ACSA Welcomes End of Government Shutdown and Return of TTB Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 13, 2025)—The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) welcomes the end of the federal government shutdown and the anticipated return of U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) employees to their posts within the next few days. As TTB reactivates core functions, craft distilleries should expect a phased restoration of services and plan for a temporary backlog in pending submissions.

The shutdown, which began on October 1, forced more than 85% of TTB employees to remain at home, unable to process label and formula approvals or new permits. These lost weeks came at a pivotal time for the craft spirits industry, as the months of October, November, and December (OND) typically represent 30–40% of annual sales for many producers. New holiday releases, often key drivers of year-end revenue, were stalled in approval queues, delaying launches and straining small distilleries during their busiest season.

“We’re grateful to see TTB employees returning to work and thank our members for their patience and perseverance during these difficult weeks,” said Margie A.S. Lehrman, CEO of ACSA. “The shutdown could not have come at a worse time for our industry, disrupting the most critical sales season of the year. Many members launch holiday releases which were curtailed as TTB employees were furloughed. As operations resume, ACSA will continue to advocate for efficiency and transparency to help distillers get back to business as quickly as possible and continue to monitor Congressional action for a long-term budget.”

What This Means for Craft Distillers

• Permits, COLAs, and Formulas Resume: Processing of permits (including new DSPs and alternations), Certificates of Label Approval (COLAs), and formula approvals will restart as staff return. Expect longer-than-normal turnaround times as TTB works through accumulated submissions.
  
• Tax & Compliance Continue as Normal: As during the shutdown, timely tax return filings and remittances remain required. Keep your payment schedules current to avoid penalties.
  
• Backlog Management: Submissions held during the shutdown will be addressed in the order and manner TTB determines. Plan for extended lead times on product launches, label updates, and facility changes.
  
• Label Flexibility (No New COLA Needed for Certain Edits): To help manage timelines, some changes to already-approved labels can be made without a new COLA—such as deleting non-mandatory info, repositioning text/graphics, and changing colors/size/shape. For a more complete list of acceptable changes, view pages 3 and 4 on the COLA form (TTB Form 5100.31). For any questions regarding the need for formula approval, use this step-by-step guidance provided by the TTB.