methods, please provide answers to the following questions:
SELECTION OF YOUR TARGETED RESPONDENTS: Please provide a description of
how you plan to identify your potential group of respondents and how you will select
them. If the answer is yes, to the first question, you may provide the sampling plan in
an attachment.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE INSTRUMENT: Identify how the information will be
collected. More than one box may be checked. Indicate whether there will be
interviewers (e.g. for surveys) or facilitators (e.g., for focus groups) used.
Submit all instruments, instructions, and scripts are submitted with the request.

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