Page images
PDF
EPUB

not effectively registered in the United States Patent Office on August 29, 1935, which has been used by such person or his predecessors in the United States for a period of at least five years immediately preceding August 29, 1935: Provided, That if such trade name or brand is used, the designation of the product shall be qualified by the name of the locality in the United States in which produced, and such qualifications shall be in script, type, or printing as conspicuous as the trade name or brand.

§4.34 Class and type.

(a) The class of the wine shall be stated in conformity with Subpart C of this part if the wine is defined therein, except that "table" ("light") and "dessert" wines need not be designated as such. In the case of still grape wine there may appear, in lieu of the class designation, any grape-type designation, semigeneric geographic type designation, or geographic destinctive designation, to which the wine may be entitled. In the case of champagne, or crackling wines, the type designation "champagne" or "crackling wine" ("petillant wine", "frizzante wine") may appear in lieu of the class designation "sparkling wine". In the case of wine which has a total solids content of more than 17 grams per 100 cubic centimeters the words "extra sweet", "specially sweetened", "specially sweet" or "sweetened with

excess

sugar" shall be stated as a part of the class and type designation. The last of these quoted phrases shall appear where required by Part 240 of this chapter, on wines sweetened with sugar in excess of the maximum quantities specified in such regulations. If the class of the wine is not defined in Subpart C, a truthful and adequate statement of composition shall appear upon the brand label of the product in lieu of a class designation. In addition to the mandatory designation for the wine, there may be stated a distinctive or fanciful name, or a designation in accordance with trade understanding. All parts of the designation of the wine, whether mandatory or optional, shall be in direct conjunction and in lettering substantially of the same size and kind.

(b) An appellation of origin such as "American," "New York," "Napa Valley," or "Chilean," disclosing the true place of origin of the wine, shall appear in direct conjunction with and in lettering substantially as conspicuous as the class and type designation if:

(1) A grape type (varietal) designation is used under the provisions of § 4.23a;

(2) A semi-generic type designation is employed as the class and type designation of the wine pursuant to § 4.24(b);

(3) A product name is qualified with the word “Brand” under the requirements of § 4.39 (j); or

(4) The wine is labeled with the year of harvest of the grapes, and otherwise conforms with the provisions of § 4.27. The appellation of origin for vintage wine shall be other than a country.

[T.D. ATF-53, 43 FR 37677, Aug. 23, 1978; T.D. ATF-48, 44 FR 55839, Sept. 28, 1979, as amended by T.D. ATF-195, 50 FR 763, Jan. 7, 1985; T.D. ATF-229, 51 FR 20482, June 5, 1986]

§4.35 Name and address.

(a) American wine. On labels of containers of American wine, there shall be stated the name of the bottler or packer and the place where bottled or packed (or until January 1, 1985, in lieu of such place, the principal place of business of the bottler or packer if in the same State where the wine was bottled or packed, and, if bottled or packed on bonded premises, the AFT registry number of the premises) immediately preceded by the words "bottled by" or "packed by” except that:

(1) If the bottler or packer is also the person who made not less than 75 percent of such wine by fermenting the must and clarifying the resulting wine, or if such person treated the wine in such manner as to change the class thereof, there may be stated, in lieu of the words "bottled by" or "packed by," the words "produced and bottled by," or "produced and packed by."

(2) If the bottler or packer has also either made or treated the wine, otherwise than as described in paragraph

(a)(1) of this section, there may be stated, in lieu of the words "Bottled by" or "Packed by" the phrases "Blended and bottled (packed) by," "Rectified and bottled (packed) by." "Prepared and bottled (packed) by," "Made and bottled (packed) by," as the case may be, or, in the case of imitation wine only, “Manufactured and bottled (packed) by."

(3) In addition to the name of the bottler or packer and the place where bottled or packed (but not in lieu thereof) there may be stated the name and address of any other person for whom such wine is bottled or packed, immediately preceded by the words "Bottled for" or "Packed for" or "Distributed by" or other similar statement; or the name and principal place of business of the rectifier, blender, or maker, immediately preceded by the words "Rectified by," "Blended by" or "Made by," respectively, or, in the case of imitation wine only, "Manufactured by."

