[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79011-79012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32614]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Parts 4, 5, 7 and 13

[Notice No. 964; Ref: T.D. ATF-483, Notice No. 954]
RIN 1512-AC87


Organic Claims in Labeling and Advertising of Alcohol Beverages 
(2002R-288P)

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: ATF reopens the comment period for Notice No. 954, a notice of 
proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on October 8, 
2002. The proposed rule would amend our alcohol labeling and 
advertising rules to cross-reference the United States Department of 
Agriculture's National Organic Program rules. We are acting on a 
request to extend the comment period in order to provide sufficient 
time for all interested parties to respond to the issues raised in the 
notice.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments to any of the following addresses:
    [sbull] Chief, Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and 
Firearms, P.O. Box 50221, Washington, DC 20091-0221 (Attn: Notice No. 
954);
    [sbull] 202-927-8525 (Facsimile);
    [sbull] [email protected] (E-mail);
    [sbull] http://www.atf.treas.gov (A comment form is available with 
the online copy of this notice.)
    You may view copies of the temporary regulations, the notice of 
proposed rulemaking, the request for extension, and any comments 
received on the notice by appointment at the ATF Reference Library, 
Room 6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226, or at 
http://www.atf.treas.gov with the online copy of Notice No. 954.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Evanchec, Alcohol Labeling and 
Formulation Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, 650 
Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226; telephone 202-927-
8140; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 8, 2002, ATF published a temporary rule (T.D. ATF-483, 
67 FR 62856) to amend the alcohol labeling and advertising rules to 
cross-reference the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
National Organic Program (NOP) rules, which took effect October 21, 
2002. Any alcohol beverage labeled or advertised with an organic claim 
must comply with both NOP rules administered by USDA and the applicable 
rules administered by ATF.
    At the same time, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(Notice No. 954, 67 FR 62860) to solicit comments on the temporary 
rule. The original comment period for Notice No. 954 closed on December 
9, 2002.
    Before the close of the original comment period, ATF received a 
request from the Wine Institute, a trade association, to extend the 
comment period for an additional 90 days. The Wine Institute, 
representing producers of 90% of the wine made in California, requested 
the extension in order to provide thoroughly researched comments that 
have been fully discussed among their members.
    In consideration of the above, ATF finds that a reopening of the 
comment period is warranted.

Public Participation

    See the ``Public Participation'' section of Notice No. 954 for 
detailed instructions on submitting and reviewing comments. Comments 
received on or before the new closing date will be carefully 
considered.
    ATF will not recognize any submitted material as confidential and 
comments may be disclosed to the public. Any material that the 
commenter considers confidential or inappropriate for disclosure to the 
public should not be included in the comments. The name of the person 
submitting a comment is not exempt from disclosure.

Drafting Information

    Marjorie Ruhf of the Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco & Firearms, drafted this notice.

List of Subjects

27 CFR Part 4

    Advertising, Customs duties and inspection, Imports, Labeling, 
Packaging and containers, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Trade practices, Wine.

27 CFR Part 5

    Advertising, Consumer protection, Customs duties and inspection, 
Imports, Labeling, Liquors, Packaging and containers.

[[Page 79012]]

27 CFR Part 7

    Advertising, Beer, Customs duties and inspection, Imports, 
Labeling, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Trade practices.

27 CFR Part 13

    Administrative practice and procedure, Alcohol and alcoholic 
beverages, Labeling.

Authority and Issuance

    Notice No. 954 was issued under the authority of 27 U.S.C. 205.

    Signed: December 18, 2002.
Bradley A. Buckles,
Director.
[FR Doc. 02-32614 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P