Brussels, 03/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has informed Member States of the difficulties that it is experiencing in efforts to conclude an agreement on wine with US counterparts. During a meeting last Monday of the Special Agriculture Committee (SAC), the Commission's representative said that the conclusions for a new agreement was becoming increasingly difficult and that the US position had hardened since the progress made in October (EUROPE 25 October p 17).
The Commission presented two examples illustrating US intransigence:
The USA are now demanding that the Europeans agree to the oenological practice of adding 10% water into wine (they originally suggested 3%);
The US is refusing any agreement on the elimination of semi-generics that could undermine the so-called "Amato decree". The Americans are no longer committed to adopting legislation to protect denominations of origin for European products.
The Commission and the Presidency are currently discussing the provisional solution, which consists in extending the current provisions on labelling and certification (which expire at the end of the year) until a definitive agreement is reached.