While the official comment period ended on August 18, the Department of the Treasury is still accepting responses to a Request for Information (RFI) to gather input and consider how to create more competition in the American markets for beer, wine, and spirits.

To promote competition in the American economy, President Biden last month issued an executive order directing the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to review its trade practice regulations that may “unnecessarily inhibit competition” and consider “reducing any barriers that impede market access for smaller and independent brewers, winemakers, and distilleries.”

In a letter to members, Craft Wine Association CEO Carole Lawson called on the industry to support efforts to increase competition.  “This is an important opportunity for small wineries to add their voice to the regulatory process that proposes to improve competition in our industry,” she said. “The Craft Wine Association has long advocated for the modernization of regulations that will benefit independent operators who have struggled to compete with large corporations for too long under arcane rules.”

“The Regulations.gov docket will remain open through October 1, 2021, and comments received after August 18, 2021, will be considered to the extent feasible,” says the federal website.

The Wine Bulletin is published by the Craft Wine Association.