Notice2021-16115
Promoting Competition in the Beer, Wine, and Spirits Markets
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 28, 2021
Issuing agencies
Treasury Department
Abstract
The Department of the Treasury is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to solicit input regarding the current market structure and conditions of competition in the American markets for beer, wine, and spirits, including an assessment of any threats to competition and barriers to new entrants.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 142 (Wednesday, July 28, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40678-40679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16115]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
[Docket No. TTB-2021-0007; Notice No. 204]
Promoting Competition in the Beer, Wine, and Spirits Markets
AGENCY: Department of the Treasury; Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade
Bureau.
ACTION: Request for Information.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury is issuing this Request for
Information (RFI) to solicit input regarding the current market
structure and conditions of competition in the American markets for
beer, wine, and spirits, including an assessment of any threats to
competition and barriers to new entrants.
DATES: Responses should be received by August 18, 2021 to be assured of
complete consideration.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this proposal to the Department
of the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) by
using one of the following methods:
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: You may send comments via the online
comment form posted with this document within Docket No. TTB-2021-0007
on ``<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>,'' the Federal e-rulemaking portal, at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. A direct link to that docket is available under
Notice No. 204 on the TTB website at <a href="https://www.ttb.gov/laws-and-regulations/all-rulemaking">https://www.ttb.gov/laws-and-regulations/all-rulemaking</a>. You may attach supplemental files to
comments submitted via <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>.
U.S. Mail: You may send comments via postal mail to the Director,
Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade
Bureau, 1310 G Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005.
You may submit comments on this proposal as an individual or on
behalf of a business or other organization. Your comment must reference
Notice No. 204 and must be submitted or postmarked by the closing date
shown in the DATES section of this document.
[[Page 40679]]
Confidentiality and Disclosure of Comments
All submitted comments and attachments are part of the rulemaking
record and are subject to public disclosure. Do not enclose any
material in your comments that you consider confidential or that is
inappropriate for disclosure.
TTB will post, and you may view, copies of this document, its
supporting materials, and any comments TTB receives about this proposal
within the related <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> docket. In general, TTB will post
comments as submitted, and it will not redact any identifying or
contact information from the body of a comment or attachment.
Please contact TTB's Regulations and Rulings division by email
using the web form available at <a href="https://www.ttb.gov/contact-rrd">https://www.ttb.gov/contact-rrd</a>, or by
telephone at 202-453-2265, if you have any questions regarding comments
on this proposal or to request copies of this document, its supporting
materials, or the comments received in response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hoover, Regulations and
Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G
Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; 202-453-1039, ext. 135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 9, 2021, President Biden issued an
Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. E.O.
14036, 86 FR 36987 (July 14, 2021). Section 5(j) directed the Secretary
of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the
Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to submit a report within
120 days ``assessing the current market structure and conditions of
competition [for beer, wine, and spirits], including an assessment of
any threats to competition and barriers to new entrants.'' The report
is to include discussion of unlawful trade practices; patterns of
consolidation in production, distribution, or retail markets; and ``any
unnecessary trade practice regulations of matters such as bottle sizes,
permitting, or labeling that may unnecessarily inhibit competition.''
Further, Section 5(k) of the Order directs the Treasury Secretary,
through the Administrator of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade
Bureau (TTB), to consider within 240 days rulemaking updating TTB's
trade practice regulations, revising or rescinding any regulations that
``unnecessarily inhibit competition,'' and ``reducing any barriers that
impede market access for smaller and independent brewers, winemakers,
and distilleries.''
Consequently, to inform these efforts, we are seeking comment on
these topics from participants in the beer, wine, and spirits markets,
consumer groups, public interest groups, and interested private
parties.
Dated: July 23, 2021.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax, Trade, and Tariff Policy).
[FR Doc. 2021-16115 Filed 7-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P
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