Source: http://www.us-metric.org/packaging-regulations-for-alcoholic-beverages/
Timestamp: 2017-10-18 16:25:56
Document Index: 456413611

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 5', 'art 7', 'art 4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§ 4', '§4', '§4', '§ 4', '§4', '§ 4', 'art 5', '§5', '§5', '§5', 'art 13', 'art, 4', 'art, 1', '§5', '§5', '§5', 'art 7']

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), part of the Department of the Treasury, regulates the labeling, advertising, and marketing of alcoholic beverages in the US.
Note: Prior to January 24, 2003, the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) handled these functions. On that date, ATF’s law enforcement functions moved to the Department of Justice as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (still acronymed ATF), while the tax and trade functions remained in the Treasury Department as the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
The regulations appear in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27 — Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; Chapter I — Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Department of the Treasury; Subchapter A —Liquors.
For details, read the text below, but here’s a quick summary of the regulations requirements for allowed sizes and requirements for metric and non-metric units in net contents labels (which may be marked on the bottle itself rather than on the label):
Metric label required?
Non-metric label required?
Wine and liquor Standard sizes only Yes No
Beer and such Any size No Yes
The standard sizes for wine and distilled spirits are shown in their sections below.
Following are extracts related to package sizes and net contents labeling.
27 CFR Part 4 — Labeling and advertising of wine
27 CFR Part 5 — Labeling and advertising of distilled spirits
27 CFR Part 7 — Labeling and advertising of malt beverages
Following are extracts from 27 CFR Part 4, Labeling and advertising of wine. The short version:
In general, wine must be packaged in one of the standard sizes — 50 mL, 100 mL, 187 mL, 375 mL, 500 mL, 750 mL, 1 L, 1.5 L, 3 L, and larger integral multiples of liters. The standard sizes don’t apply in a few cases, explained in §4.46 and §4.70 below.
Several sections below refer to the standards of fill in §4.73, but they should refer to §4.72. Originally, §4.72 contained the non-metric standard sizes of wine bottles and §4.73 contained the metric standard sizes, but the non-metric standards expired on December 31, 1978. On July 2, 2003 (68 FR 39455) TTB removed the old §4.72 and renumbered §4.73 as §4.72, but the references to §4.73 remain.
Subpart B — Definitions.
Subpart D — Labeling Requirements for Wine.
(2) Net contents, in accordance with §4.37. If the net contents is a standard of fill other than an authorized metric standard of fill as prescribed in §4.73, the net contents statement shall appear on a label affixed to the front of the bottle.
(a) Statement of net contents. The net contents of wine for which a standard of fill is prescribed in §4.73 shall be stated in the same manner and form as set forth in the standard of fill. The net content of wine for which no standard of fill is prescribed in §4.73 shall be stated in the metric system of measure as follows:
(c) Net contents marked in bottle. The net contents need not be stated on any label if the net contents are displayed by having the same blown, etched, sand-blasted, marked by underglaze coloring, or otherwise permanently marked by any method approved by the appropriate ATF officer, in the sides, front, or back of the bottle, in letters and figures in such manner as to be plainly legible under ordinary circumstances, and such statement is not obscured in any manner in whole or in part.
Subpart E — Requirements for Withdrawal of Wine From Customs Custody
§ 4.46 Certificate of nonstandard fill.
A person may import wine in containers not conforming to the metric standards of fill prescribed at §4.73 if the wine is:
(a) Accompanied by a statement signed by a duly authorized official of the appropriate foreign country, stating that the wine was bottled or packed before January 1, 1979;
(b) Being withdrawn from a Customs bonded warehouse into which it was entered before January 1, 1979; or
(c) Exempt from the standard of fill requirements as provided by §4.70(b)(1) or (2).
Subpart H — Standards of Fill for Wine
§ 4.70 Application.
(b) Sections 4.70 through 4.73 do not apply to:
(3) Imported wine in the original containers in which entered customs custody if the wine was bottled or packed before January 1, 1979; or
(4) Wine domestically bottled or packed, either in or out of customs custody, before October 24, 1943, if the container, or the label on the container, bears a conspicuous statement of the net contents, and if the actual capacity of the container is not substantially less than the apparent capacity upon visual examination under ordinary conditions of purchase or use.
(c) Section 4.73 does not apply to wine domestically bottled or packed, either in or out of customs custody, before January 1, 1979, if the wine was bottled or packed according to the standards of fill prescribed by §4.72.
§ 4.72 Metric standards of fill.
