77 FR 56 pgs. 16671-16674 - Labeling Imported Wines With Multistate Appellations
Type: RULEVolume: 77Number: 56Pages: 16671 - 16674
Docket number: [Docket No. TTB-2010-0007; T.D. TTB-101; Re: Notice No. 110]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2012-6930 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]
Agency: Treasury Department
Sub Agency: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
27 CFR Part 4
[Docket No. TTB-2010-0007; T.D. TTB-101; Re: Notice No. 110]
RIN 1513-AB58
Labeling Imported Wines With Multistate Appellations
AGENCY:
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.
ACTION:
Final rule; Treasury decision.
SUMMARY:
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is amending the wine labeling regulations to allow the labeling of imported wines with multistate appellations of origin. This amendment provides treatment for imported wines similar to that currently available to domestic wines bearing multistate appellations. It also provides consumers with additional information regarding the origin of these wines.
DATES:
Effective Date: This final rule is effective April 23, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Berry, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Regulations and Rulings Division; telephone (202) 453-1039 ext. 275, or email WineRegs@ttb.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background on Wine Labeling
TTB Authority
Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act), 27 U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages. The FAA Act requires that these regulations, among other things, prohibit consumer deception and the use of misleading statements on labels, and ensure that labels provide the consumer with adequate information as to the identity and quality of the product. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers the regulations promulgated under the FAA Act.
Use of Appellations of Origin on Wine Labels
Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 4) sets forth standards promulgated under the FAA Act for the labeling and advertising of wine. Section 4.25 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25) sets forth rules regarding the use of appellations of origin. An appellation of origin for an American wine is defined in § 4.25(a)(1) as:
• The United States;
• A State;
• Two or no more than three States which are all contiguous;
• A county;
• Two or no more than three counties in the same State; or
• A viticultural area as defined in § 4.25(e).
Section 4.25(b)(1) states that an American wine is entitled to an appellation of origin other than a multicounty or multistate appellation, or a viticultural area, if, among other requirements, at least 75 percent of the wine is derived from fruit or agricultural products grown in the appellation area indicated. Use of an appellation of origin comprising two or no more than three States which are all contiguous is allowed under § 4.25(d) if:
• All of the fruit or other agricultural products were grown in the States indicated, and the percentage of the wine derived from fruit or other agricultural products grown in each State is shown on the label with a tolerance of plus or minus 2 percent;
• The wine has been fully finished (except for cellar treatment pursuant to 27 CFR 4.22(c) and blending that does not result in an alteration of class or type under 27 CFR 4.22(b)) in one of the labeled appellation States; and
• The wine conforms to the laws and regulations governing the composition, method of manufacture, and designation of wines in all the States listed in the appellation.
An appellation of origin for imported wine is defined in § 4.25(a)(2) as:
• A country;
• A state, province, territory, or similar political subdivision of a country equivalent to a state or county; or
• A viticultural area (which is defined in § 4.25(e)(1)(ii) in the case of imported wine).
Section 4.25(b)(2) states that an imported wine is entitled to an appellation of origin other than a viticultural area if: "(1) At least 75 percent of the wine is derived from fruit or agricultural products grown in the area indicated by the appellation of origin; and (2) the wine conforms to the requirements of the foreign laws and regulations governing the composition, method of production, and designation of wines available for consumption within the country of origin." There is no provision in the current TTB regulations for the use of multistate appellations on imported wines.
The existing regulations regarding appellations of origin, including the provisions permitting multistate appellations for American wines, were promulgated by TTB's predecessor agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), in T.D. ATF-53 (43 FR 37672), published August 23, 1978. The preamble of T.D. ATF-53 stated that the regulations provided "a comprehensive scheme for appellation of origin labeling" resulting in "more accurate information being provided to consumers about wine origin." According to T.D. ATF-53, multistate appellations were suggested by domestic wine industry members. ATF decided to allow multistate appellations "in order to permit greater flexibility in appellation of origin labeling," provided that all the grapes come from the named States, that the percentage of grapes from each State be shown on the label, and that the wine conform to the laws and regulations governing the composition, method of manufacture, and designation of wines in all of the States listed in the appellation. There was no discussion in T.D. ATF-53 regarding multistate appellations for foreign wines, including why multistate appellations were limited to American wines.
