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Senate committee sends AB 720 to floor to extend bottle‑bill labeling deadline, grandfather QR‑coded bottles
Summary
The Senate Environmental Quality Committee voted unanimously to return AB 720 to the Senate floor after testimony that the bill would delay labeling compliance for certain beverage containers, grandfather printed bottles affected by changing QR‑code guidance, and make several wine‑industry technical fixes.
The Senate Environmental Quality Committee voted unanimously to send AB 720 back to the Senate floor after hearing that the bill would extend a labeling compliance deadline tied to California’s beverage container redemption program and grandfather bottles already printed under earlier guidance.
AB 720, introduced to the committee as the hearing opened, would push out the compliance date for new labeling rules and codify that a QR code may substitute for the “CRV” or “California redemption value” text on beverage containers. Supporters told the committee the change is needed because CalRecycle has not finished rulemaking tied to earlier legislation and because interim guidance on QR‑code size shifted after manufacturers had already printed bottles.
Committee members heard testimony from trade groups representing wineries, retailers and distillers who said the delayed compliance date would prevent costly waste and protect small producers. "This delay will help get caught up and ensure everybody's in compliance," Tim Schmelzer of the Wine Institute said, adding that the number of producers subject to the bottle program “quadrupled overnight” and that many are small businesses that change labels frequently.
Leticia Garcia of the California Retailers Association told the committee that SB 1013 (2022) expanded the container types covered by the bottle program and set a July 1, 2025 labeling compliance date that CalRecycle has not implemented in regulation. "AB 720 simply extends the labeling compliance date by 1 year to allow the regulations to take effect and codifies requirements for the use of a QR code in place of the CRV verbiage on beverage containers," Garcia said.
Witnesses described a recent change in CalRecycle guidance on QR‑code size: early guidance told manufacturers to use a half‑inch code; subsequent guidance required three‑quarters of an inch. Supporters said wineries and spirits producers had already invested in tens of millions of dollars of bottles and printing equipment based on the earlier guidance and asked the committee to grandfather those bottles so the product would not go to waste.
The bill, sponsors said, also includes technical fixes for the wine industry: clarifying how evaporation loss during barrel aging (often called the “angel’s share”) is classified for licensing and permitting, and confirming that tasting events held at vineyards are permitted to help bolster tourism. Supporters emphasized that those technical provisions do not change entities’ obligations to register with the bottle program or to pay fees; they said the proposed extension affects only the labeling compliance deadline.
Representatives from the Distilled Spirits Council, Pernod Ricard, the California Grocers Association, Diageo, the California Distillers Association and Jackson Family Wines also spoke in support. No opposition speakers appeared at the microphone during the hearing.
After brief member questions about the labeling specifics, and once a quorum was present, the committee moved the measure to the Senate floor. The roll call recorded seven affirmative votes and no negative votes. Committee members also indicated the bill would be kept “on call.”
AB 720 now moves to the full Senate for consideration; supporters said the measure aims to avoid enforcement against producers who followed earlier guidance while CalRecycle completes its regulations.