(b) Imported wine. On labels of containers of imported wine, there shall be stated the words "Imported by" or a similar appropriate phrase, and immediately thereafter the name of the permittee who is the importer, agent, sole distributor, or other person responsible for the importation, together with the principal place of business in the United States of such person. In addition, but not in lieu thereof, there may be stated the name and principal place of business of the foreign producer, blender, rectifier, maker, bottler, packer, or shipper, preceded by the phrases "Produced by," "Blended by," "Rectified by," "Made by," "Bottled by," "Packed by," "Shipped by," respectively, or, in the case of imitation wine only, "Manufactured by."

(1) If the wine is bottled or packed in the United States, there shall be stated, in addition, the name of the bottler or packer and the place where bottled or packed immediately preceded by the words "bottled by" or "packed by" except that if the wine is bottled or packed in the United States for the person responsible for the importation there may be stated, in lieu of the above-required statements, the name and principal place of business in the United States of such person,

immediately preceded b "imported by and bottle the United States for" (0 propriate phrase). If, wine is bottled or packed States by the person re the importation there m in lieu of the above-re ments, the name and prin business in the United S person, immediately pred phrase "Imported al (packed) by" or a similar phrase.

(2) If the wine is blended packed in a foreign co than the country of orig country of origin is stated indicated on the label, the be stated the name of packer, or blender, and where bottled, packed, or 1 mediately preceded by the tled by", "Packed by", "B or other appropriate staten

(c) Form of address. T stated shall be the post of (after December 31, 1984 office address shall be 1 shown on the basic perm qualifying document of t at which the operations and there shall be shown for each operation which is on the label. An example would be "Produced at Gil nia, and bottled at San Ma nia, by XYZ Winery"), exc street address may be omi ditional places or address stated for the same perso such person is actively eng conduct of an additional bo actual alcoholic beverage such additional place or a (2) the label also contain conjunction therewith, app scriptive material indicatin tion occurring at such addi or address in connection w ticular product.

(d) Trade or operating trade or operating name of appearing upon any lab identical with a name ap the basic permit or notice.

[T.D. 6521, 25 FR 13835, Dec amended by T.D. 7185, 37 FR

[blocks in formation]

(a) Alcoholic content shall be stated in the case of wines containing more than 14 percent of alcohol by volume, and, in the case of wine containing 14 percent or less of alcohol by volume, either the type designation "table" wine ("light" wine) or the alcoholic content shall be stated. Any statement of alcoholic content shall be made as prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Alcoholic content shall be stated in terms of percentage of alcohol by volume, and not otherwise, as provided in either paragraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section:

[blocks in formation]

Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a tolerance of 1 percent, in the case of wines containing more than 14 percent of alcohol by volume, and of 1.5 percent, in the case of wines containing 14 percent or less of alcohol by volume, will be permitted either above or below the stated percentage.

(2) "Alcohol --% to -% by volume." Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a range of not more than 2 percent, in the case of wines containing more than 14 percent of alcohol by volume, and of not more than 3 percent, in the case of wines containing 14 percent or less of alcohol by volume, will be permitted between the minimum and maximum percentages stated, and no tolerances will be permitted either below such minimum or above such maximum.

(c) Regardless of the type of statement used and regardless of tolerances normally permitted in direct statements and ranges normally permitted in maximum and minimum statements, alcoholic content statements, whether required or optional, shall definitely and correctly indicate the class, type and taxable grade of the wine so labeled and nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the appearance upon the labels of any wine of an alcoholic content statement in terms of maximum and minimum percentages which overlaps a prescribed limitation on the alcoholic

content of any class, type, or taxable grade of wine, or a direct statement of alcoholic content which indicates that the alcoholic content of the wine is within such a limitation when in fact it is not.

§ 4.37 Net contents.

