TTB Extends Comment Period on Proposed Labeling Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has issued a notice extending the comment period of its July 2007 proposed rule to consider new labeling requirements for wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages (alcoholic beverages) to provide consumers with adequate information about such products.
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Comments are now due on or before January 27, 2008 (from October 29, 2007).
According to TTB, it is extending the comment period for an additional 90 days, until January 27, 2008, in response to an industry member request.
TTB sources previously stated that the proposed rule would apply to every alcoholic beverage sold within the U.S., therefore affecting both domestic and imported products.
Alcohol Content, Serving Sizes/Facts Panel Among Proposed Changes
TTB has proposed amending 27 CFR Parts 4, 5, 7, and 24 to require the following changes in the labeling of alcoholic beverages (partial list):
a mandatory statement of alcohol content expressed as a percentage of alcohol by volume which may appear on any label affixed to the container;
a mandatory Serving Facts panel which would include, among other things, serving size, number of servings per container, number of calories per serving, number in grams per serving of carbohydrates, fat, etc., with optional disclosure of the number of U.S. fluid ounces of pure alcohol per serving; and
new reference "serving sizes" for alcoholic beverages based on the amount of beverage customarily consumed as a single serving.
Requirements Would Be Mandatory 3 Years after Final Rule's Publication, But Certain Early Compliance Would be Allowed
TTB has proposed to make these new requirements mandatory three years after the date of publication of the final rule in the Federal Register, in order to allow affected industry members to use up existing label stocks and coordinate the redesigning of their labels with an already planned label redesign. However, TTB states that those wishing to label their products with a Serving Facts panel and alcohol content statement before the final rule comes into effect would be able to do so as long as they adhere to the requirements of the final rule.
-written comments due on or before January 27, 2008
TTB contact - Lisa Gesser (301) 290-1460
(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/07/07 news, 07080710, for BP summary of the proposed rule.)
TTB extension notice (Notice No. 75 (Re: Notice No. 73), FR Pub 09/20/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-18510.pdf