• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Legislation proposed to revamp cider definition, avoid increased taxes

August 8, 2013Chris Crowell

Ciders and craft beer
Pictured: The cider industry lobbying on the steps of Congress.

The craft brewing industry has won its fair share of legislative battles this year. That positive sentiment from the country’s lawmakers and regulators might be turning in favor of the cider industry as well.

The United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM), the national trade association of the cider industry, released the following statement after U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Chris Collins (R-NY) teamed up to introduce the bipartisan “Cider Industry Deserves Equal Regulation Act,” or CIDER Act (H.R. 2921):

“We are extremely excited to be working with Congressmen Blumenauer and Collins on this very important legislation for our industry, and are deeply appreciative of their leadership on this matter,” said Mike Beck, president of the USACM.  “Reps. Blumenauer and Collins deserve great credit for recognizing that America’s cider industry is primed for continued strong growth, and that we can increase our competitiveness in international markets and create jobs here in the United States if this legislation is enacted.”

The Blumenauer-Collins bill would amend the section of the Internal Revenue Code (26 USC Section 5041) to allow cider makers to produce hard cider using the natural products available without the possibility of facing increased tax liability.  Specifically, the legislation would:

(1) Increase the carbonation level for hard cider, thereby meeting customer expectations,
(2) Include pears in the definition of “hard cider,” and
(3) Align the alcohol-content standard for hard cider with the natural sugar content of apples.

Under current federal law, for example, the outdated definition of hard cider allows for up to 7 percent alcohol by volume before it is taxed as a wine, and only a certain level of carbonation before it is subject to the champagne tax.  The legislative changes made by H.R. 2921 would ensure that ciders are taxed consistently.

“This legislation really is about updating the tax law to reflect the realities in today’s cider marketplace,” Beck said. “We are going to work hard with Reps. Blumenauer and Collins to educate other Members about this legislation and our industry’s needs so that we can increase our competitiveness, grow our industry and create more jobs. We are hopeful that a Senate companion bill will be introduced soon, and that this legislative change will be made part of any tax legislation that is considered by the Congress.”

The USACM is an organization of cider and perry producers in the United States. It gathers and shares information about cider production, cider regulations, and cider apple growing, to help members improve their operations, raise awareness and advance cider in the market.

brewing lawsuit
Mass. Franchise Law UPDATE: Judge denies Atlantic’s injunction, Jack’s Abby heads to arbitration
Beer-hand-cheers-congrats-gold-yellow
Good news: Congress’ COVID-19 relief makes federal craft beer excise tax reforms permanent
organic farm
USDA wants to step up enforcement of organic ag program
Michigan Proposed Craft Beer Bills
Michigan raises self-distribution bbl cap, eases festival licensure just as another craft beer festival cancels

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Mass. Franchise Law UPDATE: Judge denies Atlantic’s injunction, Jack’s Abby heads to arbitration
  • Georgia’s StillFire Brewing is now accepting Bitcoin
  • Check out Briess’ new website, then enjoy this Journey of Malt video series, showing how barley goes from seed to malt
  • Pro Refrigeration is designing a CO2-based Chiller System

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • brewing lawsuitMass. Franchise Law UPDATE: Judge denies Atlantic’s injunction, Jack’s Abby heads to arbitration
    April 8, 2021
  • Check out Briess’ new website, then enjoy this Journey of Malt video series, showing how barley goes from seed to malt
    April 8, 2021
  • beer healthy glass dumbell working out excercise-001The Beer Flow: better-for-you beer growing, tap volume climbing and RTDs accelerating
    April 6, 2021
  • craft beer sales trendCraft beer sales trends in March: Sours, 16-ouncers trending up, says Tavour
    April 6, 2021
  • Growler-decisionsWatch: Rep. Jim Nash interviews Minnesota craft breweries, shedding light on the state’s useless growler sales cap
    April 5, 2021
  • Brewers Space Guild launches today, pick up some merch
    April 1, 2021

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2021 · CBB Media LLC

Continue ...

sponsored by