Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau July 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This interim rule, which parallels the recent amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act contained in the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004, adopts labeling standards for major food allergens used in the production of alcohol beverages subject to the labeling requirements of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. In addition, elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, we are publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking that proposes to make major food allergen labeling mandatory. That notice solicits comments from the public, including consumers and affected industry members, on the proposed labeling requirements and the time frame for making the requirements mandatory. Under the interim regulations, producers, bottlers, and importers of wines, distilled spirits, and malt beverages may voluntarily declare the presence of milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans, as well as ingredients that contain protein derived from these foods, in their products, but are not required to do so. The interim regulations, however, set forth rules that are mandatory for how industry members must undertake such labeling, should they choose to do so. The regulations also contain procedures for petitioning for an exemption from the standards imposed on those alcohol beverage producers who wish to make voluntary allergen statements on their product labels.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to expand the Alexander Valley viticultural area in Sonoma County, California, by 1,300 acres along its northwestern boundary line. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed amendment to our regulations.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to establish the 8,263-square mile ``Snake River Valley'' viticultural area in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed addition to our regulations.

This Treasury decision establishes the 2,090-acre Saddle Rock- Malibu viticultural area in Los Angeles County, California. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to establish the Outer Coastal Plain viticultural area in southeastern New Jersey. The proposed viticultural area consists of approximately 2,255,400 acres and includes all of Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic, and Ocean Counties and portions of Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, and Monmouth Counties. We designate viticultural areas to allow bottlers to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify the wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed addition to our regulations.