A COLA is a TTB-issued authorization required before any imported alcoholic beverage — wine, beer, or distilled spirits — can be sold in the US. Importers must obtain a COLA for each distinct product label prior to entry; shipments without an approved COLA can be refused admission.

For alcoholic beverages, TTB regulations require accurate country-of-origin statements and, for wines, compliance with geographic indication rules that may restrict use of certain regional names. Non-alcoholic beverages must comply with FDA labeling standards including ingredient declarations and nutrition facts panels formatted to US requirements.