terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 OIV 9 OIV 2024 9 Orals - Economy and law 9 “Q & A” of the european commission for labeling and desalcoholization for wines: european wine “soft-law”?

“Q & A” of the european commission for labeling and desalcoholization for wines: european wine “soft-law”?

Abstract

Recently, the European Commission seems to have inaugurated a new mechanism for regulating the wine sector. Through two communications, articulated in the form of “Questions & Answers”, concerning the new rules for labeling (24.11.2023) and dealcoholization of wine (15.01.2024), the Commission is not simply “explaining” the new rules but, in an approach close to the theory of “Circulaire Normative” established in comparative law, chooses among different interpretations and even adds Praeter Legem constraints. The paper examines the content of these texts, a priori of low normativity, and considers that they reveal a new regulatory model which may seem prima facie adapted to the specificities of the European wine sector but which, in reality, challenges cardinal principles of European law, such as legal certainty, institutional balance, transparency, and even subsidiarity. Hence the need to limit this practice. Finally, the paper questions the articulation of such a soft-law practice with the resolutions of the OIV.

Les « questions & réponses » de la commission européenne en matière d’étiquetage et de désalcoolisation des vins : du « soft-law » vitivinicole européen ?

Récemment, la Commission Européenne semble avoir inauguré un mécanisme inédit de régulation du secteur vitivinicole. Par deux communications, articulées sous forme de « Questions & Réponses », concernant les nouvelles règles d’étiquetage (24.11.2023) et de désalcoolisation du vin (15.01.2024), la Commission ne se contente pas « d’expliquer » les nouvelles règles mais, dans une démarche qui rappelle la théorie de la « Circulaire Normative » connue en droit comparé, choisit parmi différentes interprétations et même ajoute des contraintes Praeter Legem. Le papier examine le contenu de ces textes, a priori de faible normativité, et considère que nous sommes devant un nouveau modèle de régulation qui semble Prima Facie adapté aux spécificités du secteur vitivinicole européen mais qui, en réalité, remet en question des principes cardinaux du droit européen, tels que la sécurité juridique, l’équilibre institutionnel, la transparence et même la subsidiarité. D’où le besoin de circonscrire cette pratique. Enfin, le papier s’interroge sur l’articulation d’une telle pratique de soft-law avec les résolutions de l’OIV.

Le “domande & risposte” della commissione europea su etichettatura e dealcolazione dei vini: della “soft-law” vitivinicolo europeo?
Recentemente, la Commissione Europea sembra aver inaugurato un nuovo meccanismo di regolamentazione del settore vitivinicolo. Attraverso due comunicazioni, articolate sotto forma di “Domande & Risposte”, riguardanti le nuove regole di etichettatura (24.11.2023) e dealcolazione del vino (15.01.2024), la Commissione non si accontenta di “spiegare” le nuove norme ma, in un approccio che ricorda la teoria della “Circolare Normativa” nota in diritto comparato, sceglie tra diverse interpretazioni e addirittura aggiunge vincoli Praeter Legem. Il contributo esamina il contenuto di questi testi, a priori poco normativi, e ritiene che siamo di fronte a un nuovo modello normativo che sembra Prima Facie adattato alle specificità del settore vitivinicolo europeo ma che, in realtà, chiama in causa i principi cardine del diritto europeo, quali la certezza del diritto, l’equilibrio istituzionale, la trasparenza e perfino la sussidiarietà. Da qui la necessità di limitare questa pratica. Infine, il documento mette in discussione l’articolazione di tale pratica di soft-law con le risoluzioni dell’OIV.
Publication date: November 18, 2024

Issue: OIV 2024

Type: Article

Authors

Théodore Georgopoulos¹

¹ Université de Reims, 32 Rue de Betheny, Reims, France

Contact the author*

Tags

IVES Conference Series | OIV | OIV 2024

Citation

Related articles…

Vitiforestry as innovative heritage. Adaptive conservation of historical wine-growing landscapes as response to XXI century’s challenges.

Traditional agricultural and agro-pastoral systems (prior to industrial revolution) often have the characteristic of being multiple systems, in which multiple crops are hosted simultaneously on the same plot. currently research suggests to study more in depth the potential of multiple agricultural systems in order to detect those characteristics of multiple agrarian systems that could allow modern viticulture to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change: rising temperatures with impacts on the phenological cycle of the vine, resurgence of plant deseases, extreme soil washout phenomena and hail storms, among others.

Read More

Process for partial or total dealcoholization of wine using a post-fermentation microbiological technique

The dealcoholized wine sector is experiencing strong market growth, driven by increasing consumer demand.

Read More

Assessment of antimicrobial effect of chitosan extracted from different sources against unwanted wine microorganisms

During wine production process high attention to the microbiological control from fermentation of the grape must to bottling is necessary. In fact, control of the indigenous microflora of the grape ensures correct fermentation activity of the inoculated starter, while control of the microorganisms in the finished wine is essential to prevent wine spoilage and to ensure the dominance of the desired bacteria when malolactic fermentation is required (Mas and Portillo, 2022).

Read More

Using unmanned aerial vehicle with multispectral camara to efficiently and precisely monitor the incidence of downy mildew and technical maturity of beibinghong (vitis amurensis Rpru.) grapes 

Multispectral unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been successfully applied in monitoring vine vegetative growth, however, there are still potential relationships between remote sensing vegetation indexes (vis) and vine condition or grape quality, so it is worthy a deeper investigation to make a better use of UAV. One of the purposes of the study is to find out vis that could denote the severity of downy mildew (DM), so that precise and differentiated control strategies would be adopted subsequently.

Read More

Oenological potential of wines and agronomical characterisation of grapes from five white resistant Italian varieties at Serra Gaúcha, Southern Brazil

Rio grande do sul is the main grape producing state in Brazil, with the largest wine-growing area, responsible by 90% of the national production of wines and grape juices. Serra Gaúcha is the main vitivinicultural region, where around 15% of the area is destined to produce wines from vitis vinifera L. grapes. This region presents high rainfall during the grape maturation cycle, a factor that leads to great risk of attacks by fungal pathogens. the use of resistant varieties can reduce the cost and quantity of spraying, improving wine quality, focusing on a sustainable vitiviniculture.

Read More