TTB Approves Greater Range of Standards of Fill for Wine and Distilled Spirits
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has amended regulations governing some standards of fill of wine and distilled spirits as part of a broader effort to provide more flexibility and enable a wider range of container sizes, facilitate the movement of goods within domestic and international commence, and provide consumers with broader purchasing options, it said in a Federal Register notice.
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The amendments include adding 13 standards of fill for wine and 15 standards of fill for distilled spirits, as well as eliminating the distinction of standards of fill for distilled spirits in cans and those for distilled spirits in containers other than cans.
The changes are effective Jan. 10.
TTB defines standard of fill as "the authorized amount of liquid in the container, rather than the size or capacity of the container itself," although the agency noted that the terms "standard of fill" and "size" or "container size" may be used interchangeably.
TTB's proposed amendments had also included plans to "generally eliminate" the standards of fill for wine and distilled spirits. But the agency opted not to adopt those plans following public comment and concern by some that an elimination of standards might cause consumer confusion or encourage consumer deception.