Australian Petition
The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation (AWBC), a quasi-governmental authority responsible for, among other activities, regulating the exportation of Australian wine, submitted a petition to TTB to amend § 4.25(a)(2) to permit the labeling of Australian wines with multistate appellations. This proposal would allow an Australian wine imported into the United States to bear an appellation comprised of two or three Australian States, such as "Victoria-New South Wales-South Australia." According to the AWBC petition, Australian regulations allow wines to be labeled with up to three Geographical Indications (officially defined wine regions) provided that 95 percent of the product is from the listed regions, the regions are listed in descending order of their proportions in the blend, and a minimum of 5 percent of the wine is from each listed region. Australian Geographical Indications include Australian States, which are roughly equivalent to American States.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Comments Received
On November 3, 2010, TTB published Notice No. 110 in the Federal Register at 75 FR 67663 proposing to amend § 4.25 to permit the use of multistate appellations for imported wines. The notice proposed, among other requirements, that the regions named in multistate appellations be contiguous and that 100 percent of the wine be derived from fruit or other agricultural products grown in those regions. These requirements mirror the current requirements, discussed above, for multistate appellations on American wines.
TTB received four comments in response to Notice No. 110. The commenters were: (1) An Australian winery; (2) the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; (3) New Zealand Winegrowers, a trade organization; and (4) the Government of New Zealand. All four commenters generally support the proposal to allow multistate appellation labeling on imported wines. However, three of the commenters express concerns about certain aspects of the proposal.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade expresses concern about the requirement that all the named areas be contiguous, a requirement that duplicates that for American wine contained in 27 CFR 4.25(d). The commenter states that this requirement would preclude Tasmania, an island, from being included in a multistate appellation. Further, in contrast to the 100 percent rule proposed by TTB, the commenter notes that Australian regulations allow up to three Australian States and Territories to be included on a label so long as 95 percent of the product is from the listed regions and at least 5 percent of the wine is from each listed region. This commenter suggests that the United States engage in further discussion on this issue.
The New Zealander Winegrowers states that contiguity would be a difficult requirement for them due to their geography because large islands constitute most of the country.
Finally, the Government of New Zealand notes the absence of a "contiguous" requirement in New Zealand law and also points out that its rules for appellations of more than one region require that only 85 percent of the wine be from the named regions rather than 100 percent as proposed by TTB. The commenter states that their preferred approach is that foreign wines with multistate appellations be labeled according to the rules of the country of origin.
TTB Analysis
In Notice 110, TTB stated its intention to provide treatment for imported wines bearing multistate appellations similar to that which is currently available for domestic wines bearing multistate appellations. The Bureau believes that the proposed regulatory amendments would achieve that goal and provide for fair and equitable treatment of imported and domestic wines, including the requirement questioned by some commenters that multistate appellations be contiguous for foreign wines. Contiguity is already required for domestic wines; therefore TTB is requiring it for foreign wines in this rule as well.
The Bureau and its predecessor have long interpreted the term "contiguous," as it appears in 27 CFR 4.25(a)(1)(iii), to include two States which actually touch at a point along a common boundary, or three States which are connected throughout in an unbroken sequence. See ATF Ruling 91-1 (1991), http://www.ttb.gov/rulings/2001-2.htm. For example, North Dakota and South Dakota are contiguous, as are South Dakota and Nebraska. North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska are also contiguous for the purpose of using three States in a multistate appellation on a wine label, even though North Dakota and Nebraska, without South Dakota, are not contiguous with one another and could not be used together on a wine label. A similar interpretation of the term contiguous will be applied to foreign appellations, where two states, territories or other applicable political subdivisions should actually touch at a point along a common boundary and where three such subdivisions are connected throughout in an unbroken sequence.
For land boundaries, TTB expects the contiguous requirement to operate equally for foreign and domestic wines. However, as some commenters point out, island geography and maritime borders present additional considerations for determining whether or not two states, territories or other applicable political subdivisions are contiguous.
In the domestic context under existing regulations, TTB still looks for the two States separated by water to actually touch at a point along their common maritime border. For example, the States of Rhode Island and New York are considered contiguous (although separated by water and sharing no common land boundary), because they actually touch at a point along a common maritime border in Block Island Sound; whereas the States of Indiana and Wisconsin are not considered contiguous, even though also separated by a body of water common to both (Lake Michigan). In the latter example, Indiana and Wisconsin are not contiguous because they do not actually touch at a point along a common maritime border within Lake Michigan, as the maritime borders of the States of Illinois and Michigan intervene instead.
