CERTIFICATION OF CHEMISTS, ENOLOGISTS AND LABORATORIES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF WINE FOR EXPORT

Proprietors of Bonded Wineries, Bonded Wine Cellars, Taxpaid Wine Bottling Houses and Others Concerned

Purpose: This circular is issued to notify the public that:

- the provisions of ATF Procedure 73-6 which dealt with the documentation requirements for U.S. wine exported to the EEC are now superseded by ATF Procedure 86-1 (see ATF Industry Circular 86-2); and, - the provisions of ATF Procedure 73-6 which set out the requirements to be met by chemists or laboratories wishing to be certified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for the analysis of wine for export to the EEC are now superseded by ATF Procedure 86-2 which will be published in the next issue of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Quarterly Bulletin (see below).

The procedures applicable to certification of chemists and laboratories were dissociated from EEC documentation requirements to make it clear that those certified for wine analysis by ATF are authorized to analyze wine exported not only to the European Economic Community but also to Japan and any other countries which have agreed to accept chemical analyses performed by persons or laboratories certified by ATF. In this connection, it should be noted that, although ATF Procedure 73-6 recognized only graduate chemists and laboratories under the direction of a graduate chemist as being eligible for certification, the new procedure also recognizes graduate enologists and laboratories under the direction of a graduate enologist.

ATF Procedure 86-2 will appear in the next publication of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Quarterly Bulletin and will read as follows:

Section 1. Purpose.

1.01 This procedure establishes the guidelines to be followed by chemists, enologists or laboratories desiring to be certified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for the analysis of wine for export.

Section 2. Background.

2.01 Many countries require the presentation of specific chemical analyses as a condition of entry for imported wine. With respect to U.S. wine, many of these countries will accept analyses performed by persons or laboratories certified by ATF.

2.02 The Member States of the European Economic Community (hereinafter referred to as the EEC or the Community) are among such countries, and ATF Procedure 73-6 which dealt with EEC documentation requirements for wine, established the procedures to be followed by chemists and laboratories wishing to be certified to analyze wine for export to the EEC.

2.03 The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare now also accepts chemical analyses performed by ATF-certified persons or laboratories, and the number of such foreign governmental bodies may increase in the future.

2.04 This being the case, the provisions relative to certification of chemists and laboratories previously included in ATF Procedure 73-6 have been dissociated from EEC documentation requirements and are reissued herewith to make it clear that those certified for wine analysis by ATF are authorized to analyze wine exported not only to the European Economic Community but also to Japan and any other countries which have agreed to accept chemical analyses performed by ATF certified persons or laboratories. In this connection, it should be noted that, although ATF Procedure 73-6 identified only graduate chemists and laboratories under the direction of a graduate chemist as being eligible for certification, the new procedure expands eligibility to include graduate enologists and laboratories under the direction of a graduate enologist. ATF has concluded that the educational background of graduate enologists warrants such recognition.

Section 3. Application for Certification.

3.01 Application for certification that a chemist, enologist or laboratory is qualified to analyze wine for export may be filed by a graduate chemist, a graduate enologist, a laboratory under the direction of a graduate chemist or graduate enologist, or an exporter on behalf of such a chemist, enologist or laboratory.

3.02 The application shall be submitted, in duplicate, on the applicant's letterhead, to the Director, National Laboratory Center, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, at the address given in Section 7.01. It shall be accompanied by the analysis reports referenced in Section 4.01(b) and by documentation supporting the educational qualifications and professional experience of the chemist or enologist. This information is subject to verification.

Section 4. Qualification for Certification.

4.01 To qualify for certification by the Director, ATF National Laboratory Center, the applicant shall:

(a) have access to such laboratory equipment and facilities as are necessary to perform the wine analyses described in following subparagraph (b). The adequacy of such equipment and facilities is subject to verification or inspection; (b) submit to the Director, ATF National Laboratory Center, a report of the analysis of any sample of white wine and any sample of red wine together with one 750 mL sample of each wine to be analyzed. These reports shall include the following analytical data as determined in accordance with the latest edition of the Methods of Analysis, published by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists:

(1) Specific gravity; (6) Ash; (11) Tartaric acid; (2) Alcohol by volume; (7) Alkalinity of ash; (12) Citric acid; (3) Total extract; (8) Total acidity; (13) Sulfur dioxide (4) Reducing sugar; (9) Volatile acidity; (14) pH (5) Sucrose; (10) Fixed acidity;

Section 5. Certification of Applicants.

5.01 If U.S. Government chemists verify the reports of analyses submitted by the applicant, and the other requirements have been met, the Director, ATF National Laboratory Center, will certify the chemist, enologist or laboratory and so notify the applicant. If the chemist, enologist or laboratory does not meet the requirements for certification, the applicant will be so notified.

Section 6. Effect on Other Documents.

6.01 The provisions of ATF Procedure 73-6 which set out the requirements to be met by chemists or laboratories wishing to be certified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for the analysis of wine for export are hereby superseded.

Section 7. Inquiries.

7.01 Inquiries concerning this circular, including requests for the listing of chemists, 0 and laboratories certified by ATF for the analysis of wine for export, should refer to its number and should be addressed to:

National Laboratory Center Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Certified Laboratories - Wine 1401 Research Boulevard Rockville, Maryland 20850

Acting Director