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| When There Wasn't Enough Hand Sanitizer, Distilleries Stepped Up. Now They're Facing $14,060 FDA Fees. | |
| 2021-01-01 | |
For many American craft distillers, 2020 was already one of their worst years ever. The COVID-19-related closure of tasting rooms and cocktail bars, loss of tourism, and inability to offer in-store sampling slashed their sales revenue and cut them off from their customers. Then this week, just as it seemed they'd made it through the worst of a terrible year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had one more surprise in store: The agency delivered notice to distilleries that had produced hand sanitizer in the early days of the pandemic that they now owe an unexpected fee to the government of more than $14,000. "I was in literal disbelief when I read it yesterday," says Aaron Bergh, president and distiller at Calwise Spirits in Paso Robles, California. "I had to confirm with my attorney this morning that it's true." The surprise fee caught distillers completely off guard, throwing the already suffering industry into confusion. | |
| Posted by:Beavis |
#10 Frank G’s site appears to be overwhelmed. Here is the announcement:
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| Posted by: trailing wife 2021-01-01 12:47 |
| #9 How long does it take the 190 Proof Everclear to evaporate? Well it lasts a lot LONGER than the 20sec. that the CDC recommends you wash your hands to kill the C-19. Now if you want spoil it... you can add ALOE ☺ But like many I wonder if the ALOE residue left over from hand cleaners is also a "possible" future C-19 medium afterwards. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2021-01-01 10:14 |
| #8 Government insanity at its finest. Thankfully the fees were waived, but that someone at the FDA pursued this in the first place is just sick, much like the state of New York taxing out-of-state volunteers to fight COVID-19. |
| Posted by: Clem 2021-01-01 09:19 |
| #7 Somebody got learned Feds won’t charge distilleries for producing hand sanitizer after imposing fees on businesses |
| Posted by: Frank G 2021-01-01 08:52 |
| #6 ^-- The way I understand it the Alcohol from Everclear would evaporate before it could do any good. Alcohol needs to be 'cut' with something which allows it to 'stick around' long enough to do it's job. Not to mention prevent the user from drinking it. :) (I believe I learned that right here at Rantburg U.) |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2021-01-01 08:45 |
| #5 With Hand Sanitizer retailing for around $1.02 per OZ or $131 a gallon. An the cost of 190 Proof EVERCLEAR GRAIN (drinking) ALCOHOL at about $120 or near the same price. Why is any one buying hand sanitizer? If I may offer a 1776-78 type suggestion. The US Congress may discuss, debate and vote to levee NEW fees, and/or a taxes, only during the 9 month window period prior to an upcoming National Election date. All taxes and fees must be individually re-approved by the US Congress every 4 years. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2021-01-01 07:59 |
| #4 Who even thought this was a good idea? Why not just give a pink slip to whoever came up with this? Trump's gift for 2021. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2021-01-01 05:41 |
| #3 "And when there was no crawdads, we ate sand." "You ate sand?!?" "We ate sand..." H.I. McDonough and his cellmate converse in Raising Arizona |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2021-01-01 01:30 |
| #2 Oh good. Thank you for the update, Rob. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2021-01-01 01:21 |
| #1 Latest news is the fees have been waived. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2021-01-01 00:49 |