Product Registration FAQs

Businesses must register each alcoholic beverage product with TABC before it can be shipped in or into Texas. This is required by law.

Businesses licensed to make alcoholic beverages must apply with TABC to get their products registered. This includes holders of a:

• Brewer’s Permit (BW) 
• Nonresident Brewer’s Permit (BN) 
• Brewpub License (BP) 
• Distiller’s and Rectifier’s Permit (D) 
• Nonresident Seller’s Permit (S) 
• Winery Permit (G) 

There are two ways to apply for TABC product registration.

1. Apply online: The best way to submit your application is through the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS). You can also pay the $25 application processing fee online using a credit card or bank draft. View and industry guide and video explaining how to register your products in AIMS on our How To Use AIMS page.
2. Apply by mail (slower processing time): Download the application from the Product Registration page and mail it, along with a check or money order to cover the processing fee, to:

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
5806 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78731

Look for products that were approved by TABC before Sept. 1, 2021, through the Approved Product Label Search on the Texas Open Data Portal. Learn more on our Approved Labels Search page.

Yes. There are three exemptions:  

1. Holders of a Brewer’s Permit (BW) or Brewpub License (BP) who are located in Texas and allowed to sell product for both on- and off-premise consumption don’t need product registration for product sold to consumers on the premises. Keep in mind: 
   • If a product is sold for on-premise consumption, you must post the product’s alcohol by volume in a clearly visible place on your premises.  
   • If a product is sold for off-premise consumption (to go), you must either write on the container or place a label with the product name and alcohol by volume. 
2. Holders of an Out-of-State Winery Direct Shipper’s Permit (DS) who have met all federal label approval requirements for a particular brand of wine don’t need to apply for TABC product registration.
3. Any beverage containing less than 0.5% ABV is not considered an alcoholic beverage in Texas and does not need product registration.

No. You need a valid TABC license or permit before you submit a product registration application to the agency. If you apply for product registration before receiving your license or permit, any fees you pay are nonrefundable.

No. Product registration covers a range of sizes, but label changes are still subject to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB) allowable revisions. 

For malt beverages, we recommend separate TTB Certificates of Label Approval for your can/bottle and keg labels. This is because kegs tend to have limited information, while bottle/can labels contain art and expanded text for marketing. The changes between these labels are generally not allowable.

Malt beverages, wine greater than 7% ABV and distilled spirits follow these requirements when applying for product registration:

• You can only submit one TTB COLA per application.
• Products must follow these size limits:
  • Wine: 50 mL–58 L
  • Spirits: 25 mL–1.75 L
  • Malt beverage: 4 fl oz–31 gal
• You will pay a $25 processing fee for each application.

Wine under 7% and IRC beer follow these requirements when applying for product registration:

• TTB COLAs are not issued for these products. Provide one label per application.
• Products must follow these size limits:
  • Wine 50 mL–58 L
  • Malt 4 fl oz–31 gal
• TTB formulation is required for all IRC beer and some wine under 7% ABV.
• You will pay a $25 processing fee for each application.

Have questions? Visit TABC’s Contact Us page and select the “Product Registration” topic in the form.

As of Dec. 31, 2020, product testing is no longer required. However, the TABC Laboratory still provides free product testing. For more information on testing, please contact the lab at 512-206-3412 or tabclab@tabc.texas.gov. 

Send an email to product.registration@tabc.texas.gov to check submission dates TABC is currently processing. 

No. We process product registration applications in the order they’re received.  

Find the work item in the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) and select the Request to Edit button. Then provide details to TABC about the error. Once a processor reviews the request, they will reach out to you if they have any questions.

You’ll receive a request for information (RFI) email from TABC through the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS). You can view and respond to this request by logging into your AIMS account and selecting the Items Awaiting Action button.

Yes. You can view the status of your application by logging into your account and selecting the Transactions in Review or View my labels buttons from your AIMS dashboard.  

When products are approved, the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) sends an email to the AIMS account holder. You can view your approved products under the View my labels button on your AIMS dashboard.

Product registration only expires if:

• A TTB COLA is provided that has an expiration date. 
• TABC issues an expiration date for administrative reasons.

All products follow the TTB’s list of allowable revisions. If a label change requires you to get a new TTB COLA, you must also re-register your product with TABC. If your product does not qualify for a COLA (IRC beer and wine less than 7% ABV), it only needs to be re-registered when the label change is not under the allowable revisions.

If there’s a change in the primary American source of a wine or distilled spirit product, the new primary American source must apply for their own TABC product registration before shipping into Texas. 

No. All products must be registered to the producer, owner or exclusive agent of the product, so you must re-register it with TABC. For further questions about your brand transfer, contact TABC Product Registration at product.registration@tabc.texas.gov or 512-206-3410. 

The Alcoholic Beverage Code authorizes two types of agreements to produce malt beverages (beer, ale, etc.). Holders of a Brewer’s Permit (B), Nonresident Brewer’s Permit (U), Manufacturer’s License (BA) and Nonresident Manufacturer’s License (BS) can enter into “alternating brewery proprietorships” and/or “contract brewing arrangements.” 

These production agreements have separate, distinct definitions and requirements under Texas law: 

• Under an alternating brewery proprietorship, a brewer or manufacturer operates at and produces their own product at someone else’s facility.  
• In a contract brewing arrangement, a brewer or manufacturer has their product produced by another manufacturer on their behalf at the other manufacturer’s facility. 

For both agreements, TABC product registration is given to the permit/license holder who is the legal owner of the product with control over its production. If you use a contract brewing or alternating proprietorship arrangement, you’ll need to get additional permits with TABC. For further questions, contact TABC Product Registration at product.registration@tabc.texas.gov or 512-206-3410.

No. You must register the product before sampling alcohol.

Cider is classified as a wine.

Classification of hard seltzer depends on the product’s TTB formulation. The seltzer’s TTB formulation should be submitted with your product registration application.

Visit the TTB page defining beer and malt beverages to learn more. 

No. TABC does not provide approval for malt beverage secondary packaging.  Any products contained within the package must all be registered with TABC before the variety pack can enter the stream of distribution.

See TABC Administrative Rules §45.82 and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, Sec. 1.04(12)(15).