# Edmundo B. Fernandez, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **operation:** document - **citation:** 16-0094 - **title:** Edmundo B. Fernandez, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **source type:** guidance - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** guidance - **official:** true - **published on:** 2016-09-15 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** 16-0094 response to Edmundo B. Fernandez, Inc. concerning 173.150. - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0094.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0094.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0094 - **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/160094.pdf **body:** <<>> of Transportation U.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration SEP 1 5 2016 Mónica Fernández Edmundo B. Fernández., Inc. P.O. Box 368 Bayamón, PR 00960-0368 Reference No. 16-0094 Dear Ms. Fernández: This letter is in response to your May 30, 2016, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to alcoholic beverages. Your questions are paraphrased and answered as follows: Q1. You ask whether alcoholic beverages utilizing the exception in § 173.150(d) are considered a hazardous material for vessel transportation and, therefore, require the associated hazardous materials fee. Al. The HMR apply to the shipment and transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. Alcoholic beverages are Class 3 flammable liquids and are subject to the HMR when shipped and transported in commerce. However, § 173.150(d) states that alcoholic beverages are excepted from the requirements in Subchapter C of the 49 CFR provided the conditions of the exception are met. Hazmat handling fees are neither mandated nor regulated by the HMR. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) does not have jurisdiction over shipping charges imposed by carriers and cannot provide any relief from such fees. Q2. You ask whether 86 proof rum containing 43% alcohol packaged in 750 ml bottles, with 12 bottles to a case, may utilize the exception in § 173.150(d)(1) for vessel transportation if all three conditions of paragraph (d)(1) are not met. A2. For transportation by motor vehicle, rail, or vessel, § 173.150(d)(1) excepts an alcoholic beverage (as defined in 27 CFR 4.10 and 5.11) from all requirements of this subchapter if it meets any one of the following conditions: (1) contains 24% or less alcohol by volume; (2) is in an inner packaging of 5 L (1.3 gallons) or less; or (3) is a Packing Group III alcoholic beverage in a packaging of 250 L (66 gallons) or less. <<>> Q3. You ask whether alcoholic beverages meeting the exception in § 173.150(d)(1) require additional hazardous materials communication. A3. The answer is no. When transporting or offering for transportation a material that is not subject to the requirements of the subchapter, a shipper or carrier is not obligated to comply with the HMR beyond specific applicable provisions. For example, when you meet one of the three exceptions listed in § 173.150(d)(1), none of the other provisions of the HMR apply for transportation by rail, highway, or vessel. Q4. You ask when the exception in § 173.150(d) was created. A4. The HMR have included exceptions for alcoholic beverages in containers not exceeding one gallon since the 1970s. The exception for alcoholic beverages moved to § 173.150(d) before October 1, 1991. However, these provisions have undergone several revisions to better harmonize with the international regulations. On December 29, 1994, a final rule entitled, "Implementation of the United Nations Recommendations, IMDG Code, and ICAO Technical Instructions," published in the Federal Register under Docket No. HM-215A amended the exception to include alcoholic beverages in packages not exceeding 5 liters [59 FR 36488]. On March 11, 2013, a final rule entitled, "Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous Amendments (RRR)," published in the Federal Register under Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0138 (HM-218G) separated the requirements for aircraft from the requirements for highway, rail, and vessel to better harmonize with the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions (ICAO TI)[78 FR 15303]. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, tenn Tast T. Glenn Foster Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Gehman 173.150 Goodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA) Exceptions For Class 3 From: Rivera, Jordan CTR (PHMSA) 16-0094 Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2016 1:57 PM To: Hazmat Interps Subject: FW: Alcoholic Beverage (Rum) Maritime transportation Hi Shante/Alice, Please submit this for a letter of interpretation. Mr./Ms. Fernandez spoke with Isaac in the Info Center. