Brussels, 21/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Dacian Cioloº, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, decided on 16 June to withdraw draft proposals aimed at bringing in new rules for the production of organic wine. This failure is largely due to the fact that it has been impossible to reach common ground on/ the sulphites content.
The aim of the Commission's proposal was to create a new “organic wine” concept, so far excluded from European legislation. For now, only wine processed from organic grapes has been marketed as “wine from grapes from organic cultivation”.
The draft has been under discussion for several months within the standing committee on organic foodstuffs - and in a number of bilateral meetings - but it has not been possible to find a credible compromise which respects organic standards.
Wishing to impose a limit on the content of sulphites, which is considerably lower than for traditional wines, the Commission has come up against opposition from a large number of member states. Only Italy from among the major producing countries seemed willing to accept the limits recommended by the European Commission: 100 milligrams (mg) per litre (l) for red wines and 150 mg/l for white wines, instead of 150 mg/l and 200 mg/l respectively for conventional wines.
“It is clear that conditions for such new rules are not right in a majority of member states. I am not willing to compromise on organic standards because it sends the wrong signal to consumers on the importance we attach to quality policy. Our hope would be that the industry and research can make progress, and the Commission can come back to these proposals in the future”, the European commissioner commented.
The draft proposals put forward a number of changes, for example: - a lower limit for sulphites than in conventional wine; - a smaller list of permitted additives and processing aids than in conventional wine; - and the non-authorisation of five oenological practices, as well as restriction on the use of three others. It should be noted that the rules for “wine produced from organic grapes” continue to apply.
COPA (European farmers) and COGECA (European agri-cooperatives)) have expressed their disappointment at the Commission's decision to withdraw its proposal on organic wine. It is urgent, these organisations say, to have Community legislation on organic wine in order to harmonise rule at European level and develop the market for this product, especially given the growing demand and the fact that there are already many private standards for wine production.
“We believe that the definition of organic wine should conform to the objective and general principles of organic agriculture, notably quality; respect of the environment and protection of human health. These concepts must apply to the whole process of organic wine production, from the vineyard to the bottle. The difference between organic and conventional wine cannot be limited to grape production”, COPA and COGECA say, going on to conclude: “Researchers, producers, member states and the Commission have worked for several years on the definition of rules for organic wine making and those efforts constitute an excellent base for a proposal. I consequently urge the Commission to come back to these proposals as soon as possible”.
The “Comité européen des enterprises vins” (CEEV), on the other hand, is pleased the proposal has been withdrawn. It takes the view that the proposal was “arbitrarily and excessively restrictive”. According to CEEV, if the regulation had been adopted “the wine 'filière' would not have been able to produce organic wine in good conditions and thus fulfil the consumers' needs both in terms of quality and quantity”. The regulation would have “hindered the smooth development of organic winegrowing in Europe, (…) yet bringing no true added value in terms of consumers' protection or public health and environment protection”, the CEEV goes on to say, underlining that oenological practice for organic wine must be identical to that for traditional wines. (L.C./transl.jl)