European wineries complain to EC about Irish spirits labeling rule

The European Committee of Wine Companies (Comité Vins CEEV), an association to which the Spanish Wine Federation belongs, and the FEV itself have presented formal complaints this week to the European Commission to request that it open an infringement procedure against Ireland for going against EU legislation and the single market with its labeling standard for alcoholic beverages that includes, among others, the use of health warnings. The European winery sector supports the fight against alcohol abuse, they believe that this objective can be achieved with more effective and less trade restrictive measures that, moreover, should be compatible with current EU legislation. Both associations underline the clear incompatibility of the Irish labeling standard with the new legislation on the labeling of wine and aromatized wine products in matters relating to the indication of alcohol content and energy value. It also explains how the Irish rules are a disproportionate and unjustified ...