. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/196
19 November 1999
(99-5040)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms – BATF
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Labelling of alcohol beverages
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Health Claims and Other Health-
Related Statements in the Labelling and Advertising of Alcohol Beverages (6 pages)
5. Description of content: BATF is proposing to amend the regulations to prohibit the
appearance on labels or in advertisements of any statement that makes a substantive claim
regarding health benefits associated with the consumption of alcohol beverages unless such
claim is properly qualified, balanced, sufficiently detailed and specific, and outlines thecategories of individuals for whom any positive health effects would be outweighed by
numerous negative health effects. BATF is also proposing to prohibit any advertisements
that attribute health benefits to the consumption of alcohol beverages unless such statement
is appropriately qualified in a manner that is not likely to result in any consumer confusion
or deception. This notice seeks comments on whether the negative consequences of alcohol
consumption or abuse disqualify, as misleading, these products entirely from entitlement to
any health-related statements. This notice also seeks comments on whether health-relatedstatements on alcohol beverage labels and advertising directing consumers to sources, such
as the US Government Dietary Guidelines, of information are misleading and whether ATF
should continue to approve such statements.  The proposed regulations are intended to
ensure that labels and advertisements do not contain statements or claims that would tend to
mislead the consumer about the significant health consequences of alcohol consumption.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  64 FR 57413,
25 October 1999 (Available in English)G/SPS/N/USA/196
Page 2
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.
11. Final date for comments:  22 February 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Detailed instruction on where and how to send comments is in the body of the full text -
which will be sent upon request to the address in paragraph 12.
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
United States SPS Enquiry Point/Notification Authority
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
ATTN: Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov