October 4, 2022
DBPR EMERGENCY ORDER
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) issued Emergency Order 2022-01 extending the renewal deadline from September 30 or October 1, 2022, to October 31, 2022, for the following licenses (unless extended by subsequent order):
- Alcoholic Beverages: Retail Vendors, Distributors, Manufacturers, Importers, Brokers, Sales Agents, and Passenger Common Carriers
- Drugs, Devices, and Cosmetics: Prescription Drug Wholesalers, Prescription Drug Wholesaler – Broker Only, Out-of-State Prescription Drug Wholesalers, and All Other DDC Licenses
- Hotels and Restaurants: Public Lodging Establishments, Vacation Rentals, Timeshare Projects, and Public Food Service Establishments
- Real Estate: Sales Associates, Broker Sales Associates, Brokers, Corporate Brokers, Partnerships, and Corporations and Branch Offices
- Community Association Managers
Licenses renewed on or before October 31, 2022 shall be considered timely renewals and will not be assessed any late fees.
Emergency Order 2022-01 also extends the time requirements and deadlines for filing monthly reports and returns from October 10, 2022, to October 31, 2022. All orders reflecting final agency action and deadlines for filing responses outlined in agency orders have also been extended to October 31, 2022 (unless extended by subsequent order).
ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL AID
Alcohol, food, and tobacco licensees in need of aid can seek help from their state and federal regulatory agencies and governors’ offices. Affected businesses may be eligible for short-term business survival support for severe damage resulting from Hurricane Ian. Requests for aid commonly include:
- Delinquent Account or “No Sale” List waivers for retail dealers and distributors of alcohol beverages.
- Funding from state and federal government to assist in rebuilding, repairs, or meeting payroll during business closures.
- Authorization to move alcohol beverage products to other licensed locations.
- Authorization for retail dealers, distributors, and manufacturers to operate at other licensed locations pending reopening of licensed locations.
- Waiving restrictions related to the delivery of alcohol beverages for craft distilleries, retail locations at licensed breweries, and consumption on-premises retailers.
- Waiving restrictions related to the authorization of off-premises sales of alcohol for off-premises consumption.
- Guidance on products, equipment, shelving, or other merchandise or fixtures touched by stormwater.
- Extending license renewals due on September 30, 2022, or lifting delinquent penalties for license renewals on or before September 30, 2022.
- Federal disaster claims.
GrayRobinson’s Regulated Products Section counsels clients on matters related to alcohol, tobacco, and food, backed by the experience of former federal and state government alcohol beverage regulators. These professionals have decades of experience guiding licensees through operations following a natural disaster and other circumstances jeopardizing the success of regulated businesses.
- John Harris - John is the former Director of the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco and led the agency in assisting license holders in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.
- A. Bentley Nettles - Bentley is the former Director of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and led the agency’s guidance for license holders in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
- Susan Evans - Susan is the former Director of the Office of Industry and State Outreach at the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
Our thoughts are with you as Florida addresses the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian and the GrayRobinson Regulated Products Section is here to help any licensee needing assistance with these issues.