Multistate Appellations of Origin for Contiguous States

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