27 C.F.R. Subpart J—Marks, Brands, and Labels
Title 27 - Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms
(a) General requirements. The brewer's name or trade name and the place of production (city and, if necessary for identification, State) shall be permanently marked on each barrel or keg. If the place of production is clearly shown on the bung or on the tap cover, or on a label securely affixed to each barrel or keg, the place of production need not be permanently marked on each barrel or keg. No statement as to payment of internal revenue taxes may be shown. (b) Breweries of same ownership. (1) If two or more breweries are owned or operated by the same person, firm, or corporation (as defined in §25.181), the place of production: (i) May be shown as the only location on the bung, or on the tap cover, or on a separate label attached to the keg; (ii) May be included in a listing of the locations of breweries qualified under this part if the place of production is not given less emphasis than any of the other locations; or (iii) Need not be shown if the brewer's principal place of business is shown in lieu of any other location. The brewer's principal place of business will be the location of a brewery operated by the brewer and qualified under this part. (2) If the location of two or more breweries is shown on the keg, bung, tap cover, or on a separate label attached to the keg (paragraph (b)(1)(ii)), or if the brewer's principal place of business is shown in lieu of the actual place of production (paragraph (b)(1)(iii)), the brewer shall indicate the actual place of production by printing, coding or other markings on the keg, bung, tap cover, or on a separate label attached to the keg. The coding system employed will permit an appropriate TTB officer to determine the place of production (including street address if two or more breweries are located in the same city) of the beer. The brewer must notify the appropriate TTB officer prior to employing a coding system. (c) Label approval required. Labels or tap covers used by brewers shall be covered by certificates of label approval, Form 5100.31, when required by Part 7 of this chapter. (Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85–859, 72 Stat. 1389, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5412)) [T.D. ATF–224, 51 FR 7673, Mar. 5, 1986, as amended by T.D. ATF–225, 51 FR 8492, Mar. 12, 1986; T.D. ATF–437, 66 FR 5479, Jan. 19, 2001] (a) Label requirements. Each bottle of beer shall show by label or otherwise the name or trade name of the brewer, the net contents of the bottle, the nature of the product such as beer, ale, porter, stout, etc., and the place of production (city and, when necessary for identification, State). No statement as to payment of internal revenue taxes may be shown. (b) Breweries of same ownership. (1) If two or more breweries are owned or operated by the same person, firm, or corporation (as defined in §25.181), the place of production: (i) May be shown as the only location on the label; (ii) May be included in a listing of the locations of breweries qualified under this part if the place of production is not given less emphasis than any of the other locations; or (iii) Need not be shown if the brewer's principal place of business is shown in lieu of any other location. The brewer's principal place of business will be the location of a brewery operated by the brewer and qualified under this part. (2) If the location of two or more breweries is shown on the label (paragraph (b)(1)(ii)), or if the brewer's principal place of business is shown on the label in lieu of the actual place of production (paragraph (b)(1)(iii)), the brewer shall indicate the actual place of production by printing, coding or other markings on the label, bottle, crown or lid. The coding system employed will permit an appropriate TTB officer to determine the place of production (including street address if two or more breweries are located in the same city) of the beer. The brewer must notify the appropriate TTB offcer prior to employing a coding system. (c) Distinctive names. If the brewer's name, trade name or brand name includes the name of a city which is not the place where the beer was produced, the appropriate TTB officer may require the brewer to state the actual place of production on the label. (d) Tolerances. The statement of net contents shall indicate exactly the volume of beer within the bottle except for variations in measuring as may occur in filling conducted in compliance with good commercial practice. The barrel equivalent of bottles filled during a consecutive three month period, calculated on the basis of the brewer's fill test records, may not vary more than 0.5 percent from the barrel equivalent of bottles filled during the same period, calculated on the basis of the stated net contents of the bottles. The brewer is liable for the tax on the entire amount of beer removed, without benefit of tolerance, when the fill of bottles and cans exceeds the tolerance for the three month period, or when filling is not conducted in compliance with good commercial practice. (e) Label approval required. Labels used by brewers shall be covered by certificates of label approval, Form 5100.31, when required by Part 7 of this chapter. (f) Short-fill bottles. A brewer may dispose of taxpaid short-fill bottles of beer to employees for their use but not for resale. These bottles need not be labeled, but if labeled they need not show an accurate statement of net contents. (Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85–859, 72 Stat. 1389, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5412)) [T.D. ATF–224, 51 FR 7673, Mar. 5, 1986, as amended by T.D. ATF–225, 51 FR 8492, Mar. 12, 1986; T.D. ATF–437, 66 FR 5479, Jan. 19, 2001] (a) Brewer's name. The brewer's name or trade name will be shown on each case or other shipping container of bottled beer. A brewer may use unmarked cases to hold: (1) Cartons of beer, if the visible portion of the cartons shows the required name; or (2) Bottles or cans with plastic carriers, if the visible portion of the bottles or cans shows the required name. (b) Other information. The brewer may show on a case or shipping container the place of production (city and, when necessary for identification, State), and the addresses of other breweries owned by the same person, firm, or corporation (as defined in §25.181). If only one address is shown, it will be that of the producing brewery, or of the brewer's principal place of business. (Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85–859, 72 Stat. 1389, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5412)) [T.D. ATF–224, 51 FR 7673, Mar. 5, 1986, as amended by T.D. ATF–225, 51 FR 8492, Mar. 12, 1986] (a) A brewer may not use a barrel or keg which bears the name of more than one brewer, and except as provided in §25.231, may not use a barrel or keg bearing the name of a brewer other than the producing brewer. (b) A brewer who purchases or otherwise obtains barrels or kegs from another brewer shall permanently remove or durably cover the original marks and brands after notifying the appropriate TTB officer of the proposed action. A brewer may use the barrels or kegs obtained without removing or covering the original marks and brands if the brewer: (1) Adopts a trade name substantially identical to the name appearing on the barrels or kegs; or (2) Succeeds to a brewer who has discontinued business, in which case the brewer may add marks or brands, in accordance with §25.141, which indicate ownership. (Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85–859, 72 Stat. 1389, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5412)) (a) Each brewer who transfers beer to another brewery of the same ownership (as defined in §25.181), or who exports beer without payment of tax, as provided in §25.203, shall plainly and durably mark each tank, tank car, tank truck, tank ship, barge, or deep tank of a vessel in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section. These marks may be placed on a label securely affixed to the route board of the container. (b) The brewer shall mark each container with— (1) The designation “Beer”; (2) The brewer's name; (3) The address of the brewery from which removed; (4) The address of the brewery to which transferred or the marks required for exportation in Part 28 of this chapter, as applicable; (5) The date of shipment; and (6) The quantity, expressed in barrels. (Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85–859, 72 Stat. 1334, as amended, 1389, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5053, 5414)) [T.D. ATF–224, 51 FR 7673, Mar. 5, 1986, as amended by T.D. TTB–8, 69 FR 3830, Jan. 27, 2004]
Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
PART 25—BEER
Subpart J—Marks, Brands, and Labels
§ 25.141 Barrels and kegs.
§ 25.142 Bottles.
§ 25.143 Cases.
§ 25.144 Rebranding barrels and kegs.
§ 25.145 Tanks, vehicles, and vessels.
