FOR YOUR INFORMATION
We share below a number of recent developments. As always, we rely on FIVS Members to apprise us of noteworthy matters. Please contact the FIVS Secretariat with items that may be of interest.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
- Labelling
- Australia – Rejection of Mandatory Pregnancy Warning Labels: Government ministers responsible for food regulation have reportedly rejected a new mandatory pregnancy warning label released last February by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). The alcohol beverage industry has featured pregnancy warning labels on packaging there since 2011 and reportedly supports mandatory warnings, but opposed FSANZ’s warnings for a variety of reasons, including an impractical colour scheme. Some groups had strongly advocated for these and other requirements.
- Codex Alimentarius – FIVS Comments: On 31 March 2020, FIVS submitted the following comments to the Codex Alimentarius Commision’s Committee on Food Labelling regarding a discussion paper on the labelling of alcohol beverages (Discussion Paper CX/FL /19/45/10). Please contact the FIVS Secretariat if you have questions about this paper or would like to participate in the Codex Alimentarius Task Force.
- United States – TTB Issues a Final Ruling on Labelling: On 02 April 2020, the Alcohol Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published a final rule to address certain proposals included in Notice 176, Modernization of the Labelling and Advertising Regulations for Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages. The final rule is effective 30 days from date of publication in the Federal Register. The Distilled Spirits of the United States has kindly shared this brief analysis of the final regulations.
- Trade
- European Union – Circulation of Goods: The Commission recently released guidelines on health-related border management, in which it states that no additional certifications should be imposed on goods circulating legally within the EU single market. This position is reportedly based on the view of the European Food Safety Authority that there is no evidence that food is a source or a transmission source of Covid-19.
- Industry has urged the Commission to protect the free flow of agri-commodities within the EU.
- We also share this questionnaire which provides a detailed description of the situation in asking for relevant information.
- European Union & United Kingdom – A Partnership in Wine: As reported in this recent FIVS Alert, the Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) had planned to form a new committee to oversee a partnership to prevent the disruption of the wine trade in light of Brexit. The two associations have now formally agreed on a joint position on priorities for the partnership agreement. Those priorities will include zero tariffs on wine products, alignment of wine regulations, paperless and simplified trade procedures, protection of geographical indications and trademarks, and a functioning border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, among other measures.
- European Union – Circulation of Goods: The Commission recently released guidelines on health-related border management, in which it states that no additional certifications should be imposed on goods circulating legally within the EU single market. This position is reportedly based on the view of the European Food Safety Authority that there is no evidence that food is a source or a transmission source of Covid-19.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
- European Union – MRLs for Crop Protection: FIVS members can review upcoming changes to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) by the European Commission for crop protection substances. The reports are produced by Bryant Christie Inc. and supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and therefore only substances that are approved for use in the United States are covered. Nonetheless, this information gives wineries and vineyards around the world a view of significant upcoming changes and timelines.