Food & Beverage

Guide to complying with laws and regulations that apply to food and beverage businesses and the food and beverage industry.

Alcohol Beverages

• Advertising Distilled Spirits Containing Ingredients Associated with Non-Alcohol Energy Drinks
  An announcement reminding distilled spirits industry members of their advertising requirements under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act.
  
  
• Advertising Malt Beverages Containing Ingredients Associated with Non-Alcohol Energy Drinks
  An announcement reminding alcohol industry members of the advertising requirements for malt beverages.
  
  
• Advertising Wines Containing Ingredients Associated with Non-Alcohol Energy Drinks
  An announcement reminding wine advertisers of their responsibilities under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act.
  
  
• Agreement Between the United States of America and the European Community on Trade in Wine
  An agreement between the U.S. and EC to facilitate trade in wine between the parties and provide a framework for continued negotiations in the wine sector.
  
  
• Alcohol Advertising and Labeling Guidelines
  Guide to all regulations affecting the labeling, packaging and advertising of alcoholic beverages, including COLA requirements.
  
  
• Alcohol Beverage Control Boards for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico
  A list of state alcohol beverage control boards located in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
  
  
• Alcohol Beverages Labeled With Organic Claims
  Information regarding the National Organic Program and its standards for the production, handling, processing, labeling, and marketing of products labeled with organic claims.
  
  
• Alcohol Import and Export Requirements
  Import/export requirements, news and events.
  
  
• Alcohol Production, Sale and Distribution FAQs
  A list of frequently asked questions about alcohol
  
  
• Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau Publications
  Guides and resources for alcohol manufacturers and distributors.
  
  
• Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau Regulatory Forms
  One-stop resource for accessing all necessary COLA, excise tax, permit, and certification forms.
  
  
• Appellations of Origin Labeling Requirements for Wine
  Information about the appellations of origin requirements and lists of authorized appellations of origin in the United States and Chile
  
  
• Beer Industry Regulatory Guide
  Guide to laws and regulations affecting breweries.
  
  
• Bioterrorism Act and the Alcohol Beverage Industry
  Guidance on how the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 effects the alcohol beverage industry
  
  
• Chemist Certification Program Information
  Introduces laboratory certification program for the export of wine and spirits to foreign markets. Explains how to apply for certification.
  
  
• Distilled Spirits Regulatory Guide
  Guide to laws and regulations affecting manufacturers of distilled spirits.
  
  
• Exporting Alcohol Beverages from the United States
  Guidance on how to export alcohol beverages from the United States.
  
  
• Guidance for Retention of COLAs for Alcohol Wholesalers
  Guidance on the retention of COLAs by alcohol beverage wholesalers who maintain products on their premises.
  
  
• Helpful Hints in Preparing Form 5130.9, Brewer's Report of Operations
  Instruction on how to complete Form 5130.9, Brewer's Report of Operations
  
  
• Hemp Policy for Alcohol Beverages
  Requirements for formulas and statements of processes for domestic hemp products
  
  
• Importing Alcohol Beverages into the United States
  Guidance on how to import alcohol beverages into the United States.
  
  
• Industry Circulars
  Industry Circulars issued by TTB, ATF, and their predecessor agencies, addressed to members of the alcohol, tobacco, and firearms and ammunitions industries
  
  
• Information for Tax-Free Alcohol Applicants
  Guidance for filing an application for an industrial use permit to receive and use tax free alcohol.
  
  
• International Import-Export Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages
  Guidance on international import requirements for beer, wine, and distilled spirits for various countries.
  
  
• Liquor Law & Regulations for Retail Dealers
  An online publication to help retail dealers of distilled spirits, wine, or beer comply with federal laws and regulations affecting them.
  
  
• Other Alcohol Products Regulatory Guide
  Information about applying for a permit, paying taxes, importing, and other issues.
  
  
• Pre-COLA Product Evaluation
  This circular provides current listings of alcohol beverages that specify whether or not a pre-COLA product evaluation is required.
  
  
• TTB Beverage Alcohol Laboratory
  Forms and resource for alcohol manufacturers needing pre-COLA evaluation.
  
  
• U.S. Mexico Tequila Agreement
  A summary of the U.S./ Mexico Tequila Agreement and links to the USTR Press Release, full text of the agreement in English, and full text of the agreement in Spanish.
  
