The information that follows is based on the TABC Code and Rules, and is meant as an aid to the label approval process. For more detailed information, see TABC Rules Chapter 45.
You can get information about the US Department of Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) rules for federal Certificates of Label Approval (COLA).
By law, no person may ship or cause to be shipped into the State of Texas any alcoholic beverage unless the product has received label approval from this office.
The current versions of the label approval applications are found on the Label Approval Forms page of our website. Please use Form C-270DS for distilled spirit labels, C-270W for wine labels, and C-270MB for malt beverage labels.
Not at this time.
No. Applications will not be accepted unless the licensee/permittee has a valid permit issued by this office.
The Trade Name is the name under which the TABC license/permit was issued.
Malt Beverages: Yes, every size and every container type (bottle, can, or keg) must have an approved TABC label.
Wine and Spirits: No, the TABC Rules mirror the TTB Rules for issuing COLAs. There must be at least one TABC label approval to cover sizes smaller than 237 ml, one TABC label approval to cover sizes from 237 ml to 3L, and one TABC label approval to cover sizes greater than 3L.
Malt Beverage: Multiple sizes may be listed on one application, but the fee is $25 per size and container type. (For example, a 12 oz bottle and a 12 oz can would have different labels, and both would need approval.)
Wine & Spirits: Multiple sizes of exactly the same product may be listed on one application, and the processing fee will be $25 for all sizes listed on the Federal COLA.
Yes, one check or money order may be provided to cover the total cost for the label approval applications submitted.
Malt Beverage: Yes – all new product label approvals will require product samples for analysis. In lieu of samples, an analysis stating the alcohol content both by volume and by weight may be provided from an independent laboratory. Analyses from the brewery will not be accepted. For label revisions or size additions, a product sample or independent laboratory analysis will be required if the product test result on file at TABC is more than five years old. If you are unsure of the date of the last test result, please email your question to label.approval@tabc.state.tx.us. The tested alcohol content will be listed on the certificate of label approval if a sample was tested or an independent laboratory analysis was provided.
Spirits: No.
Wine: A product sample will be required if the alcohol content is less than 7% alc/vol and there is no TTB COLA available.
TABC, 5806 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 78731. It is a violation of federal law to send alcoholic beverages through the US Postal Service. Most large carriers such as FedEx or UPS have the appropriate permits to transport alcohol in Texas, but you must confirm this prior to shipment.
No, product that does not have TABC label approval may not be shipped into the State of Texas prior to approval.
Please allow 10 business days from the time the application is received at TABC.
No, label approval applications are processed in the order received.
Not at this time.
Label approval certificates will be sent through the US postal service.
You may fax or e-mail a request for a list of your approved products to (512) 206-3392 or label.approval@tabc.state.tx.us. Please include your permit/license number(s) and Trade Name in the request.
As a rule, replacement certificates will not be provided. However, you may fax or e-mail a request to (512) 206-3392 or label.approval@tabc.state.tx.us and a current list of label approvals for your permit/license number will be provided. This list will serve as verification of label approval for wholesalers and distributors in Texas.
As a rule, no, TABC label approvals do not expire. However, if the TTB COLA provided with the label approval application has an expiration date, the TABC label approval will also expire on that date. When changes are made to the label, which require a new TTB COLA, a new TABC label approval is also required.
If your label revision requires you to obtain a new TTB COLA, then a new TABC label approval will also be required. You may also e-mail specific questions to label.approval@tabc.state.tx.us. Malt beverage brewers are encouraged to email electronic copies of labels for a preliminary opinion.
Probably not. You will only be required to obtain a new TABC label approval if the TTB requires you to get a new COLA or the alcohol by volume changes the class of wine. (Lower wine tax class is 14.0% alc/vol and under; higher wine tax class is over 14% alc/vol.)
No, all products must be registered to the producer, owner, or exclusive agent of the commodity. However, you may send a letter to the TABC Label Approval Section stating that you have acquired the rights to these brands. Please list the brands that you have acquired and provide a copy of the use-up letter from the previous brand owner. The Label Approval section will confirm the labels have been registered in Texas. A letter will be issued stating the labels may continue to be used until new COLA’s are obtained from TTB. As new COLAs are obtained from TTB, label applications must be submitted for state label approval.
No, as long as there have been no changes to the labels requiring new TTB COLAs, the TABC label approvals issued under the expired permit/license number are still considered current.
Hard cider is considered a specialty wine in Texas.
Have a question not covered here? Please email your questions to label.approval@tabc.state.tx.us.