During the meeting in Toronto, the WWTG member governments signed the World Wine Trade Group Mutual Acceptance Agreement on Oenological Practices. The full text of the agreement can be found on the Official Website of the MAA. The text of the agreement is available in English, Spanish and French.

Labeling As a Technical Barrier To Trade

Considering the potential for labeling issues to become technical barriers to trade and the introduction of new requirements by the EU covering labeling, traditional expressions and other trade dress issues, the members of the Wine Trade Group urge their Governments to be vigilant in monitoring legislative developments in non-MAA countries (whether relating to wine labeling or otherwise) that are likely to restrict wine market access or otherwise impede international trade in wine and to take appropriate action including (but not necessarily limited to) reference to the Technical Barriers to Trade Committee of the WTO.

World Trade Organization

Considering that trade ministers were successful in Doha, Qatar in launching a comprehensive round of trade liberalization negotiations,

Considering that our wine industries and consumers have generally benefited from reductions to date in tariff and non-tariff barriers under previous GATT and WTO negotiations,

Considering that the removal of wine trade barriers has not been a priority in official previous multilateral negotiations,

Considering that the Doha Declaration launching of this new round provides for commencing negotiations early in the New Year,

The industry members of the Wine Trade Group request their governments to encourage WTO members to make a priority: substantial improvements in market access; reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support, and specifically to:

1) reduce import duties on wine to a level that will maximize meaningful market access and minimize trade distortions, particularly in the non-wine producing countries;
2) eliminate grape growing and wine production subsidies that distort trade or otherwise give a competitive advantage to the producer; eliminate export subsidies in all of their forms;
3) ensure compliance with existing obligations of WTO members to the agreement on TBT, SPS, and TRIPS;
4) ensure that Article 23 of the TRIPS agreement, together with other TRIPS provisions referencing wine and spirits, is not opened to re-negotiation; and,
5) ensure that any "multilateral system of notification and registration of geographical indications" under TRIPS Article 23.4 is voluntary, and without binding legal effect.

Codex Alimentarius Commission

Considering that the Codex Alimentarius Commission has established that the use of food additives is justified only:

• When such use has an advantage.
• Does not present a hazard to consumer health.
• Does not mislead consumers.

Recognizing that the technological need for additives may differ from one country to another.

Members of the Wine Trade Group recommend to their respective governments that they adopt the following policy with respect to approval of additives within the Codex Alimentarius Commission:

• That the maximum levels of food additives stated in the General Standard of Food Additives should be based on Good Manufacturing Practice.
• In the case of additives which are subject to an acceptable daily intake, the maximum level should reflect such intake considerations.

Statement #4 (not to be distributed to government)

Labeling

Considering the mandated discussion on labeling within the text of the MAA,

Considering previous EU labeling proposals, notably 881/98,

Considering draft new EU labeling proposals, specifically:

Those regarding restrictions on use of varietal, geographic and other terms and the use of certain bottle shapes.

Considering that the Wine Trade Group has previously resolved that,

Rules on labeling should not be a de facto way of restricting member countries use of oenological practices which have no health and safety or consumer deception implications.

The Wine Trade Group reiterates that labeling issues are of vital interest to it as potential technical barriers to trade and,

Agrees to continue to discuss and consider the use of varietal, geographic and other descriptive terms and rules of trade dress, with a view to eliminating practices that constitute technical barriers to trade between members of the group and with other countries.

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