(a) Statement of net contents. The net contents of wine for which a standard of fill is prescribed in § 4.73 shall be stated in the same manner and form as set forth in the standard of fill. The net content of wine for which no standard of fill is prescribed in § 4.73 shall be stated in the metric system of measure as follows:

(1) If more than one liter, net contents shall be stated in liters and in decimal portions of a liter accurate to the nearest one-hundredth of a liter.

(2) If less than one liter, net contents shall be stated in milliliters (ml).

(b) Statement of U.S. equivalent net contents. When net contents of wine are stated in metric measure, the equivalent volume in U.S. measure may also be shown. If shown, the U.S. equivalent volume will be shown as follows:

(1) For the metric standards of fill: 3 liters (101 fl. oz.); 1.5 liters (50.7 fl. oz.); 1 liter (33.8 fl. oz.); 750 ml (25.4 fl. oz.); 375 ml (12.7 fl. oz.); 187 ml (6.3 fl. oz.); 100 ml (3.4 fl. oz.); and 50 ml (1.7 fl. oz.).

(2) Equivalent volumes of less than 100 fluid ounces will be stated in fluid ounces only, accurate to the nearest one-tenth of a fluid ounce; for example, 700 ml (23.7 fl. oz.).

(3) Equivalent volumes of 100 fluid ounces or more will be stated in fluid ounces only, accurate to the nearest whole fluid ounce; for example, 6 liters (203 fl. oz.).

(c) Net contents marked in bottle. The net contents need not be stated on any label if the net contents are displayed by having the same blown, etched, sand-blasted, marked by underglaze coloring, or otherwise permanently marked by any method approved by the Director, in the sides, front, or back of the bottle, in letters and figures in such manner as to be plainly legible under ordinary circumstances, and such statement is not ob

scured in any manner in whole or in part.

(d) Tolerances. Statement of net contents shall indicate exactly the volume of wine within the container, except that the following tolerances shall be allowed:

(1) Discrepancies due exclusively to errors in measuring which occur in filling conducted in compliance with good commercial practice.

(2) Discrepancies due exclusively to differences in the capacity of containers, resulting solely from unavoidable difficulties in manufacturing such containers so as to be of uniform capacity: Provided, That no greater tolerance shall be allowed in case of containers which, because of their design, cannot be made of approximately uniform capacity than is allowed in case of containers which can be manufactured so as to be of approximately uniform capacity.

(3) Discrepancies in measure due to differences in atmospheric conditions in various places and which unavoidably result from the ordinary and customary exposure of alcoholic beverages in containers to evaporation. The reasonableness to discrepancies under this paragraph shall be determined on the facts in each case.

(e) Unreasonable shortages. Unreasonable shortages in certain of the containers in any shipment shall not be compensated by overages in other containers in the same shipment.

[T.D. ATF-12, 39 FR 45222, Dec. 31, 1974, as amended by T.D. ATF-49, 43 FR 19848, May 9, 1978; T.D. ATF-76, 46 FR 1727, Jan. 7, 19811

§ 4.38 General requirements.

(a) Legibility. All labels shall be so designed that all the statements thereon required by §§ 4.30 through 4.39 are readily legible under ordinary conditions, and all such statement shall be on a contrasting background.

(b) Size of type. (1) Containers of more than 187 millimeters. All mandatory information required on labels by this part, except the alcoholic content statement, shall be in script, type, or printing not smaller than 2 millimeters; except that if contained among other descriptive or explanatory information, the script, type, or printing of

the mandatory informatio a size substantially more than that of the descriptiv atory information.

(2) Containers of 187 m less. All mandatory info quired on labels by this i the alcoholic content state not be smaller than 1 except that if contained a descriptive or explanator tion, the script, type, or the mandatory information a size substantially more than that of the descriptive atory information.

(3) Alcoholic content shall not appear in scrip printing larger or more c than 2 millimeters nor sma millimeter on labels of having a capacity of 5 liters shall not be set off with a otherwise accentuated.

