ALFD Announcements

New COLA Forms Released
TTB has just released two updated forms – a new version of TTB F 5100.31, Application for Certification/Exemption of Label/Bottle Approval (COLA) and an updated version of TTB F 5013.2, COLAs Online Access Request form.  Read more.

Wine Industry Reminder
TTB reminds the wine industry that the use of “Temecula” as an approved viticultural area on domestic wine labels will soon expire. Read more.

TTB Issues Guidance for Retention of COLAs by Alcohol Wholesalers
TTB explains its COLAs retention requirements for alcohol beverages kept on wholesalers’ premises. Read more.

COLAs Online 1999 to the Present
ALFD is pleased to announce the online availability of approved COLAs issued in 1999 through the present. Images of new COLAs are available 48 hours after they have been approved. The electronically approved and paper images are available for viewing and printing through the Public COLA Registry link.

Russian Imperial Stout Deemed Generic Type of Malt Beverage.
TTB has determined that “Russian Imperial Stout” and “Imperial Russian Stout” by usage and common knowledge have lost their geographical significance to such an extent that they have become a generic type of malt beverage. Read more.

Imaged Paper COLAs -- Making Life Easier with Viewable and Printable Paper COLAs.
Ever wish that you could print a copy of a COLA from the Internet? Well now you can! You may of course print any COLA that was approved using COLAs Online since its inception in May 2003, but now the Advertising, Labeling and Formulation Division (ALFD) is working on imaging 5 years of paper COLAs. Read more.

Industry Concerns Regarding Varietal Authentication Testing Addressed.
Recently the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau embarked on a program to develop scientific methods to authenticate the varietal designations of grapes used in the production of wine by testing samples from finished, bottled wine. View letters TTB sent to the Wine Institute and Wine America explaining the program and its purpose.

Industry Circular 2004-6, Alcohol Beverage Advertising Program Due to the high volume of new alcohol beverage products entering the market place, TTB plans to take a more proactive approach towards monitoring and reviewing alcohol advertising for compliance with the mandatory and prohibited statement requirements of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. In particular, we will request that alcohol beverage producers and importers provide us with selected advertising materials for compliance review. We will also continue to review voluntary submissions of advertising materials from industry members. Read Industry Circular 2004-6 for more details.

Coming soon … A more effective way to direct your inquiries.
To better serve you, callers to the Customer Service line at the Advertising, Labeling and Formulation Division of TTB (202-927-8140 or 866-927-2533) will be channeled directly to the team best suited to answer your questions. Read more.

TTB Hemp Policy.
TTB wants to remind you of our policy concerning alcohol beverages containing hemp or a hemp component. We have specific requirements for formulas/statments of process, imported hemp products, and label approval. Read the policy.

Experience the Excitement of COLAs Online
TTB is excited about our recently implemented electronic filing system for COLA. This new system, COLAs Online, is web-based and entirely paperless!

COLAs Online Hot Topic
Often times we encounter problems viewing label images submitted through COLAs Online. Please be sure to preview your uploaded images before submitting your eApplication. Need further assistance? Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions

TTB Issues Industry Circular 2004-1, COLAs Online--eApplication Process. This circular provides information to guide users through the COLAs Online eApplication process for filing Certificates of Label Approval for alcohol beverages using the Internet. The circular provides helpful hints, discusses common errors on eApplications, and includes answers to frequently asked questions concerning the COLAs Online system. (2/09/04)

Past Announcements