Brussels, 31/08/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has pointed out that the new agreement governing the wine trade between Australia and the European Union enters into force on Wednesday 1 September. The agreement, which replaces that signed in 1994, safeguards the EU's wine labelling regime (setting out the optional names that may be used for Australian wines and regulating the quality variety indication on labels) and gives full protection to EU geographical indications. As of 1 September 2011 (i.e. in one year from now), Australian producers will not be able to continue to use important EU names such as “Champagne”, “Port”, “Sherry” and other European geographical indications, along with some traditional expressions such as “Amontillado”, “Claret” and “Auslese”. The new agreement sets out conditions in which Australian wine producers may continue to use different terms relating to quality wines, such as “vintage”, “cream” and “tawny” to designate wines exported to Europe and sold on the internal market. The agreement had been signed on 1 December 2008. In 2009, wine exports to Australia from the EU were worth €68 million and those from Australia to the EU €643 million. (L.C./transl.jl)