(c) English language. All label information shall be labels in the English langua that the brand name, the pl duction, and the name of facturer, producer, blende packer, or shipper appeari label need not be in the E guage if the words "product diately precede the name of try of origin stated in accor customs requirements. statements in foreign lang be made on labels, if they any way conflict with, or the requirements of §§ 4.3 4.39.

(d) Location of label. La not obscure Government s be obscured thereby.

(e) Labels firmly affixed. shall be affixed to containe in such manner that they removed without thorough: of water or other solvents.

(f) Additional information Labels may contain informa than the mandatory label in required by §§ 4.30 throug such information complies w quirements of such section not conflict with, nor in a qualify statements require part. In addition, informatic truthful, accurate, and sp

which is neither disparaging nor misleading may appear on wine labels.

(g) Representations as to materials. If any representation (other than representations or information required by §§ 4.30 through 4.39 or percentage statements required or permitted by this part) is made as to the presence, excellence, or other characteristic of any ingredient in any wine, or used in its production, the label containing such representation shall state, in print, type, or script, substantially as conspicuous as such representation, the name and amount in percent by volume of each such ingredient.

(h) Statement of contents of containers. Upon request of the Director, there shall be submitted a full and accurate statement of the contents of the containers to which labels are to be or have been affixed.

[T.D. ATF-53, 43 FR 37677, Aug. 23, 1978, as amended by T.D. ATF-66, 45 FR 40544, June 13, 1980; T.D. ATF-94, 46 FR 55095, Nov. 6, 1981; T.D. ATF-249, 52 FR 5955, Feb. 27, 1987]

§ 4.38a Bottle cartons, booklets and leaflets.

(a) General. An individual covering, carton, or other container of the bottle used for sale at retail (other than a shipping container), or any written, printed, graphic, or other matter accompanying the bottle to the consumer buyer shall not contain any statement, design, device, or graphic, pictorial, or emblematic representation that is prohibited by §§ 4.30 through 4.39 on labels.

(b) Sealed cartons. If bottles are enclosed in sealed opaque coverings, cartons, or other containers used for sale at retail (other than a shipping container), such coverings, cartons, or other containers must bear all mandatory label information.

(c) Other cartons. (1) If an individual covering, carton, or other container of the bottle used for sale at retail (other than a shipping container) is so designed that the bottle is readily removable, it may display any information which is not in conflict with the label on the bottle contained therein.

(2) Cartons displaying brand names and/or designations must display such names and designations in their en

tirety-brand names required to be modified, e.g. by "Brand" or "Product of U.S.A.", must also display such modification.

(3) Wines for which a truthful and adequate statement of composition is required must display such statement. [T.D. ATF-36, 41 FR 47425, Oct. 29, 1976]

§ 4.39 Prohibited practices.

(a) Statements on labels. Containers of wine, or any label on such containers, or any individual covering, carton, or other wrapper of such container, or any written, printed, graphic, or other matter accompanying such container to the consumer shall not contain:

(1) Any statement that is false or untrue in any particular, or that, irrespective of falsity, directly, or by ambiguity, omission, or inference, or by the addition of irrelevant, scientific or technical matter, tends to create a misleading impression.

(2) Any statement that is disparaging of a competitor's products.

(3) Any statement, design, device, or representation which is obscene or indecent.

(4) Any statement, design, device, or representation of or relating to analyses, standards, or tests, irrespective of falsity, which the Director finds to be likely to mislead the consumer.

(5) Any statement, design, device or representation of or relating to any guarantee, irrespective of falsity, which the Director finds to be likely to mislead the consumer. Money-back guarantees are not prohibited.

(6) A trade or brand name that is the name of any living individual of public prominence, or existing private or public organization, or is a name that is in simulation or is an abbreviation thereof, or any graphic, pictorial, or emblematic representation of any such individual or organization, if the use of such name or representation is likely falsely to lead the consumer to believe that the product has been endorsed, made, or used by, or produced for, or under the supervision of, or in accordance with the specifications of, such individual or organization; Provided, That this paragraph shall not apply to the use of the name of any person engaged in business as a pro

« PreviousContinue »