There are a number of different ways for businesses to participate in the alcoholic beverage industry. To get the right federal and state alcoholic beverage licenses and permits, you first have to identify what role or roles your business will play. Alcoholic Beverage Industry Participation Profiles provides a table of common activities in the alcoholic beverage industry and identifies...
Continue ReadingTaxes are a vital part of importing spirits into the United States. In most cases, imported spirits need to pay taxes at US Customs. These taxes, known as federal excise taxes, are collected by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Understanding how taxes work for imported spirits can help you better understand their costs and pricing....
Continue ReadingTraveling can be an exciting way to explore new places and cultures, but it’s important to know the rules and regulations when it comes to bringing alcohol back home. Whether you’re returning from a trip abroad or visiting another state within the US, there are both federal and state requirements that travelers need to follow to avoid any legal...
Continue ReadingThe Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) is a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that lowered taxes on all beverage alcohol producers, big and small, foreign and domestic. In 2020, the tax cuts became permanent. Effective as of January 1, 2023, the Treasury Department–particularly, the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)–is in...
Continue ReadingFDA Prior Notice Provides Key Information about Imported Alcohol The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires that a Prior Notice of Imported Foods be filed before any food product–including alcoholic beverages–be imported into the United States. The FDA Prior Notice is required regardless on the quantity of products being imported. For instance, a FDA Prior Notice is required...
Continue ReadingLike alcoholic beverage manufacturers, distributors, and vendors, importers and exporters are subject to strict regulations and licensing by the federal government and the State of Florida. What Florida Importers & Exporters Can and Cannot Do In the alcoholic sales channel, importers play the role of getting products from overseas through US Customs and into the hands of distributors. Licensed...
Continue ReadingThe Florida Legislature is considering a pair of bills aimed at Florida’s wine and spirits importers. House Bill 1201 and Senate Bill 1552 are mirror images of one another. If passed, the bills would make technical corrections surrounding the “American source of supply” designation and would prohibit alteration of imported bottles of wine or spirits.
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