The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau better known as the TTB quietly put out a proposal for sweeping changes for the rulemaking to modernize the labeling and advertising regulations for wine, distilled spirits and malt beverages on November 26, 2018. They asked for comments by a deadline of March 26, 2019.
Based on industry feedback from “several alcohol beverage industry associations” and likely the government shutdown the agency has extended the deadline by 90 days. Comments on the proposed rules are now due on or before June 26, 2019.
What Does this Mean?
It means if you didn’t have a chance to dive into the 132 page document with the proposed changes you’ve been granted a second chance. Many of the changes are simply clean up of existing regulations that the industry has been following for many years but were spread out by multiple updates along the way. But, there are many, many proposed new regulations, definitions and guidelines that are in there as well. Some of those changes are obvious while some of them can have a huge impact on the industry depending on whether the producer is large, medium or small sized.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
27 CFR Parts 4, 5, 7, 14, and 19
[Docket No. TTB–2018–0007; Notice No. 176A; Re: Notice No. 176]
RIN 1513–AB54
Modernization of the Labeling and Advertising Regulations for Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages; Comment Period Extension
AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.
SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is extending for an additional 90 days the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking published November 26, 2018, entitled, Modernization of the Labeling and Advertising Regulations for Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages. TTB is taking this action in response to requests made by several alcohol beverage industry associations.
DATES: For Notice No. 176, a proposed rule published on November 26, 2018 (83 FR 60562), comments are now due on or before June 26, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Please send your comments on Notice No. 176 to one of the following addresses:
- Internet: https://www.regulations.gov (via the online comment form for Notice No. 176 as posted within Docket No. TTB–2018–0007 at ‘‘Regulations.gov,’’ the Federal e-rulemaking portal);
- S. mail: Director, Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; or
- Hand delivery/courier in lieu of mail: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005.
See the Public Participation section of Notice No. 176 for specific instructions and requirements for submitting comments and for information on how to request a public hearing.
You may view copies of Notice No. 176, this document, selected supporting materials, and all public comments associated with Notice No. 176 within Docket No. TTB–2018–0007 on the Regulations.gov website at https://www.regulations.gov. You also may view copies of those materials by appointment at the TTB Public Reading Room, 1310 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. Please call 202–453–1039, ext. 135 to make an appointment.
What’s Proposed?
There are many things proposed. The one that’s getting the most attention is the changing of the definition of ‘New Charred Oak Container’ to include Shape and Size.” You can learn more about it from this related story.
The full Modernization of the Labeling and Advertising Regulations for Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages proposal for changes can be found here.
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