Industry Circular

Number: 61-20

Date: May 11, 1961

Office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division

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ELIMINATION OF STANDARD OF IDENTITY FOR BLENDED SCOTCH TYPE WHISKY IN FEDERAL DISTILLED SPIRITS LABELING REGULATIONS.

Bottlers of Distilled Spirits and others concerned:

Purpose. The purpose of this Industry Circular is to direct attention to the fact that the standard of identity for "Blended Scotch Type Whisky" (27 CFR 5.21, Class 2(14)) was revoked by Treasury Decision 6288 (published in the Federal Register on April 3, 1958, 23 F.R. 2180), effective April 3, 1961.

Background. The standard for "Blended Scotch Type Whisky" was revoked, after public hearing, but the effective date was postponed for three years, following publication of the Treasury Decision in the Federal Register, in order to permit an orderly liquidation of whisky inventories in the United States. Under date of December 29, 1960, all of the regulations issued under the provisions of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act were republished in the Federal Register (25 F.R. 13831) for the purpose of incorporating all amendatory Treasury Decisions previously issued. Owing to the fact that as of the date of republication (December 29, 1960), the standard for "Blended Scotch Type Whisky" was then still in effect, such standard could not be omitted. Accordingly, it is contained in Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, published under date of January 1, 1961, otherwise described as "Regulations under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act" (U. S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, IRS Publication No. 449 (2-61)).

Conclusion. Bottlers of distilled spirits and others concerned will ignore the standard of identity for "Blended Scotch Type Whisky" set forth in the consolidated reprint of the regulations, as above noted, in view of the fact that such standard was revoked by Treasury Decision 6288, effective April 3, 1961.

Inquiries. Correspondence in regard to this Industry Circular should refer to its number and be addressed to the Director, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax (O:AT:B), Washington 25, D. C.

Harold A. Serr

Acting Director, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division