Assessment of U.S. Beer, Wine, and Spirits for Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda: A Focus on Production, Regulatory Standards, Trade and Policy

The overall goal of this training is to provide the Cochran Fellows with in-depth knowledge of the beer, wine, and spirits sectors in the United States. Specifically, the program is designed to expose Fellows to production and distribution practices, including manufacturing standards and regulations. Additionally, the program will also increase knowledge of the policies and regulations specific to U.S. geographical indication and intellectual property (e.g., Napa Valley Wine, Kentucky Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey). The U.S, beer, wine and spirits sectors have a keen interest in the East African Region, particularly Kenya, which is a global entry point for exports. It is important that these countries have harmonized standards and import regulations consistent with U.S. policy and the regulatory structure to limit infringements on U.S. intellectual property. This could be achieved, in part, by an immersive program that exposes the Fellows to all aspects of U.S. beer, wine, and spirits production, standards, and trade. Overall, the training will consist of on-site instruction and trips to several sites in the Southeast (Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina) and Washington, D.C. Tennessee and the Southeast region are particularly suited for this training being the leading distilled spirits producing region and home to two of the largest craft breweries in the United States. The Fellows will gain first-hand experience on production, manufacturing, and distribution and will be acquainted with the regulations that govern these activities. The Fellows will visit production facilities and will have face-to-face interactions with business owners, government officials, industry representatives, producer groups, and researchers in the beer, wine, and spirits sectors. Fieldtrips will feature leading U.S. companies that are already major players in global markets but will also include smaller producers in order to provide a comprehensive overview of these sectors. Throughout the training program, the Fellows will gain first-hand knowledge that will inform consistent trade policy. Fellows will attend a major U.S. trade show and will be familiarized with leading U.S. companies. At the end of the program, Fellows will have an improved understanding of U.S. alcoholic beverage regulations, craft beer production, wine production, and whiskey and other distilled spirits production. The information and training will inform the design of a plan of action for Fellows to be implemented upon return to their home countries.

USDA – Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)