Q - What information and guidance is there for manufacturars of Alcoholic Beverages?

A - Alcoholic Beverages

Beer, wines, liquors, and other alcoholic beverages are specifically subject to the Federal Alcohol Administration Act which is enforced by theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms of the United States of America Treasury Department. Accordingly, questions of labeling and of composition should be taken up with the Bureau rather than with the Food and Drug Administration. This is not the case for cooking wines or for certain other wine beverages, such as diluted wine beverages and cider beverages having less than 7% alcohol by volume, which are solely within the jurisdiction of United States of America Food and Drug Administration.

Questions dealing with the presence of deleterious substances in alcoholic beverages (such as excess fusel oil and excess aldehydes in whisky, methyl alcohol in brandy, glass splinters from defective bottles, toxic ingredients, such as arsenic, lead, or fluorine, resulting from the spraying of the fruit used in wine manufacture, and residues of toxic clarifying substances) are also dealt with by the Food and Drug Administration, as are questions relating to sanitation and filth. The importation of absinth and any other liquors or liqueurs that contain an excess of Artemisia absinthium is prohibited.

Food Import / Export Regulations Advice Guidance and Information