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 or comments to the Executive Liaison for Industry Matters at IndustryLiaison@ttb.gov and/or StateLiaison@ttb.gov. TTB Newsletter Archives | ![Need BIG Text?]() |
CAROLINE MAY SELECTED TO SERVE AS ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL (FIELD OPERATIONS)Caroline May joined TTB Office of Chief Counsel as an attorney-advisor in June 2008, after spending several years doing part time legal work for a law firm in Cincinnati. She currently serves as the Senior Counsel, Field Operations. Among her many duties she has been the primary legal advisor to the criminal enforcement program since October of 2010. During her tenure, Ms. May has gained a wide range of experience in the regulation and enforcement of the laws and regulations under TTB’s jurisdiction. From 1997 to 1999, Ms. May was a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Tax Division. While at DOJ, she represented the United States in federal district and bankruptcy courts in tax refund and collection matters, summons enforcement matters, Freedom of Information and Privacy Act cases, and matters involving the alleged unlawful disclosure of tax return information under 26 U.S.C. § 6103. Before joining DOJ, Ms. May spent three years as a litigation associate at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Patton Boggs, L.L.P. Ms. May holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Louisville and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Virginia Bar, the District of Columbia Bar and the Commonwealth of Kentucky Bar. TTB AMENDS THE DISTILLED SPIRITS STANDARDS OF IDENTITY REGULATIONS TO RECOGNIZE "PISCO" AS A TYPE OF BRANDY AND A DISTINCTIVE PRODUCT OF PERU AND CHILERead the related "TTB in the News" story at TTB.gov: United States Recognizes Pisco as a Type of Brandy and Distinctive Product of Peru and Chile On May 16, 2013, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published a final rule in the Federal Register amending its standards of identity regulations for distilled spirits to include Pisco as a type of brandy that must be manufactured in accordance with the laws and regulations of either Peru or Chile. This final rule will be effective on July 15, 2013. Any Pisco imported into the United States must be bottled at not less than 40 percent alcohol by volume in order to be labeled as Pisco. Depending on its method of manufacture, any product bottled at below 40 percent alcohol by volume could either be labeled as a "diluted Pisco" or as a distilled spirits specialty product bearing a statement of composition. According to the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement and the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement respectively, the U.S. recognized "Pisco Perú" as a distinctive product of Peru and "Pisco Chileno" as a distinctive product of Chile. In exchange, these two nations recognized "Bourbon Whiskey" and "Tennessee Whiskey" as distinctive products of the United States. To view the complete rulemaking record for this regulatory amendment, including the proposed rule, the public comments received in response to the proposed rule, and the final rule, see Docket No. TTB-2012-0001 at the "Regulations.gov" website. WHEN DISASTER STRIKESBusinesses (retailers, wholesalers, importers, export warehouse proprietors, and manufacturers of beverage alcohol and tobacco products) may file claims with TTB for the payment (refund or allowance of credit) of federal excise taxes paid on beverage alcohol or tobacco products lost, rendered unmarketable, or condemned by a duly authorized official under various circumstances, including where the President has declared a major disaster. Visit Disaster Claims at TTB.gov for more information about claims, including conditions and filing information. CONTACT US
For more information on disaster claims contact the National Revenue Center at 1-877-882-3277 or by email at ttbquestions@ttb.gov. If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, call 202-882-9914. | 
