Under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC)
at 26 U.S.C. 5382, importers of natural wine produced after
December 31, 2004, must provide the Secretary of the Treasury with
a certification, accompanied by an affirmed laboratory analysis,
that the practices and procedures used to produce the wine
constitute proper cellar treatment. That IRC section also contains
alternative certification requirements or exemptions for natural
wine produced and imported under certain international agreements,
as well as for such wine imported by an owner or affiliate of a
domestic winery. In addition, the Federal Alcohol Administration
Act (FAA Act) at 27 U.S.C. 205 vests the Secretary with authority
to prescribe regulations regarding the identity and quality of
alcohol beverages. Under those authorities, the TTB wine labeling
regulations in 27 CFR part 4 and its alcohol beverage import
regulations in 27 CFR part 27 implement the proper cellar treatment
certification requirement for imported natural wine.
US Code:
26 USC 5382(a)(3) Name of Law: Internal Revenue Code
US Code: 27
USC 205 Name of Law: Federal Alcohol Administration Act
There are no program changes
associated with this information collection. As for adjustments,
due to changes in agency estimates, TTB is reducing the estimated
numbers of annual respondents, responses, and burden hours
associated with this information collection. Under the IRC at 26
U.S.C. 5382(a)(3), importers of natural wine produced after
December 31, 2004, must provide the Secretary with a certification
from the government of the producing country that the practices and
procedures used to produce the wine constitute proper cellar
treatment. However, that section also provides that wines may be
imported into the United States without such a certificate if
exempted under an international agreement. Since the adoption of
IRC section 5382(a)(3) in 2004, the United States has entered into
wine production agreements with over 30 countries, including all of
the world’s largest wine producing nations (the European Union
nations, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, New Zealand,
South Africa, and Uruguay). Therefore, the great majority of wines
imported into the United States are now exempt from the IRC's
requirement to possess a certificate of proper cellar treatment for
that wine. In addition, TTB posts the certificates it does receive
to its web site, and other importers may reference such
certificates in lieu of providing an original certificate. As a
result, TTB's estimated annual burden for this information
collection has decreased significantly, from 4,000 respondents,
20,000 responses, and 6,600 hours, to 50 respondents, 50 responses,
and 17 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.