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.
United States: Jamie Ferman joins Wine Institute – Jamie Ferman has joined Wine Institute as its Senior Director of International Public Policy, where she will focus on expanding export opportunities for wineries through the removal of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. She formerly served as Senior International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Commerce International Trade Administration. Since her move to Wine Institute, FIVS is delighted to report that Jamie has agreed to join Nicola Tinelli, who is Head of Institutional Affairs at Unione Italiana Vini, as co-chair of FIVS’s Economic Working Group!
United States: WineAmerica highlights FIVS’s work – New FIVS member WineAmerica has graciously highlighted the ongoing work at FIVS. In its current edition of Wine America Perspectives, President Jim Trezise commends FIVS for its practice of updating its members regularly on public policy developments around the world. And in its previous edition, he highlighted an editorial written by FIVS Head of Secretariat Bennett Caplan on the ways that FIVS is addressing major issues facing the industry, including climate change, trade barriers, and the recent shift in perspective at the World Health Organisation that there is “no safe level” of alcohol consumption.
Australia – China: The Australian Trade Minister is “extremely confident” about eventual removal of wine tariffs – After China recently indicated its intention to end China’s 80.5% tariffs on Australian barley. Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment reportedly said that he is “extremely confident” that China’s tariffs on Australian wine, which currently range from 116.2% to 218.4%, “would eventually be removed.”
France: Government reportedly postpones tax increase on alcohol beverages – The French government has reportedly postponed consideration of a new tax increase on alcohol beverages after 44 Parliamentarians warned the government that the increase “could jeopardize the competitiveness of our producers and harm the vitality of our wine-growing regions, some of which are already in crisis.” Current excise taxes on alcohol beverages are indexed to inflation but cannot exceed 1.75%, but the proposed change, similar to measures in place for tobacco, could lead to an increase of about 5% in 2024.
Global: WHO includes medications for alcohol use disorders in new EML – The World Health Organization (WHO) has included acamprosate and naltrexone, two medications used for the management of alcohol use disorders in adults, in their Model List of Essential Medicines (EML), which was published on 26 July 2023. The WHO indicated that its decision was driven by steps set out in the WHO’s Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-2030. Established in 1977 largely for developing countries, the WHO updates its model lists every two years to guide the decisions of countries about which medicines represent the best value for money, based on evidence and health impact.
South Africa: Stakeholders challenge Limpopo “midnight law” in court – The National Liquor Traders Association and other stakeholders are challenging the implementation of the Limpopo Liquor Act before the High Court in Polokwane. Nicknamed as the “midnight law,” the legislation banned the sale of alcohol beverages at midnight, beginning on 01 August 2023. The law also reportedly raised the cost of license renewals from R100 to approximately R600. Previously, the sale of alcohol beverages was permitted until 2 am.
United Kingdom: WSTA publishes guides to clear confusion re no/low alcohol – The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has published guides to address confusion surrounding alcohol beverages with less than 0.5% ABV. The publications offer guidance on marketing and labelling for these beverages. The WSTA reportedly advocates increasing current descriptors of alcohol-free beverages in the United Kingdom from 0.05% to 0.5%, which would provide consistency for trade with European markets.
United States: Study finds alcohol unlikely to increase risk of a breast cancer recurrence – A Kaiser Permanente study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, concluded that short-term alcohol consumption after a breast cancer diagnosis is not likely associated with an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence or death from breast cancer. Researchers studied the data of 4,504 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 2005 to 2013 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Breast cancer prevention guidelines recommend that women consume no more than one drink per day, because alcohol may raise estrogen and acetaldehyde levels, which reportedly are breast cancer risk factors. The study, published in Cancer, can be found here.
NOTE: We make no warranty of any kind regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information in these FIVS Alerts; nor do we necessarily support or agree with views expressed or contained therein.