Beverage Container Labeling Requirements

Beverages Included (“In”) in the Program:

CRV Labeling Required:

The following beverages are considered covered under the Beverage Container and Litter Reduction Act [Section 14504(a)] and require a California Redemption Value (CRV) message if packaged in a covered container material and sold or transferred in California:

Beer and Malt Beverages
Wine Coolers and distilled spirit coolers 7% Alcohol by Volume (ABV) or less
Carbonated Fruit Drinks
Noncarbonated Fruit drinks that contain any percentage of fruit juice
Carbonated water, including soda and carbonated mineral water
Coffee and tea beverages
Noncarbonated water, including noncarbonated mineral water
Carbonated soft drinks
Noncarbonated Soft Drink
100% Fruit Juice in containers that are under 46 ounces
100% Vegetable Juice (16oz and under only)
“Sport” drinks

Effective January 1, 2024, the products below are included under the law. With limited exceptions, beverage manufacturers are required to have these products labeled with a CRV message by July 1, 2025.

100% Fruit Juice in containers that are 46 ounces and greater
100% Vegetable Juice over 16oz
Wine and Distilled Spirit Coolers with an ABV greater than 7% ABV
Distilled spirits
Wine, or wine from which alcohol has been removed, in whole or part, whether or not sparkling or carbonated
Wine or distilled spirits in a box, bladder, pouch, or similar container

Beverages Subject to CRV poster

Exempt from CRV labeling:

Wine, Distilled Spirits and Wine and Distilled Spirit Coolers over 7% ABV filled and labeled before January 1, 2024.
100% Fruit Juice 46 ounces and greater and 100% Vegetable Juice over 16oz filled and labeled before July 1, 2024.

Beverages Excluded (“Out”) from the Program:

No CRV Labeling:

The following beverages are not covered under the law.
These containers should not have a CRV message when sold or transferred in California:

“Beverage” [Section 14504(b)] does not include any of the following:

With the exception of wine and distilled spirits, any product sold in a container that is not:
- An aluminum beverage container
- A glass container
- A plastic beverage container or
- A bimetal container
Milk, medical food, or infant formula, or
Refillable beverage containers [defined in PRC 14525], which are ordinarily returned to the manufacturer to be refilled and resold [PRC14561(b)]

Labeling Information:

Beverage manufacturers are responsible for properly labeling beverage containers, which are determined to be “in” the program.
A qualifying, non-exempt, beverage container sold or offered for sale in the state must have one of the following five CRV messages and meet the minimum labeling requirements for placement, size, visibility etc. (see link below):

CALIFORNIA REDEMPTION VALUE
CA REDEMPTION VALUE
CALIFORNIA CASH REFUND
CA CASH REFUND
CA CRV

California Beverage Container Labeling. This flyer shows detailed labeling requirements.

Regulation requirements for labeling Box, Bladder Pouch containers are pending.

Submitting your product/label for review:

To ensure that your container complies with the requirements listed, you may submit product labels by email or mail for review by CalRecycle.
Once the review is complete, you will receive a letter indicating if your container labels were approved or not approved for use in California.

Include in your submission your:

Name
Address
Telephone number
Participant identification number, if applicable

To submit labels by email:

JPG or PDF digital images can be emailed to: Reg.CRVLabeling@Calrecycle.ca.gov

The best images are the die line artwork/proof sheets in 300 ppi resolution that specify the exact height/width dimensions.
Non-die line images: include the exact height/width dimension of the label.
Plastic containers: include a picture of the resin code triangle located on the bottom of the container.
Aluminum or Bi-Metal cans: include an additional picture of the can lid, & lid diameter.

To submit containers with labels attached by mail:

CalRecycle
Attn: Registration Unit
1001 I Street, MS-9A
Sacramento, CA 95814

The requirements listed above do not cover every aspect of the law. It is the responsibility of the beverage manufacturer and distributor to read and understand the statute and all applicable regulations. Failure to comply with the statute (Act) and/or regulations may result in fines and possible civil penalties.
If you need clarification, call the Registration Unit at (916) 323-1835.