Why Labels, Tech Sheets, and COAs Must Speak the Same Language in Global Alcohol Trade
In the world of alcoholic beverages, authenticity goes far beyond taste, it’s built on documental consistency . Every bottle crossing the Atlantic, whether from the EU to the U.S. or vice versa, carries three critical identifiers: the label , the technical data sheet , and the Certificate of Analysis (COA) . For regulators and importers, these documents must tell the same story . The alcohol content, additives, colorants, allergens, and even the country of origin should match precisely across all records. Any mismatch can delay customs clearance, trigger additional testing, or even block entry into the market. In the European Union , compliance hinges on Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 and related OIV standards , ensuring full traceability and transparency of ingredients and analytical values. Across the Atlantic, the U.S. TTB enforces the same principle through its COLA (Certificate of Label Approval) process, where label information must align with the underlying technical ...
