The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau announced on Feb. 12 the release of the latest version of its Permits Online system, in a press release (here). With release 4.1, “you can now electronically do everything that you need to do to submit original permit applications,” said TTB. New features include cash bond payments and the ability to add a new user with signing authority to an account to allow an alternate person to handle a submitted application, it said. Users will also now be able to view and print a summary report that lists all of the data contained in an online application, said TTB.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau recently posted to its website a new set of frequently asked questions on cider (here). The FAQ says cider and hard cider refer to wine fermented from apples. As a type of wine, bottlers of cider with over 7 percent alcohol content must get a certificate of label approval (COLA) from TTB before bottling. The FAQ also discusses labeling requirements, including for wines derived from a mix of apples and other fruits, taxes, and import requirements.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added individuals and deleted several entries on the Specially Designated Nationals list on Jan. 27 (here).

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added two individuals and one entity to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Jan. 16 over Kingpin Act violations (here).

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added one entry to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Jan. 14 over counter-terrorism concerns (here).

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added one entry to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Jan. 13 over counter-terrorism concerns (here).

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control released on Jan. 5 a new format for the agency’s Specially Designated Nationals list (here). The change complies with a United Nations plan to create a universally accessible and understandable sanctions list, designed to better enforce sanctions designations, said OFAC. The U.S. is the first UN member to put in place this “advanced sanctions data model,” the agency said. The new format includes the following features, among others, according to OFAC:

The Office of Foreign Assets Control authorized U.S. companies to wind down most divestment and dealings with Crimean individuals and entities through Jan. 31 (here), following recent executive action to quash imports from and exports to Crimea. According to the Dec. 30 OFAC general license, transactions and other dealings will be given the month buffer if they are “ordinarily incident and necessary” to the following criteria:

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control made changes to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Dec. 29 (here) and 30 (here).

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control made changes to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Dec. 23 over counter-narcotics violations (here).