WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/11
10 January 2000
(00-0087)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (2)
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Wine products
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Labelling of
Flavoured Wine Products (98R -317P) (6 pages, English)
6. Description of content:   The Bureau proposes to amend the regulations to create a new
standard of identity for flavoured wine produc ts.  The Bureau believes that this regulation
change is necessary to avoid consumer confus ion between established classes/types of wines
(including varietals, semi-generics, and type  designations of varietal significance) and
products that fall outside existing classes becaus e of the addition of flavouring materials.  In
general, the Bureau proposes that such produc ts must be labelled as “Flavoured Wine
Product” together with a truthful and adequate  statement of composition.  In addition, we are
proposing to amend the existing definition of “brand label” for wine to be consistent with the
definition currently provided for distilled spir its products.  This change would minimize the
likelihood of consumer confusion concerning th e identity of the product by making mandatory
information readily visible to the consumer at retail.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
To implement flexibility in labelling wine flavoured products.
8. Relevant documents:   64 FR 72612, 28 December 1999; 27 CFR Part 4.  Will appear in the
Federal Register when adopted.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined
Proposed date of entry into force:
10. Final date for comments:   29 March 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:   The text is also available on the Internet at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html