| CURRENT REGULATORY NEWS & UPDATES |
| Carbonated Beverage Tax Information - June 2010 |
| Outdoor Alcohol Advertising Guidelines - April 2010 |
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Effective: APRIL 3, 2010
Dear Licensees: There are significant changes to the alcohol advertising rules that affect all retail liquor licensed locations in Washington. The new rules restrict the size and number of outdoor alcohol advertising. New Rules Became Effective April 3, 2010.
The new rules apply to any business or organization with a retail liquor license including stores, bars, taverns and restaurants in Washington. Please click on the PDF below for all new information.
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WA State DOR Unwraps New Candy Tax Q&A!
It might not sweeten the tax deal we’re getting, but the DOR’s updated Candy Tax Q&A page on their website is helpful in highlighting clarifications and guidelines on what constitutes taxable candy for retailers. They have added this “Q&A” page to its website in an effort to address many of the questions and answers that the Department was not able to address in the special notice. Here is a convenient link to the Candy Tax Q&A page: WA STATE DOR CANDY TAX Q & A . The Department will soon add a similar page for bottled water tax information. WFIA will keep you posted! |
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Refrigeration Requirement-Exemption Ends: MAY 1, 2010!
It‘s been a long five-year grandfather clause to convert existing commercial refrigeration equipment for ―potentially hazardous foods‖ to meet a 41 degree hold temperature requirement. However, for a few it has come too soon. At the request of the WFIA, the State and Local Departments of Health created a working group to create a short-term variance for stores who still cannot meet the 41 degree hold requirement. Thanks to Bob Bromley, Bromley‘s Market, Sumas and Larry Bourland, SUPERVALU for serving on the group to develop an acceptable variance. Local health departments are not required to issue a variance but most likely will as the option is shutting down the refrigeration. If you need assistance call Jan Gee at WFIA. The rule and variance may be viewed below.
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Preparing for the Flu!
All current information on seasonal flu and H1N1 flu has been consolidated on one website:
www.flu.gov. For a Comprehensive toolkit, Click Here: "Toolkit"
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) recently issued the following statement from GMA President and CEO Pam Bailey regarding H.R.1332, the Safe FEAST Act (Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards and Targeting Act of 2009), co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA) and Adam Putnam (R-FL).
“Ensuring the safety of our products is priority number one for the food industry. Without consumer confidence, nothing else we do is possible. I applaud Congressmen Costa and Putnam for proposing sensible legislation that will strengthen the foundation of America’s food safety systems. In particular, GMA supports the requirement that all food companies have a comprehensive food safety plan in place. It is absolutely critical that manufacturers take a preventative approach in identifying and evaluating potential hazards, and building food safety into the manufacturing process from the very beginning. We are committed to working with Congress to enact food safety legislation that will continually improve the safety of America’s food supplies.”
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