Amending Regulations on agricultural products as regards market rules and sectoral support measures in the wine sector and for aromatised wine products

The European Parliament adopted by 625 votes to 15, with 11 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) No 251/2014 as regards certain market rules and sectoral support measures in the wine sector and for aromatised wine products.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading by amending the proposal as follows:

More funding for wine producers

Winegrowers will receive additional assistance in the event of serious natural disasters, extreme weather conditions or outbreaks of plant diseases.

The text also provides for the use of European funds for grubbing-up premiums. EU financial aid for definitive grubbing-up must not exceed 70% of the sum of the direct costs associated with carrying out the grubbing-up and the estimated loss of revenue for one year of the grubbed-up area. In addition, Member States may provide for a national contribution to the intervention of up to 30% of the sum of the direct costs associated with carrying out the grubbing-up and the estimated loss of revenue for one year in respect of the grubbed-up area.

The national payment ceiling for wine distillation and green harvesting will be set at 25% of the total funds available per Member State.

To ensure adequate support for winegrowers in relation to the adaptation to climate change, Member States may increase the maximum Union financial assistance to up to 80 % of the actual costs of restructuring and conversion of vineyards if the intervention pursues that objective.

Vine planting authorization system

The vine planting authorisation scheme applies from 1 January 2016, with the Commission conducting reviews in 2028 and every ten years to evaluate the functioning of the scheme and, where appropriate, to present proposals.

With natural disasters, severe meteorological events and plant disease outbreaks becoming more frequent, Member States should be given the possibility to extend by up to twelve months the validity of planting authorisations granted for the region affected and due to expire by the end of the marketing year concerned. Holders of such planting authorisations should have the possibility to renounce their authorisations without incurring administrative penalties where they inform the competent authorities of the Member State that they do not wish to make use of their authorisations within the extended deadline.

When exceptional circumstances lead to unforeseen practical difficulties for winegrowers, preventing them from planting new vineyards, the competent authorities of the Member States should be allowed to waive the administrative penalties for the non-use of a planting authorisation upon a justified request from the winegrower concerned.

Member States may require that abandoned vineyards be grubbed up for sanitary and phytosanitary reasons.

Eligibility and priority criteria

When granting vine planting authorisations, Member States should be able to use objective, non-discriminatory eligibility and priority criteria that result in preference being given to vineyards that contribute to improving products with geographical indications or their quality.

Replanting

In order to avoid aggravating the risk of oversupply in regions where a Member State has opted to limit the granting of new planting authorisations, the Member State should be able to set eligibility conditions for the granting of new planting authorisations to avoid excessive yields in the new vineyards planted in the regions concerned.

Wine tourism

In order to support the development of direct sales to tourists in producing regions, the amended text specifies that wine tourism must be the object of investments in marketing structures and tools.

Export promotion

Measures supporting information, promotion and communication activities may benefit from European funding of up to 60%, while Member States may add up to 30% for small and medium-sized enterprises and 20% for large enterprises.

To adapt to market trends and harness efficient market opportunities, the duration of the support for promotion and communication operations carried out in third countries should be three years, renewable twice for a period of three years at each extension, i.e. a maximum duration of nine consecutive years.

In addition, Member States should facilitate the access of small producers to support that is available under the promotion and communication type of intervention, by providing them with a simplified application procedure or by applying objective and non-discriminatory priority criteria concerning new beneficiaries, new markets and new products.

Clear labels for alcohol free and reduced alcohol wines

The regulation amends the rules on the labelling of wine products to better inform the consumer of the characteristics of grapevine products with a reduced alcohol content, while retaining the obligation to provide information on the use of de-alcoholisation.

To clarify the rules on de-alcoholised wines, the term “alcohol-free” accompanied by the expression “0.0%” will be able to be used if the strength of the product does not exceed 0.05% alcohol-by-volume. Products the strength of which is above 0.5% volume but at the same time are already at least 30% lower than the standard alcoholic strength of the category of wine before de-alcoholisation, should be labelled as “alcohol reduced”.

It is specified that compulsory particulars should be required to be displayed on any given packaging only once.

To facilitate exports, wine intended for export should be exempt from the EU's labelling requirements.