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.
Global: FIVS London Meetings on 25-26 October 2023 – FIVS and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) are co-hosting a conference in London on 25 October 2023 that will feature experts addressing key environmental sustainability issues. Discussions will include “farm to fork” initiatives, efforts to mitigate carbon footprints, how the investment community views sustainability efforts, and innovations in packaging technologies. Internal FIVS sessions will be held the following day, focusing on FIVS’s work on topics such as health, nutrition, and ingredient labelling; fire impact; and the activities of key international organisations.
- This article notes that Wine Institute Vice President of Environmental Affairs Allison Jordan will serve on a panel addressing key issues for producers during the London meetings, and that Sonoma County Winegrowers President Karissa Kruse will lead a wrap-up discussion focusing on future directions for the industry.
- President of WineAmerica Jim Trezise wrote a piece in Perspectives, noting that “FIVS is a vital organization for the wine industry worldwide” and that the issues discussed in the London meetings “can have major implications for the business climate in the United States.”
Spain: FIVS represented at Lifestyle, Diet, Wine and Health Congress In Toledo – On 18-20 October 2023, Karen Geronimo, who manages FIVS’s social sustainability activities, attended the first session of the Lifestyle, Diet, Wine and Health Congress in Toledo, where leading experts presented the most recent scientific evidence on the consumption of alcohol and its effects within a healthy and balanced diet – agreeing that the consumption of wine in moderate quantities can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Australia – China: Chinese tariffs on Australian wines may soon end – China’s Ambassador to Australia has reportedly indicated that China expects “more positive outcomes in the coming likely weeks or months” regarding punitive Chinese tariffs on Australian wine. Australia’s Trade Minister may visit China in November, and Australia’s Prime Minister may visit China in December.
European Union – United States: EU tariffs on U.S. whiskey could double from 25% to 50% – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) President & CEO Chris Swonger notes that if EU-U.S. negotiators do not reach another agreement regarding the 25% retaliatory tariffs imposed by the European Union on American whiskey during the Trump Administration by 31 October 2023, those tariffs will double to 50 percent.
- A U.S.-EU Summit Joint Statement issued on 20 October 2023 indicated that substantial progress has been made during the past two years and that the negotiators “look forward to continuing to make progress on these important objectives in the next two months.”
United Kingdom: Government may allow no/low wine to be marketed as “wine” in 2024 – The UK government reportedly expects that it will change its legal definition of wine, lowering the minimum ABV to 0% for all types of wine in 2024, which would allow the marketing of no/low alcohol wines as “wine” in England. Wine and Spirit Trade Association Policy Director Simon Stannard observed that “further description” would be required to maintain the confidence of consumers.
Australia: Groups call for health warning labels on wine/beer – The Australian Medical Association (AMA), the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) have reportedly called on the Australian government to include health warning labels on wine bottles and beer bottles, cans, and casks, “warning of the risk of liver disease, cancer, heart disease, poor mental health, injury and alcohol poisoning.”
Global: IARD’s report/toolkit re prevention of underage drinking – The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) has launched this report, Actions to prevent underage drinking, and toolkit highlighting the actions that its members are taking to prevent underage drinking locally, nationally, and globally. Underage consumption of alcohol beverages has fallen or remained at the same levels since 2010 in 75% of 65 countries where data is available, and fallen in half of those countries.
United States: CBS News reports on direct association between alcohol and breast cancer risk – A Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center doctor featured in a CBS News story said that “hundreds of studies . . . show there’s a direct association between consumption of alcohol and breast cancer risk.” The story cites the American Cancer Society as advising that one drink per day increases the risk by 10% and three drinks per day increases the risk by 20 percent. The story also says the impact of alcohol consumption on younger women “when breast tissue is most sensitive to environmental exposures” may be the most harmful.
United States: California’s “Bottle Bill” will include wine and spirits containers as of 01 January 2024 – Effective on 01 January 2024, wine and spirits containers – including Tetra Pak, pouches, and bag-in-box – will apparently be added into California’s Beverage Container Recycling Program. Beginning on 01 July 2025, wine and spirts containers will be required to be labeled with California Redemption Value (CRV) indicia. However, wine and spirits containers filled and labeled by 01 January 2024 and containers used in tasting rooms will be exempt from CRV labeling requirements. Further information 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.