Relating to alcoholic beverage control, including certificates of compliance and the issuance of class “A” wine permits to nonnative wine manufacturers, and providing fees

This bill relates to alcoholic beverage control by making changes to distiller’s, vintner’s, and brewer’s certificates of compliance (certificates) and by allowing for the issuance of class “A” wine permits to nonnative wine manufacturers. The bill strikes a provision requiring persons participating in the distribution of an alcoholic liquor brand, other than manufacturers, distillers, and importers, to obtain a distiller’s certificate prior to the resale of that brand in this state. The bill also strikes a provision specifying the certificate is not required to be accompanied by a list of persons employed on the premises where alcoholic liquors are manufactured, processed, bottled, or packaged or who are employed in transporting such liquors. Currently, an application for a distiller’s, brewer’s, or vintner’s certificate requires the application to be submitted to the department of revenue (department) electronically, or in a manner prescribed by the director of revenue (director). For a brewer’s certificate, the bill specifies that the required list of all class “A” beer permittees with whom the applicant intends to do business and the designated distribution area must also be submitted to the department electronically or in a manner prescribed by the director. The bill also specifies the holder of a brewer’s certificate of compliance may also hold a class “A” beer permit. The bill strikes a provision exempting a vintner or wine bottler with a plant in Iowa and holding a class “A” wine permit from paying the $200 fee accompanying an application for a vintner’s certificate. The bill requires (1) each applicant for a vintner’s certificate to file with the department electronically, or in a manner prescribed by the director, a list of all class “A” wine permittees the applicant intends to do business with in the state, and (2) each employee or agent working for or representing the certificate holder to similarly submit electronically with the department the person’s name and address. The bill also strikes a provision specifying a certificate is not required to be accompanied by a list of persons employed on the premises of a bottling plant or winery or persons who are employed in transporting the wine.176A allows a nonnative wine manufacturer (manufacturer) to apply for a class “A” wine permit and to sell or sell at wholesale wine the manufacturer has manufactured on its permitted or licensed premises that are located in another state, provided the wine is properly registered with the federal alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau.177, which generally allow a resident holder of the permit to manufacture and sell or sell at wholesale wine for consumption off premises in this state. A sale by the manufacturer within this state is restricted to sales made to a person holding a class “A” wine permit or to a person holding a retail alcohol license, pursuant to current law. The bill prohibits a manufacturer from selling in this state wine fermented by any other manufacturer. The bill also specifies the manufacturer may ship wine in closed containers to purchasers in this state by obtaining a wine direct shipper permit. By holding a class “A” wine permit, the manufacturer is deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the department and the courts for enforcement, and must allow audits of manufacturing and sales records upon request.39. The bill establishes the annual fee for a class “A” wine permit issued to a manufacturer at $100, which is equal to the annual class “A” wine permit fee issued to a native manufacturer.