July 2, 2010
Greetings! We hope you are having a successful and pleasing week! This edition includes a Memorandum Of Understanding with the Department of Agriculture, guidance for Kombucha products, and the announcement of Alan Everett as the new Director of the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses
and Control.
In the TTB Newsletter, we compile the top TTB news of the week and other helpful information about the Bureau and the Federal alcohol and tobacco laws and regulations we enforce. Please send any questions and/or comments to Executive Liaison for Industry Matters (industryliaison@ttb.gov) and/or State Liaison (stateliaison@ttb.gov). |
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TTB SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ON ORGANIC LABELING
This agreement between the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) clarifies and delineates the enforcement responsibilities of each agency with respect to the labeling and advertising of alcohol beverages produced under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) (P.L. 101-624, Title XXI, Organic Certification (1990)) and for other related purposes. Read the entire agreement: TTB Signs MOU with Agriculture on Organic Labeling (06/17/10).
TTB ISSUES GUIDANCE FOR KOMBUCHA PRODUCTS.
TTB has received inquiries about "kombucha" products from the states of Maine, Minnesota, Arizona, and Vermont and a large distributor. Kombucha is a fermented tea that is typically marketed as a non-alcoholic beverage, which means that it may contain a trace amount of alcohol, as long as the overall alcohol content is less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. In some cases these products have alcohol contents that significantly exceed 0.5 percent.
As a result of the inquiries received on this issue, TTB is coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that kombucha products that are currently on the market comply with Federal laws. Right now, our primary concern is to ensure that consumers are not misled about the nature of alcohol beverage products that might be marketed as non-alcohol beverages.
To learn more, read the TTB guidance posted at TTB.gov: Kombucha Products Containing at Least 0.5 Percent Alcohol by Volume are Alcohol Beverages (06/23/10)
ALAN EVERETT NAMED DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR LICENSES AND CONTROL
Mr. Everett brings more than 45 years of managerial and leadership experience to The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC). As a member of the State Liquor Board from 2004-2010, he has gained valuable insight into administrative and enforcement matters that he will now utilize as DLLC's Director.
His educational experience includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Since 1989, he has served as principal of Diamond E Consulting Ltd, where he specializes in strategic consulting. For 24 years, Mr. Everett held various high-level positions with the Amoco Oil Company.
Mr. Everett has a long history of community involvement, having previously served as mayor and city councilman of the City of Sedona and chair of the Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity. His experience also includes membership of several northern Arizona organizations which include the Sedona Medical Center Foundation, the Greater Sedona Community Foundation, the Sedona Fine Arts Festival, the Church of the Red Rocks Council, the Sedona Red Rock Rotary Club and the Verde Healthcare Initiative.
Mr. Everett currently serves as board chairman for the Verde Valley Medical Center Board of Directors and the Northern Arizona Healthcare Board of Directors. He replaced Jerry Oliver who recently retired.