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Aromatised wine products: definition, description, presentation, labelling, and protection of geographical indications

2011/0231(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 609 votes to 72 with 4 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of aromatised wine products.

Parliament adopted its position in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of an agreement between Parliament and Council. They amend the proposal as follows:

Labelling: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers applies to the presentation and labelling of aromatised wine products, save as otherwise provided for in the Regulation.

Geographical indications: the definition is clarified. Geographical indications should be used to identify aromatised wine products as originating in the territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the aromatised wine product is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.

Classification of aromatised wine products: it is clarified that aromatised wine products are products obtained from products of the wine sector as referred to in Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 that have been flavoured. They are classified into the following categories: (a) aromatised wines, (b) aromatised wine-based drinks, (c) aromatised wine-product cocktails.

The amended text defines aromatised wine as a drink:

·        obtained from one or more of the grapevine products defined in point 5 of Part II of Annex II and in points 1 and 3 to 9 of Part II of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) No  1308/2013 , with the exception of 'Retsina' wine;

·        in which the grapevine products referred to in point (a) represent at least 75 % of the total volume;

·        to which alcohol may have been added;

·        to which colours may have been added;

·        to which grape must, partially fermented grape must or both may have been added;

·        which may have been sweetened;

·        which has an actual alcoholic strength by volume of not less than 4.5 % vol. and less than 14.5 % vol.

Sales denominations: with a view to facilitating consumers' understanding, it should be possible to supplement the sales denominations laid down in the Regulation with the customary name of the product within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.

Applications for the protection of names as geographical indications: to be eligible for a geographical indication protected under the Regulation a product shall comply with the corresponding product specification which shall include an indication of the main raw material from which the aromatised wine product is obtained.

Delegated acts: the Commission will be empowered to adopt delegated acts in respect of several matters and particularly concerning:

·        the establishment of production processes for obtaining aromatised wine products;

·        criteria for the demarcation of geographical areas and rules, restrictions and derogations related to production in such areas;

·        the conditions under which a product specification may include additional requirements;

·        the establishment of the conditions to be complied with in respect of an application for the protection of a geographical indication.

Implementing powers: in order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the Regulation, the Commission will have iimplementing powers regarding, inter alia:

  • the methods of analysis for determining the composition of aromatised wine products;
  • decisions on conferring protection on geographical indications and on rejecting applications for such protection;
  • decisions on cancelling the protection of geographical indications and of existing geographical designations;
  • decisions on approval of application for amendments in the case of minor amendments to the product specifications;
  • the information to be provided in the product specification with regard to the definition of geographical indication.