In some cases, applications for Certificates of Label Approval (COLA) submitted to the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau have been rejected because the brand name in the COLAs Online application was spelled differently than on the label itself. Or the wine appellation on the label was different than what was entered in the application.
That’s about to change. TTB label specialists will soon propose changes to some of the information entered in COLAs online in order to make it consistent with the label that was submitted for approval.
Industry members will have seven days to accept or reject the proposed changes. If the applicant accepts the changes, the application will automatically change to Approved with no further review required by TTB.
The proposed changes will affect only four fields: brand name, fanciful name, appellation (wine only), and grape varietal (wine only).
TTB noted that label specialists will never change a label itself, and will propose Conditionally Approval only when it is clear from the label what information should be entered into the form.
TTB said it expects this change will “make the label approval process faster for you and for us.”