Alcohol and Tobacco Publications

PDF version of the Tobacco Enforcement fact sheet, last updated in 2025. ATF is the federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act and the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, which now includes Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, such as vapes.

Published/Revised: June 23, 2025

This circular reminds all persons of the federal law (and penalties) applying to the shipments, sale or possession of cigarettes and to the domestic sales of cigarettes marked for export. Additionally, this circular addresses the sale of cigarettes on Native American tribal reservations.

Published/Revised: November 21, 2024

This is the continuation sheet for the PACT Act Registration Form (ATF Form 5070.1). The form's purpose is to register delivery sellers of cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco products with the Attorney General in order to legally continue to sell and/or advertise these tobacco products under the PACT Act.

Published/Revised: February 7, 2024

This form's purpose is to register delivery sellers of cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco products with the Attorney General in order to legally continue to sell and/or advertise these tobacco products under the PACT Act.

Published/Revised: February 1, 2024

The purpose of this industry circular is to advise firearms and ammunition excise taxpayers that effective Jan. 24, 2003, a new Treasury agency, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, will be responsible for administering the firearms and ammunition excise tax laws and regulations currently administered by ATF.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2021

The purpose of this industry circular is to advise members of the alcohol and tobacco industries that, effective Jan. 24, 2003, a new Treasury agency, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), will be responsible for administering the alcohol and tobacco laws noted below and implementing regulations currently administered by ATF.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2021

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Published/Revised: December 11, 2019

This industry circular warns businesses about selling or holding for sale tobacco products and cigarette papers or tubes manufactured in the United States and labeled for exportation. On or after Feb. 7, 2001, if you sell or hold for sale such products for domestic consumption, you may incur civil and criminal penalties.

Published/Revised: November 19, 2019

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Published/Revised: November 19, 2019

The Department of Justice, Office of Tribal Justice, invited Federally recognized tribes to consult with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the implications of ATF's pending final rule, implementation of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 Regarding Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco. 

Published/Revised: July 7, 2016

The Department of Justice's response to comments received from the federally recognized tribes after consultation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the implications of ATF's pending final rule, implementation of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 Regarding Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco.

Published/Revised: July 7, 2016

The Attorney General has delegated the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to administer and enforce the PACT Act. ATF is providing this document on the PACT Act’s amendments to the Jenkins Act (15 U.S.C. §375-378), which governs the collection of taxes on, and trafficking in, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. There are specified responsibilities that require independent action, coordination of efforts, and information sharing.PACT Act Law

Published/Revised: February 11, 2016

This document contains a correcting amendment to the temporary regulations, which were published in the Federal Register on Dec. 22, 1999, (64 FR 71947). The temporary regulations relate to implementing certain provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that set forth requirements that, beginning Jan. 1, 2000, importers of tobacco products must qualify for a permit to conduct that activity.

Published/Revised: May 27, 2015

This final rule eliminates the requirements that manufacturers of tobacco products apply to ATF to remove tobacco products from their factories in bond for experimental purposes and that they maintain the approved applications for their records. In place of these requirements, manufacturers of tobacco products will prepare and maintain records of tobacco products removed from their factories in bond for experimental purposes. In addition, this final rule defines ‘‘experimental purposes’’ under section 5704(a) of Title 26 of the United States Code.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

The purpose of this open letter is to provide all State Attorneys General and State Tobacco Tax Administrators with information on amendments to the Jenkins Act. 

Published/Revised: October 21, 2010

The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance to persons who sell, transfer, or ship for profit cigarettes or smokeless tobacco in interstate commerce or who advertise cigarettes or smokeless tobacco for such sale, transfer, or shipment on amendments to the Jenkins Act. 

Published/Revised: October 21, 2010

This document contains a correction to a final rule published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in the February 7, 2002.

Published/Revised: October 15, 2002

ATF amends the alcohol labeling and advertising rules to cross-reference the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) rules. Any alcohol beverage labeled or advertised with an organic claim must comply with both NOP rules administered by USDA and the applicable rules administered by ATF. Elsewhere in this separate part, ATF invites comments on this temporary rule. We will accept comments during the 60-day period following publication of the rule.

Published/Revised: October 8, 2002

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms published a final rule in the April 15, 2002, Federal Register concerning the delegation of the Director’s authorities in its exportation of liquors regulations. This document corrects the amendatory instructions in one paragraph of that final rule.

Published/Revised: July 25, 2002

This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in its Exportation of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax, or With Drawback of Tax regulations with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’. Consequently, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director and the word ‘‘region.’’ This final rule also requires that persons file documents required by these regulations with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.31 is being issued and will be made available as specified in this rule. Through this order, the Director has delegated most of the authorities to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices and other reports, which are not ATF forms, are filed. In addition, this final rule makes a few corrections and miscellaneous changes.

Published/Revised: May 8, 2002

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to the importation of distilled spirits, wines, and beer.

Published/Revised: May 8, 2002

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms published a final rule in the April 15, 2002, Federal Register concerning the delegation of the Directorate's authorities in its exportation of liquors regulations.

Published/Revised: April 15, 2002

This final rule amends the regulations in part 20 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations by eliminating the requirement for users and dealers of specially denatured spirits (SDS) to file a bond.  

Published/Revised: April 12, 2002

This final rule places with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ all ATF authorities contained in the Removal of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax, for Use of the United States regulations and in the Miscellaneous Regulations Relating to Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes. Consequently, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, officers and offices subordinate to the Director. This final rule also requires that persons file documents required by these regulations with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.28 is being issued and will be made available as specified in this rule. Through this order, the Director has delegated all of the authorities to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices, and other reports, which are not ATF forms, are filed.

Published/Revised: February 27, 2002

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations in part 295 - Removal of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax for Use of the United States, title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Published/Revised: November 13, 2001