US restrictions on Brunello di Montalcino will remain in place, the US Trade Bureau has said.
The US Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax, and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a statement clarifiying its position, following Italian agriculture minister Luca Zaia's announcement that the restrictions had been lifted.
'Contrary to numerous reports indicating that TTB will no longer require the Italian government certification for imports of Brunello di Montalcino, TTB, at the meeting with the Italian government representatives, emphasised the need to receive the prosecutors report as soon as it is available to assist in determining the future need for and scope of the certification process,' the statement said.
'At this time, the TTB continues to enforce the certification requirement and has no plans to lift this requirement.'
Art Resnick, the TTB's director of public and media affairs said 'we are indeed enforcing the certification and awaiting further information from the Italians to determine a future course of action.'
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