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Jordan From: Manuel Fernandez [mailto:ebfinc@outlook.com] To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 4:39 PM Subject: Re: Alcoholic Beverage (Rum) Maritime transportation Our mailing address is Edmundo B. Fernández, Inc. P.O. Box 368 Bayamón, P.R. 00960-0368 Tel 787-785-3490 Thanks, Mónica Fernández, Edmundo B. Fernández, Inc. From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) < INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov> Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 10:58 AM To: Manuel Fernandez Subject: RE: Alcoholic Beverage (Rum) Maritime transportation Dear Monica, We have received your request for a written letter of interpretation regarding the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180). The hazardous materials regulations are available at the following URL: http://phmsa.dot.gov/regulations 1 <<>> PHMSA - Regulations phmsa.dot.gov PHMSA is responsible for regulating and ensuring the safe and secure movement of hazardous materials to industry and consumers by all modes of transportation ... In order for your request to be submitted you must respond to this email with a mailing address and phone number where you can be reached. received by the Office of Hazardous Materials Standards. However, delivery time of a written interpretation can vary Typically, written letters of interpretation are responded to at minimum of approximately 8 weeks from when they are markedly based on topic complexity and the backlog of letters to be completed. Sincerely, Jordan, Hazardous Materials Specialist An e-mail response from this office is considered informal guidance. Formal guidance may be requested in accordance with 49 CFR 105.20. http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/interps From: Manuel Fernandez [mailto:ebfinc@outlook.com] To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter Sent: Monday, May 30, 2016 11:18 AM Subject: Fw: Alcoholic Beverage (Rum) Maritime transportation We would like to have a formal interpretation in writing regarding the laws of transporting alcoholic beverage via maritime transportation. Is it considered hazardous material or not therefore requiring extra cost for transporting hazardous materials. We have always declared it as hazardous but have several clients in the US and Europe claiming it should not be considered hazardous to avoid extra costs. We have contacted several freight forwarders, read the CFR and there is no clear answer. Even with your hazardous specialist by phone one said it was hazardous and as I kept asking questions the person changed the position therefore it was not very reassuring what is the correct version. Our rum is 43% alc./vol ., (86 proof) and is packaged in 12/750ML glass bottles in a carton case when shipped to the U.S. and 12/700ML case to Spain/Europe. The UN3065 applies to alcoholic beverages as hazardous materials. We were told that the 49 CFR 173.150 exception would apply to our case because the inner packaging (each bottle) is less than 5 Liters. First of all I would like to clarify that this exception applies when you meet only one of the three options. If this exception does apply, does it require other paperwork, labeling, etc. ?? When was the 49 CFR 173.150 exception created? 2 <<>> Please let us know how to correctly ship the rum to comply with the US and International laws. Regards, Mónica Fernández Edmundo B. Fernández, Inc. From: Rivera, Jordan CTR (PHMSA) < jordan.rivera.ctr@dot.gov> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 3:47 PM To: Manuel Fernandez Subject: RE: Alcoholic Beverage (Rum) Maritime transportation Dear Monica, We have received your inquiry about the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180). The hazardous materials regulations are available at the following URL: http://phmsa.dot.gov/regulations PHMSA - Regulations phmsa.dot.gov PHMSA is responsible for regulating and ensuring the safe and secure movement of hazardous materials to industry and consumers by all modes of transportation... A hazardous materials regulatory specialist would be happy to speak with you regarding your inquiry. You may contact the Hazardous Materials Information Center, which is staffed with regulatory specialists who can quickly answer your questions by phone, Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5PM EST at (800) 467-4922 or (202) 366-4488. Alternatively, if you would like a regulatory specialist to contact you directly, please respond to this e-mail with a telephone number where you can be reached between 9 AM and 5 PM EST. Sincerely, Jordan, Hazardous Materials Specialist <<>> .. ' An e-mail response from this office is considered informal guidance. Formal guidance may be requested in accordance with 49 CFR 105.20. http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/interps From: Manuel Fernandez [mailto:ebfinc@outlook.com] Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 11:14 AM To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter Subject: Alcoholic Beverage (Rum) Maritime transportation We are rum producer in Puerto Rico. We have always classified our rum as hazardous materials when shipping via vessel. Currently we have a client is Spain that do not want to pay the extra cost of shipping the merchandise as hazardous and they claim that rum should not be classified as hazardous. Can you provide us what are the correct guidelines when shipping rum to Spain and the U.S. via vessel. Our rum is 43% alc./vol (86 proof) and is packaged in 12/750ML case to the US and 12/700ML case to Spain. Thanks, Mónica Fernández Edmundo B. Fernández, Inc. - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 9661