[Federal Register: September 18, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 181)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 49883-49884]

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

[DOCID:fr18se98-25]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 4

[Notice No. 867; Ref: Notice No. 861]

RIN 1512-AB70

Net Contents Statement on Wine Labels (95R-054P)

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

the Treasury.

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

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SUMMARY: This notice reopens the comment period for Notice No. 861, a

notice of proposed rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on May

15, 1998. 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 October 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Regulations Division;

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; P.O. Box 50221; Washington, DC

20091-0221; ATTN: Notice No. 861.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James P. Ficaretta, Regulations

Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226 (202-927-8230).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On May 15, 1998, 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 provide that the net

contents statement for wine in containers of less than 1 liter may be

expressed on the label in centiliters (cl) as an alternative to

milliliters (ml) (Notice No. 861; 63 FR 27017).

The comment period for Notice No. 861 was scheduled to close on

August 13, 1998. Prior to the close of the comment period ATF received

a request from a trade association, the Wine Institute, to extend the

comment period 60 days. The Wine Institute, representing over 450

California winery and associate members, stated that it needed

additional time to consider information recently raised by its members

and to develop a thorough response to the issues addressed in the

notice.

In consideration of the above, ATF finds that a reopening of the

comment period is warranted. However, the comment period is being

reopened for 30 days. The Bureau believes that a comment period

totaling 120 days is a sufficient amount of time for all interested

parties to respond.

Disclosure

Copies of this notice, Notice No. 861, and the written comments

will be available for public inspection during normal business hours

at: ATF Public Reading Room, Room 6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC.

Drafting Information. The author of this document is James P.

Ficaretta,

[[Page 49884]]

Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 4

Advertising, Consumer protection, Customs duties and inspection,

Imports, Labeling, Packaging and containers, and Wine.

Authority and Issuance

This notice is issued under the authority in 27 U.S.C. 205.

Signed: September 14, 1998.

John W. Magaw,

Director.