Brussels, 15/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - If the EU plans to allow “château” labels to be used on American wines marketed in the EU, then those wines must meet EU quality standards. This was a concern raised with the European Commission by several MEPs during the plenary session in Strasbourg on 6 February.
The EU management committee has still not had to vote on the Commission's proposal aimed at granting the United States the possibility of using the term “château” for wines exported to the European market. France is strongly opposed to any such concession being made (see EUROPE 10695).
The Commission acknowledges the need to specify the criteria to be met by American wines in order to warrant the “château” label, and it was on that point that it was quizzed by several MEPs. MEPs worry that granting a US request to allow American wines to be labelled “château” or “clos” on the EU market might allow them to take advantage of the centuries-old fame of European wines or distort competition. In the EU, the term "chateau" means that the wine was made from grapes grown in a single vineyard. In the US, the term may be used generically, as a marketing label.
During the debate, Astrid Lulling (EPP, Luxembourg) said it was necessary to make the Commission understand that the USA cannot make abusive use “ad vitam aeternam” of the “château” and “clos” labels on their wines sold to the EU. Never, she added, for whatever external trade policy reasons, can concessions be made to the United States to eternally misuse our designations and thus create distortion of competition to the detriment of European quality wines.
The use by the Americans of the “château” and “clos” labels jeopardises the whole of quality production in Europe, said Paolo de Castro (S&D, Italy), adding that one only has to look at what happened with the false Prosecco, Rioja and Champagne. He said EU wine production, that is the envy of the whole world, should be protected tooth and nail. He went on to ask the Commission to ensure that the market is more transparent on the basis of trade rules reciprocity. Nathalie Griesbeck (ALDE, France) gave a reminder of conflicts of this kind that have come up at the Commission: the Amflora potato, GMOs, and the production of rosé wine using white wine blended with red wine. The Commission is now suggesting that the Americans should be allowed to use the “château” and “clos” labels for identifying and marketing their wines, she said, recalling that the terms “château” for Bordeaux wine and “clos” for Burgundy wine are known throughout the world and are synonymous with the great European quality “Grand Cru” wines and superior wines that are Europe's heritage. Such an authorisation for the United States, said Griesbeck, would have heavy consequences without there being any identical reciprocal conditions for EU production. She underlined the risk that consumers would be misled or lured into buying other than what they had in mind. It is impossible to prohibit the Americans or the Chileans from using the terms “château” and “clos” but this must correspond to the reality, she said concluding that there must be a return to reason to prevent Europe's heritage from being thrown away.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, European Commissioner Algirdas Semeta assured MEPs that the Commission is very aware of the sensitive aspects and political consequences of the issue. He said on the subject of the wine agreement between the US and the EU that the American requests have received a response in line with European legislation. Of course, he explained, traditional designations are to be promoted but these are not intellectual property rights. It is a matter of precision at the brand level. That said, the Commission is still examining American requests. No decision has been reached; scrutiny of the American requests is ongoing and account will be taken of the interests of European wine producers and consumers when decisions finally are taken, Semeta said by way of conclusion. (LC/transl.jl)