In the international context, after consultation with the U.S. Department of State, TTB recognizes that maritime borders within the territorial seas of a nation are determined by the domestic laws of that nation and that subnational (e.g., state) borders are delineated by other nations in myriad ways or for a variety of purposes that may differ from how maritime borders are delineated in the United States. (The United States grants to its coastal States a right to the territorial seas of the United States to a certain limit, thereby establishing common maritime borders between States similar to those on land). TTB believes it would be inappropriate to strictly apply its interpretation of the term contiguous for domestic wines, particularly as to the issue as to what constitutes a common maritime border, to foreign wines without considering the position of the foreign nation concerning its own subnational maritime borders. Therefore, foreign states, territories, or other applicable political subdivisions may be considered contiguous, for purposes of this rule, so long as the label applicant, in conjunction with the government of the country of origin, can demonstrate to TTB that the political subdivisions sharing a common maritime border actually touch at a point along such border for a nationally- and/or internationally-recognized purpose (e.g., a common maritime border for fishing or mineral rights jurisdiction).
TTB will consider the facts and evidence submitted by the label applicant and government of the country of origin on a case-by-case basis to establish whether the multiple appellations are contiguous. Foreign governments are also encouraged to provide TTB with information demonstrating the contiguity of their various states, territories, or other applicable political subdivisions, in order to assist TTB with its label review in advance of TTB's receipt of label applications that would be subject to this requirement. Lack of information supporting the contiguity of a multistate appellation could result in TTB having to reject a label application.
TTB Finding
For the reasons set forth above, TTB believes it would be appropriate to adopt the proposed regulatory changes contained in Notice 110. In addition, TTB has noted a technical error in § 4.25(a)(1)(v): The word "States" should be singular, not plural. Accordingly, this document removes the second "s" from "States" to correct the error.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
TTB certifies under the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ) that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The amendments merely provide optional, additional flexibility in wine labeling decisions. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
Executive Order 12866
This final rule is not a significant regulatory action as defined by Executive Order 12866. Therefore, it requires no regulatory assessment.
Drafting Information
Jennifer Berry of the Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, drafted this document.
List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 4
Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Customs duties and inspection, Imports, Labeling, Packaging and containers, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Trade practices, Wine.
Amendments to the Regulations
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, TTB amends 27 CFR part 4, Labeling and Advertising of Wine, as set forth below:
PART 4-LABELING AND ADVERTISING OF WINE
1. The authority citation for 27 CFR part 4 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
27 U.S.C. 205, unless otherwise noted.
2. Section 4.25 is amended:
a. In paragraph (a)(1)(v), by removing the word "States" and adding in its place the word "State";
b. By revising paragraph (a)(2), the introductory text of paragraph (b)(2), and paragraph (d); and
c. In paragraph (e)(1)(ii), by removing the words "(other than an appellation defined in paragraph (a)(2)(i) or (a)(2)(ii))" and adding, in their place, the words "(other than an appellation defined in paragraph (a)(2)(i), (a)(2)(ii), or (a)(2)(iii))".
The revisions read as follows:
§ 4.25 Appellations of origin.
(a) * * *
(2) Imported wine. An appellation of origin for imported wine is:
(i) A country;
(ii) A state, province, territory, or similar political subdivision of a country equivalent to a state or county;
(iii) Two or no more than three states, provinces, territories, or similar political subdivisions of a country equivalent to a state which are all contiguous; or
(iv) A viticultural area (as defined in paragraph (e) of this section).
(b) * * *
(2) Imported wine. An imported wine is entitled to an appellation of origin other than a multistate appellation, or a viticultural area, if:
(d) Multistate appellations. (1) American wine. An appellation of origin comprising two or no more than three States which are all contiguous may be used, if:
(i) All of the fruit or other agricultural products were grown in the States indicated, and the percentage of the wine derived from fruit or other agricultural products grown in each State is shown on the label with a tolerance of plus or minus 2 percent;
(ii) The wine has been fully finished (except for cellar treatment pursuant to § 4.22(c), and blending that does not result in an alteration of class or type under § 4.22(b)) in one of the labeled appellation States; and
(iii) The wine conforms to the laws and regulations governing the composition, method of manufacture, and designation of wines in all of the States listed in the appellation.
(2) Imported wine. An appellation of origin comprising two or no more than three states, provinces, territories, or similar political subdivisions of a country equivalent to a state which are all contiguous may be used if:
(i) All of the fruit or other agricultural products were grown in the states, provinces, territories, or similar political subdivisions of a country equivalent to a state indicated, and the percentage of the wine derived from fruit or other agricultural products grown in each state, province, territory, or political subdivision equivalent to a state is shown on the label with a tolerance of plus or minus 2 percent; and
(ii) The wine conforms to the requirements of the foreign laws and regulations governing the composition, method of production, and designation of wines available for consumption within the country of origin.
Signed: July 27, 2011.
John J. Manfreda,
Administrator.
Approved: September 29, 2011.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Tax, Trade, and Tariff Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-6930 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P