EU approves organic label for wine

Decision will allow EU producers to compete on even-footing with New World winemakers.

Wine producers in the EU will be able to label their products as “organic wine” following a decision adopted today (8 February) by the European Commission’s committee on organic farming.

Previously only grapes could be defined as organic, forcing wine producers to label their wines as “wine made from organic grapes.” This put them at a disadvantage, they said, because competitors in the United States, Chile, Australia and South Africa could label their wine as organic.

“These rules will boost the development of the market for organic wines,” said Uwe Hofman, a member of the IFOAM organic farmers group. “The new rules are a good compromise, even if the level of sulphites reduction will be a challenge for organic wine producers in some EU countries from Central Europe.”

Wine is the one remaining sector not covered by the EU organic farming standards agreed in 2007. Agreement had been held up over concerns that the strict requirement for sulphite content would be difficult for some growers.

The new rules will take effect once the decision has been published in the EU’s official journal.

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