The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is responsible for protecting the federal excise tax revenue on ethyl alcohol by regulating the use of specially denatured alcohol (SDA) in chemical processes and articles. No excise tax is assessed on SDA when it is used by permitted companies in processes or articles from which potable alcohol cannot be recovered. These permitted companies must obtain approval for their particular use of SDA prior to manufacturing.
We in the Nonbeverage Products Section at ATF's National Laboratory Center examine formulas and analyze product samples sent to us by those manufacturers wishing to use SDA in their manufacturing process or article. Examples of products would include cosmetics, industrial chemicals and fuels such as "gasohol." The companies and individuals that represent them are our direct customers whom we serve and with whom we interact on a daily basis. Our examinations and laboratory analyses are intended to benefit our indirect customers, the American public.
We serve our indirect customers in these ways:
- We protect the American tax dollar by ensuring that the products which are manufactured using SDA are properly denatured and that taxable, potable alcohol could not be recovered.
- We make every attempt to ensure that products and materials which we approve are made according to good manufacturing standards to the benefit of the consumer and the environment.
Services We Provide Our Direct Customers
If you plan to manufacture an article using SDA or plan to use it in a process, we will determine whether your circumstances meet the standards for an acceptable use of denatured alcohol.
Although this is the core service we provide, we also:
- Assist in completing ATF Form 5150.19, Formula and /or Process for Article Made with Specially Denatured Spirits.
- Assist in interpreting applicable regulations.
- Evaluate your novel use of SDA and determine whether it is an article or process that would be approvable.
- Evaluate propose new denaturants for inclusion in 27 CFR Part 21.
- Share the procedures we use to analyze the product samples you send us. Provide the results for our analysis of your samples when requested.
The Nonbeverage Products Section of the ATF Laboratory has developed standards for our service to our customers. When you deal with us you will have a right to expect that we will:
- Approve, disapprove
or identify deficiencies of submissions within 10 working days of receipt.
- To receive timely
services you must submit all necessary and complete information on Form
5150.19.
- Hold in the strictest confidence all information you provide us about your product formulas and manufacturing processes.
- Apply the same criteria to the evaluation of formula submissions from all our customers.
We realize that there are areas in which we can improve our service to you and that it can be frustrating when your submissions are not processed promptly. We want you to know that we are committed to making the following improvements:
- We will continually look for ways to cut down on the time it takes us to process your formula submissions.
- We plan to continue
to educate industry members, to explain our requirements.
- Our goal is to streamline the process that industry members must use to have a product approved and to reduce the number of formulas that each individual company must submit.
You may contact us in writing, by telephone or by fax.
Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms
National Laboratory Center
Nonbeverage Products Section
1401 Research Blvd
Rockville, MD 20850-3188
Telephone:
(301) 301-762-9800 or 301-217-5764
Fax: (301) 413-WINE / (301) 413-9463
Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.