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Common organisation of the market in wine

2005/0160(CNS)

PURPOSE : to make a certain number of technical amendments to Council Regulation 1493/1999/EC on the common organisation of the market in wine.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Regulation 2165/2005/EC amending Regulation 1493/1999/EC on the common organisation of the market in wine.

CONTENT : the Council adopted this Regulation amending Regulation 1493/1999/EC on the common organisation of the market in wine. The amendments made are mainly technical, pending a broader proposal on reforming the sector to be presented next year. The Regulation replaces the obligation to distil by-products of wine-making with the obligation to withdraw such by-products under supervision in the wine-producing areas of Slovenia and Slovakia.

It also amends Regulation 1493/1999/EC regarding the classification of the wine-growing areas in Poland as wine-growing zone A.

The Regulation authorises a number of oenological practices and processes which were authorised on an experimental basis in some Member States, under the conditions set out in Regulation 1622/2000/EC. The results obtained suggest that these practices and processes are beneficial to improving the management of wine production and the conservation of these products, whilst posing no health risks to consumers. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) has already authorised these experimental practices carried out in Member States. The Regulation adds the possible use of pieces of oak wood to the authorised oenological practices and processes; this practice is accepted by the OIV and permitted for several third countries in their wine agreements with the EU. A statement from the Commission notes that the conditions of use of this practice will be determined subsequently.

The Regulation extends, until the end of 2007, a derogation for certain sparkling wines so that they can be obtained by adding one or more wine-sector products which do not originate in the specified region whose name the wine bears.

Finally, the Regulation authorises the use of certain languages and specific wording in the labelling of wines.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 04/01/2006.