2023 Government Affairs Agenda
The 2023 legislative year is now fully underway, and promises to be a busy one for WineAmerica. Our newly released 2023 Government Affairs book details nearly a dozen legislative and regulatory issues which will be tracked by Michael Kaiser, Executive Vice President and Director of Government Affairs.
The legislative issues include:
—USPS Shipping Equity Act, which would allow the postal service to ship wine directly to consumers like FedEx and UPS have done for years
—Farm Bill, which sets agricultural priorities and funding recommendations for five years
—Agritourism Bill, which could create new organizational and funding mechanisms for promoting tourism to agricultural businesses like wineries
—Federal Cannabis Legalization and Decriminalization Bill, which would align policies with the many states that have legalized medical and/or recreational use of marijuana
—Agricultural Labor Initiative, which would simplify regulations for both employers and migrant workers to ensure an adequate labor force.
The regulatory issues, involving the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), include:
—Promoting Competition, involving the President’s initiative to review regulations in the alcohol beverage sector
—Standards of Fill, which have to do with allowable container sizes
—Definition of Fortified, which can clarify the contents of wine with added spirits (but not call it “Fortified Wine”)
—Nutritional Information and Ingredient Labeling, which will most likely be the predominant regulatory issues this year. (WineAmerica is taking an industry survey, which you may complete here.)
Music Licensing is also on the 2023 agenda (again), and is handled by Vice President of Development Tara Good.
As described in the 20-page book, WineAmerica has a detailed process for soliciting member input and working with our Government Affairs Committee to forge the organization’s positions on behalf of the wine industry. Detailed descriptions of these issues, and their current status, will be included in future editions of this newsletter. Meanwhile, to view the book, click here.
Listening Session on Nutritional Labeling
Thank you to those who participated in WineAmerica’s survey on nutritional labeling. We received over 450 responses! Didn’t have a chance? You can still submit your response!
But our work doesn’t end there. We expect the TTB to issue new rulemaking on nutritional labeling in the coming months. Every winery in the country will be affected by this decision. For that reason, the TTB looks to industry representatives to help inform their decision making—including WineAmerica.
We want to offer our members an opportunity to participate in this important conversation. On March 8th, we will be hosting a member-only virtual listening session on nutritional labeling. WineAmerica members are invited to join our government affairs team, review the survey’s key take-aways, and offer up ideas on next steps.
What: Virtual listening session on Nutritional Labeling
Where: Zoom
When: March 8th, 3pm EST
Who: WineAmerica’s government affairs team and WineAmerica membership
WineAmerica members can register for the listening session. Not yet a member of WineAmerica? We hope you will join us by becoming a member today!
Feel free to reach out to Tara Good at tgood@nullwineamerica.org with any questions.
