Last year, I blogged several times about nutrition facts panels and ingredients statements in relation to wine and other TTB-regulated alcohol products. See A Regulatory Analysis: Nutrition Fact Panels and Ingredient Statements on Alcohol Beverages; Full Ingredients List to Appear on 2011 Ridge Vineyards Wine Label. As many know, for the majority of…
Category: Wine Labeling Regulations
TTB Issues Interim Policy on Gluten-Free Labeling and Advertising for Wine, Spirits, and Malt Beverages
As many know, on August 5, 2013, FDA issued a final rule regarding the labeling of gluten-free foods. See 78 FR 47178, Food Labeling; Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods. As noted by On Reserve previously, TTB announced on August 22, 2013 that the agency would review its policy on the use of the term…
European Parliament Passes Stricter Legislation for Labeling Sangria Wines
I spent several weeks one summer in the Andalucía region of Spain. My trip included Granada, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, and a few other cities. While the weather—particularly the mid-afternoon—was sweltering, one thing I did look forward to was trying the sangria at the many tapas restaurants we frequented. I…
Government Shutdown Clogs TTB Label, Formula, and Permit System for Wine Industry
On October 1, 2013, TTB announced a cessation in its operations, citing the lack of government funding as the reasoning. While the TTB website, www.ttb.gov, remains partially accessible, the ability to submit, review, or retrieve Certificate of Label Approvals (“COLAs”), Formula Approvals, or Permits is not permissible. This means that…
TTB to Review its Policy on the Term “Gluten-Free” for Alcohol Beverage Labeling
On August 22, 2013, TTB announced that the agency will be reviewing its policy on the use of the term “gluten-free” on alcohol beverages that are regulated by TTB. See Use of “Gluten-Free” on TTB-Regulated Alcohol Beverages. This announcement is timely because, as TTB properly highlighted, the United States Food and Drug…
Yamanashi: The First Japanese Geographical Indication for Wine
On July 16, 2013, the Director General of the Tax Agency of Japan announced the designation of Yamanashi as the first Japanese geographical indication (“GI”) for wine. “To be allowed to carry the name of Yamanashi, wine needs to use only limited kinds of grape from Yamanashi, including Koshu and…
Proposed Standard of Identity for Canadian Icewine
On June 15, 2013, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency released proposed regulations to create Icewine Regulations (of the Canada Agricultural Products Act) and Consumer Packaging and Labeling Regulations (of the Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act). See New Standard Will Help Open Markets for Canada’s Iconic Icewine. The proposed icewine regulations create “a Standard of Identity for icewine as…
TTB Publishes Final Rule Modifying Mandatory Label Information for Wine
On June 10, 2013, TTB published a final rule in the Federal Register amending the mandatory label information requirements for wine labels. The final rule allows the alcohol by volume (“ABV”) percentage to appear on other labels affixed to a wine container without appearing on the brand label. Previously, the regulations for…
Full Ingredients List to Appear on 2011 Ridge Vineyards Wine Label
Ridge Vineyards 2011 wine label will feature a full ingredients list on its wine label. Read more about why, under U.S. law, ingredients are unique on wine labels.
A Regulatory Analysis: Nutrition Fact Panels and Ingredient Statements on Alcohol Beverages
Why do some wines have nutrition fact panels and some wines do not? What are the differences between FDA and TTB labeling for wines? Low volume alcohol wine label requirements.