  
• U.S./EC Bridge Agreement
  The Bridge Agreement extends the soon to expire EC derogations on acceptance of U.S. winemaking practices and exempts certain EC natural grape wine from the U.S. wine certification requirements.
  
  
• When Disaster Strikes
  Guidance on how to file claims with TTB for the refund or allowance of credit for Federal excise taxes paid on beverage alcohol or tobacco products lost, rendered unmarketable, or condemned by an authorized official under various circumstances.
  
  
• Wholesale and Importation of Alcohol Beverages
  Information about laws and regulations affecting wholesalers and distributors.
  
  
• Wine Industry : Regulatory Information and Compliance Guides
  An introductory paragraph and relevant links to additional information on certification requirements for imported wine.
  

Baby Food

• Infant Formula : Regulatory and Guidance Documents
  An overview of FDA regulations and requirements concerning the manufacturing of baby formula.
  
  
• Infant Formula Regulations FAQs
  Frequently asked questions about FDA's regulation of infant formula.
  

Concessions

• Concession Environmental Management
  Guide to maintaining environmental compliance and management in national parks.
  
  
• Environmental Management
  Environmental management guidance for businesses conducting construction projects on one or more of the nation's national parks.
  
  
• National Park Service Concessioners Guide
  Information on how food concession companies can do business with the National Park Service.
  
  
• National Park Service Concessions : Concession Structural Fire Program
  Guide for concessionaires to adhere to NPS and federal fire safety compliance and procedures.
  
  
• National Park Service Concessions : Finance
  Guide to provide concessionaires with direction of financial aspects of NPS concession programs.
  
  
• National Park Service Concessions : Leasing
  Guide for concessionaires to secure and manage a lease with a national park.
  

Food Additives

• Color Additives : Regulations and Compliance Resources
  FDA guide to color additive regulations and compliance resources.
  
  
• FDA Petitions and Notifications : Guidance and Reference Documents
  A comprehensive list of compliance guidance and reference documents for food manufacturers.
  

Food Processing

• Acidified and Low-Acid Canned Foods
  FDA Requirements for establishment registration, thermal process filing, and good manufacturing practices for low-acid canned foods and acidified foods.
  
  
• Bioengineered Foods : Regulatory Information
  Regulations and compliance guidance concerning the production of bioengineered foods.
  
  
• Environmental Compliance Assistance : Food Processing Industries
  Provides compliance assistance information for the food processing sector.
  
  
• FDA Requirements for Food Manufacturers : FAQs
  General questions and answers concerning FDA's regulation of the food processing industry.
  
  
• FDA Requirements for Food, Nutrition and Cosmetics Products : FAQs
  General questions and answers concerning FDA's regulation of food and cosmetics industries.
  
  
• Food and Cosmetic Industry Guidance Documents
  Comprehensive list of guidance documents concerning FDA regulations.
  
  
• Juice HACCP Regulation : FAQs
  Frequently asked questions about the Juice HACCP program.
  

Food Safety

• FDA Implementation of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002
  Information how the FDA has implemented the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 and how it affects the food processing industry.
  
  
• FSIS Microbiological Hazard Identification Guide For Meat and Poultry Components of Products Produced by Very Small Plants
  This guide is intended to aid very small plant operators in identifying microbial hazards associated with meat and poultry components and their products.
  
  
• Food Defense and Emergency Response
  Information about how the USDA helps industry prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and emergencies.
  
  
• Food Production and Inspection Fact Sheets
  A series of Fact Sheets on a variety of food safety, production, and inspection topics.
  
  
• Food Quality Assurance : Commercial Item Descriptions
  Provides quality standards required for commercial food items sold to the Federal government.
  
  
• Food Safety : Information for Industry
  Guide to food safety regulations for food manufacturers, retailers, and related industries.
  
  
• Food Safety Compliance Assistance : New Technologies
  Information on new technologies that companies may employ to ensure that their use is consistent with Agency regulations and will not adversely affect product safety, inspection procedures, or the safety of FSIS inspectors.
  
  
• Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) : Information for Business and Partners
  One-stop resource for all food safety regulations, including compliance assistance resources, guidelines, training, workshops and events, and security guidelines.
  
  
• Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) : Regulations and Policies
  Includes key information on federal and state inspections and international affairs.
  
