TTB Rule Changes for Documentation Supporting Organic Claims

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) recently announced changes to the supporting documentation required for claims that alcohol products are “100% Organic,” “Organic” and/or “Made with Organic” ingredients.  Currently, industry members submitting a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) application for alcohol products that include such organic claims must submit: (1) the organic certificate for the handling operation that makes the finished product; and, (2) the Accredited Certifying Agent’s (ACA) preview which contains the actual images of the product label and the stamp or signature of the certifying agent or control body/authority.   Under TTB’s new rule, a copy of the organic certificate is no longer required for products including any such “organic” claims, although COLA application must still include the ACA preview.  It should be noted, however, that for any labels that identify organic contents in an ingredient statement, organic certificates for each ingredient identified as organic must still be submitted with the COLA application.

For assistance with COLAs or more information about the TTB labeling changes discussed above, please contact Bahaneh Hobel at [email protected]

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