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November 19, 2021

Susan Evans Announces Her Retirement

After 33 years of public service, Susan Evans will retire as Director of the Office of Industry and State Outreach effective December 31, 2021.

Ms. Evans started her federal career in 1988 as a clerk/typist with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in the New York City Area Office.  She soon became a field inspector and later a field supervisor in Houston, Texas.  She transitioned from the field to ATF’s headquarters in Washington, DC in 1999, as the director of the Alcohol Labeling and Formulation Division (ALFD). During her time leading ALFD, Ms. Evans led the effort to develop COLAs Online, ATF’s first online application.  

When TTB was created in 2003, Ms. Evans was appointed the first Assistant Administrator, Headquarters Operations, overseeing ALFD, Scientific Services Division, Regulations and Rulings Division, and International Affairs Division.

In 2005, she became the Executive Liaison for Industry and State Matters, the role that would take her through the rest of her career: serving as an advocate and educator for industry members and states. With those goals in mind, she co-led the team that organized and executed the TTB Expo, multi-day intensive compliance training events taught by TTB experts from throughout the Bureau. In 2017, Ms. Evans successfully advocated for standing up an office dedicated to stakeholder outreach and education, and transitioned to her current role as Director, Office of Industry and State Outreach. 

When announcing her retirement, Ms. Evans said, “I’ll be forever grateful for the many wonderful experiences and opportunities I’ve had during my career with ATF and TTB.  I am so fortunate to have been allowed to indulge my passion for teaching and helping people throughout my professional life.”

We invite you to submit words of recognition or appreciation to Ms. Evans in advance of her retirement. Please send your comments to Outreach@ttb.gov by Friday, December 3, and they will be shared at her retirement celebration and/or archived in a book of gratitude for her service.

Starting January 1, Janelle Christian will be the acting Director, Office of Industry and State Outreach until we fill the position permanently.

Malt Beverage Label Tips

Last week, we covered common errors we encounter on certificate of label approval (COLA) applications for wine.  This week we’re highlighting malt beverages. 

Follow these three tips to help your malt beverage labels sail through TTB approval.

1. Make sure you know when formula approval is required and get that before you submit your COLA. This is the number one thing that trips brewers up.  If you’re unsure, use the Which Alcohol Beverages Require Formula Approval? tool on TTB.gov.
   
   
2. Many ingredients used in malt beverages have been exempted from the formula requirement (see Attachment 1 for TTB Ruling 2015-1). If you use only exempt ingredients, you have options for how the product can be designated on the label.  Review Attachment 2 and make sure you follow the guidelines when designing your label.
   
   
3. Although there are many styles of beer recognized by the beer world, many of them may not be used as the sole product designation on beer labels. You may use terms such as IPA, Kriek, Berliner Weisse, etc., but only if the label also includes a designation such as beer, lager, ale, porter, or stout.
    

Proposed Information Collections – Time to Comment

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, we recently published a notice requesting public comments on 10 existing TTB information collections (forms, recordkeeping and labeling requirements, and surveys).  Among these 10 are information collections related to changes in bonds, COLA applications, claims, and offers in compromise.

To comment electronically, use the Regulation.gov comment form for this notice.  To view any comments received in response to this notice, see Regulations.gov Docket No. TTB­–2021–0003.  Comments are due to TTB by January 18, 2022.

See Notice 84 for full details on the 10 information collections. 

Alcohol Industry November Deadlines

What's Trending on TTB.gov: Beer

• Beer - Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
• Brewer's Notice
• Beer Statistics
• Beer Labeling
• Which Alcohol Beverages Require Formula Approval?

Upcoming TTB Outreach Activities

• Dec 1-3: CA Craft Brewers Association Winter 2021 Conference
• Dec 3-6: 2021 Distillers Convention and Trade Show

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