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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 111/2

31 July 2006

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 291/2006

US : Major Food Allergen Labelling for Alcohol Beverages

The US Department of Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published in the Federal Register (FR) notice of 26 July 2006 an interim rule regarding voluntary labelling of major food allergens used in the production of alcohol beverage products subject to labelling requirements of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. In addition, the TTB also published a proposed rule that would make such major food allergen labelling mandatory. 

DETAILS

  1. The interim rule, effective 26 July 2006, parallels the amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act contained in the Food Allergen Labelling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004. Under this interim rule, producers, bottlers and importers of wines, distilled spirits and malt beverages may voluntarily declare the presence of milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans, as well as ingredients that contain protein derived from these foods, in their products. For those that choose to undertake such labelling, the rule sets forth mandatory rules on how to do so. The rule also contains procedures for petitioning for an exemption from the standards imposed on those who wish to make voluntary allergen standards on their product labels. Separately, the TTB also proposed to make the above major food allergen labelling mandatory. It is seeking public comments on the proposed mandatory requirements by 25 September 2006. 

  2. Because of the bulkiness of the rules, they are not appended to this circular. Interested parties may download the relevant FR notices at:

Interim Rule on Voluntary Labelling:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-11872.pdf

Proposed Rule on Mandatory Labelling:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-6467.pdf

Hardcopies of the above FR notices are also available in the Americas (Commercial Relations) Branch of the Department for reference. 

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5682.

Yours faithfully,

　

(Amanda Kwong)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry



Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.