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Wines

Answer

The enforcement for wine sector regulations in the United Kingdom is carried out by the Food Standards Agency.Wines from other member states may be brought into the UK provided they comply with European Community (EC) regulations on winemaking. Naturally lower alcohol wines can be produced and sold in member states. However, Council Regulation 1493/1999 does not allow the reduction of alcohol in a wine. There is, however, provision for member states to allow experimental winemaking practices but any wines produced can only be sold in the member state of production.Wines from third countries imported into the EC are in general subject to the same rules on winemaking as wines produced in member states. The United States of America is one of a number of countries that has an agreement with the EC which allows wines from the USA which meet their domestic regulations to be imported into the EC. This agreement includes the use of alcohol reduction techniques.The agency favours a regime that recognises there is no threat to consumer health by using alcohol reduction processes. However a new category for reduced alcohol wines is required to be included in to EC regulations, to avoid misleading description and potential confusion with mainstream wines.The European Union wine regime is currently being reviewed and it is expected to introduce a fast track procedure for approval of novel wine making processes such as spinning cone and reverse osmosis which can reduce the alcohol content of wine.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

185800; 472 c819-20W

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Low alcohol drinks Wines

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk