Alcoholic beverages: Distilled spirits, wine, and malt beverages; labeling and advertising— Fill standards,

[Federal Register: April 12, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 69)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 17588-17589]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12ap99-31]

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Parts 4, 5 and 7

[Notice No. 873; Re: Notice No. 872]

RIN 1512-AB89

Prohibition of Certain Alcohol Beverage Containers and Standards of Fill for Distilled Spirits and Wine (98R-452P)

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY: This notice extends the comment period for Notice No. 872, a notice of proposed rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on February 9, 1999. ATF has received 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 May 10, 1999.

[[Page 17589]]

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box 50221, Washington, DC 20091-0221, [Attention: Notice No. 872].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William H. Foster, Regulations Division, (202) 927-8210, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20226. You may also write questions by e-mail to whfoster@atfhq.atf.treas.gov. ATF will not accept comments on the proposal that are submitted to this address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On February 9, 1999, ATF published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register soliciting comments from the public and industry on a proposal to amend the regulations to clarify the standards of fill for distilled spirits and wine. This notice also proposed regulations to prohibit certain alcohol beverage containers that are likely to mislead consumers as to the identity or character of the distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverage products or are likely to be confused with other (non-alcohol) food products. The comment period for Notice No. 872 closes on April 12, 1999.

However, ATF received a request from the National Association of Beverage Importers, Inc. (NABI) to extend the comment period an additional 30 days. NABI, representing the companies that import most of the alcohol beverages brought into the United States, stated that additional time was needed for it to obtain information from its members and foreign counterparts in order to prepare the association's comments.

In consideration of the above, ATF finds that an extension of the comment period is warranted and the Bureau is, therefore, extending the comment period until May 10, 1999.

Disclosure

Copies of Notice No. 872 and written comments will be available for public inspection during normal business hours at: ATF Reference Library, Room 6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC.

Drafting Information

The author of this document is Nancy M. Kern, Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

List of Subjects

27 CFR Part 4

Advertising, consumer protection, customs duties and inspections, imports, labeling, packaging and containers, and wine.

27 CFR Part 5

Advertising, consumer protection, customs duties and inspections, imports, labeling, liquors, and packaging and containers.

27 CFR Part 7

Advertising, beer, consumer protection, customs duties and inspection, imports, and labeling.

Authority and Issuance

This notice is issued under the authority contained in 26 U.S.C. 5368, 5301, 7805; 27 U.S.C. 205.

Signed: April 6, 1999. John W. Magaw, Director.

[FR Doc. 99-8993Filed4-9-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810-31-P