Treasury to Hold Public Meeting on New Certification Requirements for Imported Wine
The Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a public meeting on December 15, 2004 to provide information on implementation of the new certification requirements for imported wine contained in section 2002 of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Miscellaneous Trade Act, Public Law (P.L.) 108-429).
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The purpose of the meeting is to advise the public of the TTB's plans for implementation of the new certification requirements (described below) and answer any questions the public may have regarding this provision.
New Certification Requirement on Cellar Treatment of Imported Wine
The TTB explains that P.L. 108-429 amends 26 USC 5382(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which sets forth standards regarding what constitutes proper cellar treatment of natural wine. Specifically, the amendment adds a certification requirement regarding "cellar treatment" production practices and procedures for imported natural wine produced after December 31, 2004.
The Secretary of the Treasury will accept the practices and procedures used to produce the wine, if, at the time of importation, one of the following conditions is met:
- The Secretary has on file or is provided with a certification from the government of the producing country, accompanied by an affirmed laboratory analysis, that the practices and procedures used to produce the wine constitute proper cellar treatment;
- The Secretary has on file or is provided with a certification, if any, as may be required by an international agreement or treaty specifying practices and procedures acceptable to the U.S.; or
- In the case of an importer that owns or controls or has an affiliate that owns or controls a winery operating under a basic permit issued by the Secretary, the importer certifies that the practices and procedures used to produce the wine constitute proper cellar treatment.
-written comments are due no later than January 15, 2005.
TTB Contact - TTB International Trade Division (202) 927-8110
TTB Notice (Notice No. 26, FR Pub 12/10/04) available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-27105.pdf