This document discusses recent developments in wine and spirits labelling in the EU to provide more information to consumers. Over the last 3 years, the Commission has pushed for mandatory labelling rules after self-regulation proposals from the alcohol industry. Both the wine and spirits sectors initially resisted changes but have accepted that rules will be implemented. The Commission supports listing calories and ingredients off-label. Changes will take effect between 2020-2022 as negotiations are ongoing and timing depends on the CAP reform process and implementation schedules agreed upon in memorandums of understanding.

1. João ONOFRE
Head of Unit G.2 "Wine, Spirits and Horticultural products"
European Commission – Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development –
Wine labelling – Right to
know !

2. 2
Outline
• #RightToKnow
• Developments over the last 3 Years
• Where are we today ?
• Timing for changes

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#RIGHTTOKNOW
The EU Commission supports the consumers’
right to know the contents of alcoholic beverage
they drink.
For almost 40 years, the alcohol sector was
exempted from basic consumer information
obligations
Bottomline : There is no longer any reason to
treat alcoholic drinks differently from any
other foodstuff !

4. 4
WHAT CHANGED IN THE LAST 3 YEARS ?
• Driver for change – March 2017 Commission report
• The alcohol industry was granted 1 year to propose Self-
regulation
• Too ambitious for some; too shy for others !
• But it was the right step !
• For almost 40 years, the alcohol sector was exempted from
consumer information obligations
• Process needs to be gradual

5. 5
REACTION OF THE WINE SECTOR
• First step – RESISTANCE
• Initially divided and opposed to change
• ‘Wine consumers are connaisseurs, they value vintage,
varieties, GI’s, terroir, but not nutrition/ingredients’
• This is just one part of the story. What about the others ?
• Economic arguments: small scale, unstandardized product,
additional costs

6. 6
REACTION OF THE WINE SECTOR
• Next step – ACCEPTANCE/DRIVING CHANGE
• Wine industry realised that ‘it’ was happening, better
participate in the process than staying out
• Risk of fragmentation of the internal market, via national
laws and mixes of consumer information and health claims
• Wine sector move up one gear – they accept it and wish
mandatory rules.
• European Commission’s instrumental in changing
mentalities

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WHERE ARE WE TODAY ?
• CAP reform proposals – 1 June 2018
• ‘Mini-wine package’ but NO proposals on wine
labelling
• Both Council and EP introduced amendments on
wine labelling
• General principle: calories on label/ingredients off-
label
• It includes a delegation to the Commission to
adopt detailed rules in secondary legislation

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REACTION OF THE SPIRITS SECTOR
• First step – NOT OPPOSED IN PRINCIPLE BUT
INSISTING ON SECTOR-TAILORED RULES
• Obligation to display nutrition information per 100ml
unfair: all serving sizes have the same amount of alcohol
• Ingredients are obvious as they are determined by the EU
legislat ion for each category of spirit drinks
• Eventually – Acceptance of info per 100ml + CALORIES
on label (INGREDIENTS off-label on an online platform)
• Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2019

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COMMISSION’S POSITION
• Nutritional values: we are satisfied that producers
have agreed to put at least calories on label, as wine
and spirits only contain alcohol and, possibly, sugars
• Ingredients: We will work, together with stakeholders
on detailed rules in secondary legislation ensuring
the same level of information for consumers

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OFF-LINE LABELLING
• Currently an exemption for wine and spirits, this initiative
should be seen as paving the way for other foodstuffs to
follow suit.
• The work currently undertaken by the alcohol industry can be
held as a model example :
• More flexible and cost-effective for producers
• More complete information for consumers (multi-
linguism and provision of additional elements)
• More easily readable (no need of smartphones)

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WHEN WILL CONSUMERS SEE CHANGES ?
• WINE: Timing – linked to CAP reform process
• Negotiation positions of both Council and EP NOT
YET adopted
• New EP and New Commission, Brexit, MFF
• Earliest possible timing – 1 January 2022
• SPIRITS: MoU rollout schedule: 2020-2022 (aiming
at covering 66% of all products by 31/12/2022)

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We are in the middle of the road
The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door
The Beatles