(a) Authorized standards of fill. The standards of fill for wine are the following: 3 liters, 1.5 liters, 1 liter, 750 milliliters, 500 milliliters, 375 milliliters, 187 milliliters, 100 milliliters, 50 milliliters.
Following are extracts from 27 CFR Part 5 — Labeling and advertising of distilled spirits. The short version:
In general, distilled spirits must be packaged in one of the standard sizes — 50 mL, 100 mL, 200 mL, 375 mL, 750 mL, 1 L, and 1.75 L — except for cans, whose standard sizes are 50 mL, 100 mL, 200 mL, and 355 mL.
Subpart B — Definitions
Subpart D — Labeling Requirements for Distilled Spirits
The references to §5.38a appear to be obsolete, as there is no such section.
(b) Bottles not conforming to the metric standards of fill. The net contents for distilled spirits bottled before January 1, 1980, in bottles not conforming to the metric standards of fill, shall be stated in the same manner and form as set forth in §5.47(a), except for cordials and liqueurs, cocktails, highballs, bitters and specialties, as specified by the Director. The net contents for these specialty products shall be stated in U.S. measure (i.e., gallons, quarts, pints, fluid ounces).
(c) Net contents marked in bottles. The net contents need not be marked on any label if they are legibly blown, etched, sandblasted, marked by underglaze coloring, or otherwise permanently marked by any method approved by the appropriate ATF officer on the side, front, or back of the container in an unobscured location. containers of 200 ml or greater capacity shall bear letters and figures of not less than one-quarter inch height.
Subpart E — Standards of Fill for Bottled Distilled Spirits
No person engaged in business as a distiller, rectifier, importer, wholesaler, or warehouseman and bottler, directly or indirectly, or through an affiliate, shall sell or ship or deliver for sale or shipment, or otherwise introduce in interstate or foreign commerce, or receive therein or remove from customs custody any distilled spirits in bottles unless such distilled spirits are bottled and packed in conformity with §§5.46 through 5.47a.
(d) Exceptions — (1) Distinctive liquor bottles. The headspace and design requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section do not apply to liquor bottles that are specifically exempted by the appropriate ATF oficer, pursuant to an application filed by the bottler or importer. (2) Cross reference. For procedures regarding the issuance, denial and revocation of distinctive liquor bottle approvals, as well as appeal procedures, see part 13 of this chapter.
This section, no longer in effect, listed the standard non-metric sizes: 1 gallon, 1⁄2 gallon, 1 quart, 4⁄5 quart, 1 pint, 4⁄5 pint, 1⁄2 pint, 1⁄8 pint, 1⁄10 pint, and 1⁄16 pint (brandy only).
(1) For containers other than cans described in paragraph (a)(2), of this section — 1.75 liters, 1.00 liter, 750 milliliters, 500 milliliters (Authorized for bottling until June 30, 1989), 375 milliliters, 200 milliliters, 100 milliliters, 50 milliliters.
(2) For metal containers which have the general shape and design of a can, which have a closure which is an integral part of the container, and which cannot be readily reclosed after opening — 355 milliliters, 200 milliliters, 100 milliliters, 50 milliliters.
(d) Distilled spirits bottled before January 1, 1980. Distilled spirits bottled domestically before January 1, 1980, may be marketed after December 31, 1979, if such distilled spirits were bottled in accordance with §5.47. (See §5.53 for similar provisions relating to distilled spirits imported in original containers.)
Subpart F — Requirements for Withdrawal From Customs Custody of Bottled Imported Distilled Spirits
(a) Distilled spirits imported in original containers not conforming to the metric standards of fill prescribed in §5.47a shall not be released from Customs custody after December 31, 1979:
(1) Unless the distilled spirits are accompanied by a statement signed by a duly authorized official of the appropriate foreign country, stating that the distilled spirits were bottled or packed prior to January 1, 1980; or
(2) Unless the distilled spirits are being withdrawn from a Customs bonded warehouse or foreign trade zone into which entered on or before December 31, 1979.
(b) Distilled spirits imported in 500 ml containers shall not be released from Customs custody after June 30, 1989:
(1) Unless the distilled spirits are accompanied by a certificate issued by the government of the appropriate foreign country, stating that the distilled spirits were bottled or packed prior to July 1, 1989; or
(2) Unless the distilled spirits are being withdrawn from a Customs bonded warehouse or foreign trade zone into which entered on or before June 30, 1989.
Following are extracts from 27 CFR Part 7 — Labeling and advertising of malt beverages. The regulations for beer do not specify standard sizes, and the net contents are expressed in non-metric units.
Subpart C — Labeling Requirements for Malt Beverages
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