WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99.551
5 November 1999
(99-4793)
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 (40)
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):   Alcohol Beverages
(HS Chapter 22)
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Health Claims and
Other Health-Related Statements in the Labelin g and Advertising of Alcohol Beverages (99R-
199P) (6 pages, English)
6. Description of content:   The Agency 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 asso ciated 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.  The Agency 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 no tice seeks comments on whether the negative
consequences of alcohol consumption or a buse disqualify, as misleading, these products
entirely from entitlement to any h ealth-related statements.  This notice also seeks comments
on whether health-related statements on alcohol  beverage labels and advertising directing
consumers to sources, such as the U.S. Government Dietary Guidelines, of information are
misleading and whether the Agency should continue to approve such statements.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
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.
8. Relevant documents:   64 FR 57413, 25 October 1999; 27 CFR Parts 4, 5, and 7.   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:   22 February 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           