Portugal seizes 39,391 liters of wine over labeling violations

The Food and Economic Safety Authority in Portugal said on Tuesday that it seized more than 39,000 liters of wine during inspections carried out in recent weeks in the northern and central regions of the country, after finding labeling and traceability problems at several operators involved in production, bottling, storage and distribution.

The agency, known by its Portuguese acronym ASAE, said its regional units in the North and Center, working with specialized wine and wine-products brigades, inspected businesses in Lamego, Fafe, Maia, Lousada, Viseu and Tondela. The operations were aimed at checking compliance with rules governing the wine sector, including production conditions, storage and sales practices.

ASAE said inspectors seized 39,391 liters of red and white wine that had already been bottled and were ready to enter the market. The bottles carried labeling irregularities, including missing mandatory information. The agency also seized 600 labels that did not comply with the law.

According to ASAE, all of the operators inspected had labeling that failed to meet current legal requirements, especially those related to mandatory consumer information. The agency said it opened seven administrative offense cases during the inspections.

Among the main violations cited were the absence of product traceability, labeling irregularities, failure to register with the Douro and Porto Wine Institute, missing mandatory notifications to the competent authority, including the nutrition declaration and ingredient list, lack of prior notification of labels to the Vine and Wine Institute, and noncompliance with metrological rules for prepackaged goods.

ASAE said these legal failures undermine the integrity of the commercial chain, create unfair competition, limit the ability of official authorities to carry out controls and pose a risk to consumer protection.