TTB seeks comments on rules to eliminate ‘standard of fill’ requirements on wine, spirits containers

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published two deregulatory proposals on July 1 in the Federal Register to eliminate all but a minimum standard of fill for wine containers (Notice No. 182), and all but a minimum and maximum standard of fill for distilled spirits containers (Notice No. 183). The comment period for the two proposed rules closes on August 30, 2019.

“We welcome comments on these proposed deregulatory actions, and we also seek comments on the relative merits of alternatives, such as adding new authorized standards of fill or developing an expedited process for adding additional standards in the future,” the TTB stated in its announcement of the proposals. “All of these approaches would be intended to eliminate restrictions that inhibit competition and the movement of goods in domestic and international commerce.”

The term “standard of fill” is used in the TTB regulations to refer to the amount of liquid in the container, and our current regulations prescribe certain specific standards of fill for wine and distilled spirits containers sold within the United States, such as 750, 500, 375, 100, and 50 milliliters.  The proposals are intended to eliminate unnecessary regulatory requirements and provide consumers broader purchasing options.

“We have already received comments on the existing standards of fill regulations in response to Notice No. 176, Modernization of the Labeling and Advertising Regulations for Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages, and we will take those and any additional relevant comments we received in response to that notice into consideration for these proposals as well.”