[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71873-71874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27105]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

[Notice No. 26]


Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004; 
Meeting on New Certification Requirements for Imported Wine

AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau will hold a 
public meeting to provide information on implementation of the new 
certification requirements for imported wine contained in section 2002 
of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004. The 
meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for December 15, 2004, from 2 p.m. to 4 
p.m. We must receive written comments regarding implementation of the 
statute on or before January 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Treasury Executive 
Institute, 801 9th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20220.
    You may submit written comments or suggestions at the meeting, or 
you may send them to any of the following addresses:
     Chief, Regulations and Procedures Division, Alcohol and 
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Attn: Notice No. 26, P.O. Box 14412, 
Washington, DC 20044-4412.
     [email protected] (e-mail).
     (202) 927-8525 (facsimile). To ensure electronic access to 
our equipment, we cannot accept faxed comments that exceed five pages.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 
Bureau, International Trade Division, by telephone at (202) 927-8110; 
by fax at (202) 927-8605; or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 23, 2004, Congress transmitted the Miscellaneous Trade 
and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (the Act) to President Bush for 
signature. Section 2002 of the Act would amend section 5382(a) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC), 26 U.S.C. 5382(a), which sets 
forth standards regarding what constitutes proper cellar treatment of 
natural wine. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is 
responsible for the administration of the IRC provisions relating to 
wine.
    The amendment to section 5382(a) would add a certification 
requirement regarding production practices and procedures for imported 
wine. Under the amended statute, for wine produced after December 31, 
2004, the Secretary of the Treasury will accept the practices and 
procedures used to produce the wine, if, at the time of importation, 
one of the following conditions is met:
    1. The Secretary has on file or is provided with a certification 
from the government of the producing country, accompanied by an 
affirmed laboratory analysis, that the practices and procedures used to 
produce the wine constitute proper cellar treatment;
    2. The Secretary has on file or is provided with a certification, 
if any, as may be required by an international agreement or treaty 
specifying practices and procedures acceptable to the United States; or

[[Page 71874]]

    3. In the case of an importer that owns or controls or has an 
affiliate that owns or controls a winery operating under a basic permit 
issued by the Secretary, the importer certifies that the practices and 
procedures used to produce the wine constitute proper cellar treatment.

Public Meeting

    In anticipation of the President's signing this legislation into 
law, TTB has determined that it would be appropriate to hold a public 
meeting to discuss these developments. The purpose of the meeting is to 
advise the public of TTB's plans for implementation of the new 
certification requirements and to answer any questions the public may 
have regarding this provision.
    The meeting will be held on December 15, 2004, from 2 p.m. to 4 
p.m. at the Treasury Executive Institute, 801 9th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20220. Due to limited space, admittance will be on a 
first-come basis.

Submission of Comments

    No written record of the meeting will be maintained. Therefore, 
comments or suggestions made at the meeting must be submitted in 
writing in order to be considered part of the agency record. All 
written comments and submitted materials are part of the public record 
and subject to disclosure. Do not provide any material in your comments 
that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.
    Members of the public who wish to submit written comments after the 
meeting must do so no later than January 15, 2005. All comments must 
include this notice number and your name and mailing address. Your 
comments must be legible and written in language acceptable for public 
disclosure. We do not acknowledge receipt of comments, and we regard 
all comments as originals.
    In the near future, TTB anticipates issuing a temporary rule with 
an opportunity for further comment.

    Dated: December 6, 2004.
Arthur J. Libertucci,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-27105 Filed 12-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P