EU's New Wine Measures Spark Industry Concerns

The European Union's new measures on wine are causing concern in the industry. Christian Marchesini, president of the National Wine Federation of Confagricoltura, criticized the recent EU Commission document. He stated that the proposed changes to the 2021 Beating Cancer plan are worse than the previous version, which was already rejected by the European Parliament. The Commission is preparing measures affecting product accessibility, consumer information, and alcohol advertising regulations. They believe that alcohol taxation and health warnings on labels, including wine, can support health policy goals.

Marchesini expressed that the wine sector is already facing challenges like tariffs, declining consumption, and uncertainty about the future. He finds the proposed stricter measures unacceptable. He clarified that while they do not oppose the principles of the Beating Cancer plan, wine is more than just an alcoholic beverage. It is a cultural product linked to agricultural practices that enrich regions and is a key part of the Mediterranean diet, recognized as a UNESCO heritage.

Confagricoltura, along with the wine industry, is urging Italian Members of the European Parliament to bring discussions back to a scientific and pragmatic level. They argue that the document threatens a vital sector for both the Italian and European economies.