Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
M. LABELLING OF WINE AND INDICATIONS OF ORIGIN
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Prior to 2008 the regulation of wine labelling was largely left to EU Member
States. This regime was replaced by Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008
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('the Wine Regulation') which repealed and replaced the earlier legislation.
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Recital (39) of the Wine Regulation explains that 'the description, designation
and presentation of products covered by this Regulation can have significant
effects on their marketability' and that, consequently, differences between the
laws of the Member States on the labelling of wine products may impede
the smooth functioning of the internal market. Recital (40) takes this as the
justification for laying down Community rules 'which take into account the
legitimate interests of consumers and producers'.
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Recital (41) proposes that these rules should provide for the obligatory use of
certain terms 'so as to identify the product in accordance with the sales
categories and provide consumers with certain important items of information'.
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Recital (42) proposes that the labelling rules in the wine sector should, in the
main, be complementary to those laid down in Directive 2000/13/EC of 20
March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs.
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Because experience had shown that a differentiation in terms of labelling rules
according to the category of wine product was often not expedient, Recital (42)
recommends that the rules should in principle apply to all the different
categories of wine, including imported products. 'In particular, they should
allow the indication of a wine grape variety and a vintage on wines without a
designation of origin or a geographical indication, subject to requirements and
exceptions concerning the veracity of the labelling and the respective mon-
itoring as well as the risk of confusion of consumers.'
1. Legislation
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Explaining the repeal of existing labelling legislation by the Wine Regulation, it
was explained in Recital (42) to the Wine Regulation that experience had
shown that different terms of labelling rules across Member States, according to
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Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 of 29 April 2008 on the common organisation of the market in wine,
amending Regulations (EC) No 1493/1999, (EC) No 1782/2003, (EC) No 1290/2005, (EC) No 3/2008 and
repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2392/86 and (EC) No 1493/1999.
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Ie Regulations (EEC) No 2392/86 and (EC) No 1493/1999.
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OJ L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2007/68/EC (OJ L 310,
28.11.2007, p. 11).
