[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 81949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32877]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

27 CFR Part 4, 5, and 7

[Docket No. TTB-2010-0008; Notice No. 114; Re: Notice No. 111]
RIN 1513-AB79


Disclosure of Cochineal Extract and Carmine in the Labeling of 
Wines, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages; Comment Period Extension

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

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

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SUMMARY: In response to a request from a national trade association, 
TTB is extending for an additional 60 days the comment period 
prescribed in Notice No. 111, Disclosure of Cochineal Extract and 
Carmine in the Labeling of Wines, Distilled Spirits, and Malt 
Beverages, a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal 
Register on November 3, 2010.

DATES: Written comments on Notice No. 111 are now due on or before 
March 4, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments on Notice No. 111 to one of the 
following addresses:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Use the comment form for 
Notice No. 111 as posted within Docket No. TTB-2010-0008 on 
``Regulations.gov,'' the Federal e-rulemaking portal, to submit 
comments via the Internet;
     Mail: Director, Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol 
and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, P.O. Box 14412, Washington, DC 20044-
4412.
     Hand Delivery/Courier in Lieu of Mail: Alcohol and Tobacco 
Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street, NW., Suite 200-E, Washington, DC 
20005.
    See the Public Participation section of Notice No. 111 for specific 
instructions and requirements for submitting comments, and for 
information on how to request a public hearing.
    You may view copies of this notice, Notice No. 111, and any 
comments TTB receives in response to Notice No. 111 within Docket No. 
TTB-2010-0008 at http://www.regulations.gov. A direct link to this 
docket is posted on the TTB Web site at http://www.ttb.gov/regulations_laws/all_rulemaking.shtml under Notice No. 111. You also 
may view copies of this notice, Notice No. 111, and any comments TTB 
receives in response to Notice No. 111 by appointment at the TTB 
Information Resource Center, 1310 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20220. 
Please call 202-453-2270 to make an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa M. Gesser, Regulations and 
Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, P.O. Box 
128, Morganza, MD 20660; telephone (301) 290-1460; or Joanne C. Brady, 
Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 
Bureau, P.O. Box 45797, Philadelphia, PA 19149; telephone (215) 333-
7050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    In Notice No. 111 published in the Federal Register (75 FR 67669) 
on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, TTB proposed to revise its regulations 
to require the disclosure of the presence of cochineal extract and 
carmine on the labels of any alcohol beverage product containing one or 
both of these color additives. This proposed rule responded to a recent 
final rule issued by the Food and Drug Administration as well as 
reports of severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, to 
cochineal extract and carmine-containing foods. This proposal would 
allow consumers who are allergic to cochineal extract or carmine to 
identify and thus avoid alcohol beverage products that contain these 
color additives. TTB requested comments on the proposal on or before 
January 3, 2011.
    TTB received a letter dated December 17, 2010, from attorney Lynne 
J. Omlie on behalf of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United 
States, Inc. (DISCUS), a national trade association that represents 
producers and marketers of distilled spirits and importers of wines 
sold in the United States. The letter explained that because DISCUS is 
in the process of collecting information from domestic and foreign 
companies, regarding alcohol beverage products that may be impacted by 
the Notice No. 111 proposal, the organization would be unable to meet 
the original January 3, 2011, comment deadline prescribed in Notice No. 
111. The letter therefore requested a 60-day extension of the comment 
period for Notice No. 111 to allow DISCUS the necessary time to collect 
and review this data and provide a comment that addresses the issues 
raised in the proposal.
    In response to this request TTB extends the comment period for 
Notice No. 111 an additional 60 days. Therefore, the comments on Notice 
No. 111 are now due on or before March 4, 2011.

Drafting Information

    Kate M. Bresnahan of the Regulations and Rulings Division drafted 
this notice.

    Signed: December 22, 2010.
Cheri D. Mitchell,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-32877 Filed 12-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P