Procedures for Ontario Packaged Beer & Out-Of-Province and Imported Beer
Procedures for OntarioPackaged Beer Sold in LCBO Combination Stores, and Out-Of-Province and Imported Beer Sold in The Beer Store (TBS) Exclusively or in TBS and LCBO Combination Stores.
This section applies to Ontario packaged beer sold in LCBO Combination stores and both Out-of-Province and Imported Beer sold in TBS exclusively or in TBS and LCBO Combination stores. For Suppliers wishing to have their beer made available for sale in LCBO stores in addition to LCBO combination stores, please refer to the Selling for Resale in LCBO Stores section.
Procedures for Ontario Packaged Beer & Out-Of-Province and Imported Beer Table of Contents
Procedures for Listing Packaged Beer
Importing Samples for Submission to LCBO
Procedures for Listing Packaged Beer
Beers that are to be sold in The Beer Store (TBS) must be listed separately with TBS. Applications for this listing should be made to TBS directly.
To process submissions through the LCBO, a completed Ontario Technical Approvals (OTA) form (LCB 2090) must be received and approved.
The following chart, which is also found within the OTA document, is a helpful reference guide to the requirements:
Requirement |
Ontario Beers Sold in LCBO Combination Stores |
Out-of-Province and Imported Beer Sold in TBS Exclusively or TBS and LCBO Combination Stores |
Pricing Acknowledgement from Pricing Dept. |
Mandatory |
N/A |
Ex-Cellars/ FOB Quote |
N/A |
Mandatory |
Label Examination
Form |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
LCBO Beer Coding Sheet Form (LCB 2099) |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
TBS Listing Letter |
N/A |
Mandatory |
TBS Initial Order Summary |
N/A |
Mandatory |
Purchase
of Foreign Beer for Resale to TBS Form
(LCB 1959) |
N/A |
Mandatory |
Written
Confirmation of Ontario Appointed Agent |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
Request for Shipping Container Examination Form (LCB 2102) |
N/A |
Mandatory |
750mL Equivalent Sample of Beer for laboratory analysis or Certificate of Analysis |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
For products where an OTA and annual testing
is not required, manufacturers are nonetheless
encouraged to utilize LCBO Quality Assurance
services for testing to help ensure the quality
and safety of all of their Products.
Importing Samples for Submission to LCBO
The following information concerns the importation of Product samples for submission to the LCBO.
In order to submit samples of Products to the LCBO, Agents licensed by the AGCO may receive liquor shipments directly from the Suppliers they represent. Such shipments, which are not ordered by or through the LCBO, are unsolicited shipments. For simplicity, they are referred to as direct shipments. The maximum quantity of liquor a Supplier or Agent may receive unsolicited is 45 litres/day. This is a total daily limit, not per brand or per foreign Supplier. Shipments that exceed this limit will either be returned to the Supplier of origin at the Supplier's or Agent's expense or destroyed.
The Supplier or Agent is responsible for paying all freight charges and all applicable taxes, duties and levies. Samples must be sent by freight methods; they may not be sent by post/mail.
Samples will be processed by the LCBO's appointed customs broker and the Supplier or Agent is responsible for ensuring that they collect shipments directly on notification by the LCBO's broker. The Supplier or Agent will be responsible for any storage costs if they do not collect the goods or if required information does not accompany the shipment.
To support timely processing, direct shipments must:
- Be clearly marked and declared on all documentation as containing Liquor.
- Except for the packaging material itself, the shipment may not include any non-liquor items or Products. However, for gift packs where all elements of the shipment will be submitted to the LCBO, the shipment may include non-liquor items. The Bill of Lading should clearly identify that the contents are all part of the gift pack(s).
- Identify the name, address and contact information of the Supplier or Agent.
- Be accompanied by a Bill of Lading indicating that the shipment is consigned to the LCBO c/o Supplier or Agent.
- Be accompanied by completed Canada Customs Invoice (CCI). The CCI must include detailed information on the Liquor samples (brand name, vintage where applicable, alc./vol., product format). The Supplier must attest to the transaction value of the product.
- Be accompanied by a photocopy of all labeling that appears on each of the products contained in the shipment.
Suppliers and Agents should consult the LCBO Direct Shipment Policy for full information. Copies are available from LCBO Corporate Policy (416-864-6820).