[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1089]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 18, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 4

[Notice No. 788; Re: Notice No. 785, 93F020T]
RIN 1512-AB22

 

Multistate Appellations of Origin for Contiguous States

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Department of 
the Treasury.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document reopens the comment period for Notice No. 785, a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register 
on December 14, 1993 [58 FR 65295]. In Notice No. 785, the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) proposed to amend its regulations 
to liberalize the requirements for using a multistate appellation of 
origin on a wine label. The current regulations provide that a wine may 
bear a multistate appellation of origin only where the wine is in 
conformance with the laws and regulations governing the composition, 
method of manufacture, and designation of wines in all the States 
listed in the appellation. The proposed amendment would provide an 
exception where State laws and regulations do not authorize the use of 
a multistate appellation of origin which includes that State for wines 
sold within its boundaries.
    The comment period is being reopened based on requests from two 
wine industry associations.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Wine and Beer Branch, 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box 50221, Washington DC 
20091-0221, Attn: Notice No. 785. Comments not exceeding three pages 
may be submitted by facsimile transmission to (202) 927-8602.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David W. Brokaw, Wine and Beer Branch, 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20226, (202) 927-8230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 14, 1993, ATF published Notice No. 785, soliciting 
comments from the public and industry on a proposal to amend 27 CFR 
4.25a(d)(3) to make it more practical to use a multistate appellation 
of origin on a wine label. This proposal was based on a petition by 
Stimson Lane Ltd., a company with wineries located in Washington and 
California.
    ATF has received written requests from the Wine Institute and the 
American Vintners Association (AVA) for additional time to review and 
analyze the issues raised in this rulemaking proceeding. Since the Wine 
Institute and AVA are directly impacted by issues raised in Notice No. 
785, ATF believes that reopening the comment period is justified. 
Therefore, the comment period is being reopened until March 21, 1994.

Disclosure

    Copies of this notice, Notice No. 785, and any written comments 
will be available for public inspection during normal business hours 
at: ATF Public Reading Room, room 6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, 
Washington, DC 20226.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document is David W. Brokaw, Wine and 
Beer Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

    Authority: This notice is issued under the authority in 27 
U.S.C. 205.

    Signed: January 11, 1994
Daniel R. Black,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 94-1089 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-U