Here’s a main reason the TTB returns label applications

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau seems just as tired of the hassle of its processes as you are and keeps on providing helpful reminders for providers to reduce the amount of user submitted errors. The latest bulletin from the TTB notes that one of the most common reasons for returning label applications is missing supporting documentation that needs to be uploaded before submitting the application.

“We require you to upload supporting documents when we need detailed information about certain ingredients you may use to make your formulated wine, distilled spirit or beer/malt beverage,” the TTB states. “Some of these documents must be obtained from the supplier or manufacturer of the ingredient.”

Here are the most common kinds of supporting documentation and when they should be submitted together with the formula application:

Ingredient Specification Sheet (Spec Sheet). A document that lists ingredients or describes the contents of an ingredient used in your alcohol beverage. Submit when your beverage is made with manufactured or pre-packaged food (e.g., chocolate syrup, donuts, tomato sauce).

Flavor Ingredient Data Sheet (FIDS). A spreadsheet that includes key information about the ingredients in a manufactured flavor, cloudifier or blender. Submit when your beverage is made with compounded (manufactured) flavor, cloudifier or blender
(typically purchased from a flavor manufacturer).

Limited Ingredient Calculation Worksheet. A spreadsheet that calculates the total amounts of TTB and FDA limited ingredients present in your beverage. Submit when your beverage is made with compounded (manufactured) flavor, cloudifier or blender
(typically purchased from a flavor manufacturer).