  
• Food Safety and Inspection Service Compliance Guides
  FSIS instructions and information provided to producers and agricultural businesses in maintaining compliance with mandatory food safety and inspection legislation.
  
  
• Food Security : Make It Your Business
  The page offers materials from a series of workshops held May-July 2005 by FSIS to discuss food security awareness and related topics.
  
  
• National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center : Food Safety
  Provides information about food safety.
  
  
• Pesticide Residues on Imported and Exported Foods
  Information about regulations governing the importing of food into the U.S., and there specific requirements regarding pesticide residue levels.
  
  
• Pesticides, Metals, Chemical Contaminants and Natural Toxins
  FDA guidelines covering pesticide levels in food products.
  
  
• Protecting the Food Supply : FDA Actions on New Bioterrorism Legislation
  Protecting the Food Supply - FDA Actions on New Bioterrorism Legislation (Bioterrorism Act of 2002): Registration of Food Facilities, Prior Notice of Food Imports, Administrative Detention, Establishment and Maintenance of Records
  
  
• Protecting the Food Supply : Small Entity Compliance Guides
  Guides to help small businesses comply with bioterrorism legislation.
  
  
• Resources for Small & Very Small Plants
  Guidebook for the Preparation of HACCP Plans and Generic HACCP Models
  
  
• Safe Food Handling Fact Sheets
  Information on safe handling of poultry, eggs, and meat products.
  
  
• Small and Very Small Plant Outreach Materials
  Information on a variety of documents aimed at helping small and very small food processing plants comply with food safety and HACCP regulations.
  
  
• State HACCP Contacts and Coordinators
  HACCP Contacts and Coordinators provide technical advice, assistance, resources and conduct activities to support HACCP implementation in small and very small plants.
  

Labeling & Packaging

• Compliance Assistance : Labeling Guidelines
  Labeling guidance, policies, inspection methods, and other documents related to FSIS' labeling programs that are aimed at protecting consumers from misbranded and economically adulterated meat, poultry, and egg products which ensure that all labels are truthful and not misleading.
  
  
• Country of Origin Labeling : FAQs
  A series of frequently asked questions regarding the Country of Origin Labeling Program and its requirements.
  
  
• Country of Origin Labeling Examples
  Examples of records that may be useful for COOL verification purposes.
  
  
• Fact Sheets on Food Labeling
  A series of Fact Sheets about food labeling terms and requirements.
  
  
• Food Ingredients and Packaging : Approval and Notification Programs
  FDA approvals and notifications programs concerning the food processing industry.
  
  
• Food Ingredients and Packaging : Information for Industry
  FDA guidance on providing food ingredient information on package labels.
  
  
• Food Labeling and Nutrition : Information for Industry
  Guidance on to comply with food labeling regulations.
  
  
• Food Product Dating
  Background information and guidance about "sell by" dates on food products.
  

Restaurants

• Restaurants and Food Service Businesses : A Guide to Federal Regulations
  This guide provides an overview of federal regulations that affect restaurants and other food service businesses, includes links to guidance that help business owners stay in compliance with federal regulations.
  
  
• Tax Guide for Restaurants
  The Internal Revenue Service provides information on tax tips, trends and statistics for the restaurant industry.
  

Retail & Distribution

• Grocery Employer Self Assessment Tool
  The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division produced this self assessment tool to help grocery employers comply with the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  
  
• OSHA eTool : Beverage Delivery Ergonomics
  This eTool describes ergonomic hazards and possible solutions for workers in the beverage delivery industry. A beverage delivery person performs the following ergonomic tasks: driving a pre-stocked route truck from the plant to designated customers; unloading the various cases of beverages from the truck; operating the hand truck to the point of delivery specified by the customer; manually unloading the hand truck and placing products on display shelves or in storage areas; and retrieving empty returnable bottles.
  
  
• OSHA eTool : Grocery Warehousing Ergonomics
  This eTool describes examples of ergonomic hazards and solutions related to grocery warehouse operations, which includes performing three main functions: receiving bulk goods from suppliers; order picking to select desired goods from within the warehouse; and shipping goods to the customers.
  
  
• Supplier Credit Guarantee Program
  Information on how exporters can sell U.S. food products overseas through insuring short-term, open account financing.