Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 4/26/2006

**GAIN Report Number:** E36067

E36067

**EU-25**

**Wine**

**EU Wine Labeling Requirements**

**2006**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Norval E. Francis, Jr.

U.S. Mission to the EU

**Prepared by:**

Hilde Brans

**Report Highlights:**

This report gives an overview of the mandatory information required on
wine labels in the EU and of the wine labeling protocol agreed under the
US-EU Wine Agreement.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Brussels USEU \[BE2\]

\[E3\]

**EU Wine Labeling Requirements**

**Legal Basis**

Wine labeling rules are laid down in Annex VII to [Council Regulation
1493/1999](http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/consleg/1999/R/01999R1493-20040501-en.pdf),
the EU's basic wine regulation. [Commission Regulation
753/2002](http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/consleg/2002/R/02002R0753-20050901-en.pdf)
lays down rules for applying the provisions contained in regulation
1493/1999, which relate to the description, designation, presentation
and protection of certain wine sector products.

Compulsory information must appear on the front label of the bottle in
easily readable, indelible characters, grouped in the same visual field,
clearly distinguishable from all other written or graphic content of the
labeling. Exceptions to this rule apply to the importer's details, lot
mark and allergenic ingredients, which may appear on the back label.
Minimum font sizes are defined for the indication of the actual
alcoholic strength and the nominal volume.

This report gives an overview of the mandatory information required on
wine labels. Regulation 753/2002 and the US-EU Wine Agreement (see US-EU
Wine Agreement section of this report) lay down conditions for
supplementing the mandatory information with optional information.

**Mandatory Wine Labeling Requirements**

(Grape wines other than sparkling wine or aerated sparkling wine)

**For third country wines, with no geographical indication, the
following information must appear on the label:**

\- The word "wine" supplemented by the name of the country of origin

\- Actual alcoholic strength expressed in whole or half unit formats

\- Nominal volume

\- Lot number (in accordance with Council Directive 89/396/EEC)

\- Importer or bottler: "Importer" or "Imported by" (for bottled wines)
or "Bottler" or "Bottled by" (when bottling took place in the EU)
followed by the name, local administrative area and member state where
the importer of bottler is established.

\- "Contains sulphites" or "Contains sulphur dioxide" (allergenic
ingredients)

Not allowed on this type of wine are the indication of the vine variety
and the vintage year.

**For third country wine, with a geographical indication, the mandatory
labeling requirements are:**

\- The word "wine" supplemented by the name of the country of origin

\- The geographical area

\- Actual alcoholic strength expressed in whole or half unit formats

\- Nominal volume

\- Lot number (in accordance with Council Directive 89/396/EEC)

\- Importer or bottler: "Importer" or "Imported by" (for bottled wines)
or "Bottler" or "Bottled by" (when bottling took place in the EU)
followed by the name, local administrative area and member state where
the importer of bottler is established.

\- "Contains sulphites" or "Contains sulphur dioxide" (allergenic
ingredients)

**Prohibited Information on Third Country Wine Labels**

\- "Table Wine": this term can only be used on wines produced in the EU

\- Traditional expressions that are reserved to EU wines (e.g. "Premier
cru")

\- Geographical indications that the EU considers proprietary (e.g.
"Champagne")

\- Any reference in descriptive text to EU quality wines

The term "organic wine" is not allowed in the EU, only the expression
"Wine made from organic grapes" may be put on wine labels.

**Country of Origin**

"United States of America" or "USA" is acceptable.

**Actual Alcoholic Strength**

The actual alcoholic strength must be declared in percentage units or
half-units, i.e. either as "X% vol." or "X.5% vol.". For example, a wine
with an actual alcohol content of 13.2% may be labeled as either 13% or
13.5%. The percentage may be preceded by "actual alcoholic strength",
"actual alcohol" or "alc.". The most commonly used format in the EU is
"Alc. X% Vol.". The minimum height of the characters used for indicating
the actual alcoholic strength should be as follows:

\- 5 mm - if the nominal volume is over 100 cl

\- 3 mm - if the nominal volume is equal to or less than 100 cl but more
than 20 cl

\- 2 mm - if the nominal volume is 20 cl or less

**Nominal Volume**

The nominal quantity must be expressed in liters, centiliters or
milliliters and marked in characters of minimum:

\- 6 mm - if the nominal quantity exceeds 100 cl

\- 4 mm - if the nominal quantity is equal or less than 100 cl but more
than 20 cl

\- 3 mm - if the nominal quantity is equal or less than 20 cl but more
than 5 cl

\- 2 mm - if the nominal quantity is less than 5 cl

**Lot Marking**

Wines that are put on the EU market must bear a "lot mark" to identify
the lot or batch to which the wine belongs. "Lot" in the wine sector
means a quantity of wine that has been produced and/or bottled under
nearly identical conditions. The lot mark can be composed of alpha
and/or numeric characters and must be preceded by the letter "L" except
in cases where it is clearly distinguishable from the other indications
on the label. The lot mark can appear anywhere on the bottle, except the
cork.

**Allergenic Ingredients**

Alcoholic beverages containing sulphur dioxide and sulphites at
concentrations of more than 10 mg/liter must be labeled "contains
sulphites" or "contains sulphur dioxide". Replacing the word "sulphites"
by "SO~2~" or the E-number (E220) is not allowed. The list of authorized
languages for allergen labeling can be consulted in [GAIN report E36066
"Allergen Labeling on Wine -- Authorized
Languages"](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200604/146187522.pdf).

**\
**

**Wine Agreement Between the U.S. and the EU**

On March 10, 2006, the U.S. and the EU signed the "[Agreement between
the United States and the European Community on Trade in
Wine](http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_087/l_08720060324en00020074.pdf)".
This Agreement is the first phase and while it addresses a number of
issues between the EU and the U.S., other important issues such as
geographical indications will be addressed in the second phase (expected
Mid June 2006). The Agreement covers wines with an actual alcohol
content of not less than 7% and not more than 22%. Labeling issues are
addressed in the "Protocol on Wine Labeling" of the Agreement. Major
labeling provisions for U.S. wines include:

\- The use of certain regulated terms referred to as "traditional
expressions" on U.S. wines exported to the EU (Appendix I of the
Agreement)

\- EU recognition of U.S. names of viticultural significance as names of
origin (Annex V to the Agreement)

\- Defining parameters for including optional information on U.S. wine
labels

**Traditional Expressions**

The "traditional expressions" that the U.S. will be allowed to use under
specified conditions are: Chateau, classic, clos, cream,
crusted/crusting, fine, late bottled vintage, noble, ruby, superior, sur
lie, tawny, vintage and vintage character. These terms may only be used
if they have been approved for use on wine labels in the U.S. on a
Certificate of Label Approval (COLA).

**Names of Origin**

Names of "viticultural significance" listed in Annex V to the Agreement
may only be used as U.S. names of origin on wines of the origin
indicated by such name. U.S. wine may be labeled with a state or county
name of origin listed in Parts B and C of Annex V, provided that at
least 75 % of the wine concerned is made from grapes harvested in the
named place.

**Optional Labeling Information**

All optional information on wine labels must be used in conformity with
Part 4 of Title 27 of the US Code of Federal Regulations, as amended,
and may not include terms that are the same as names of origin protected
in the EU as listed in Annex IV of the Agreement.

Optional particulars that may only be used on U.S. wines that bear a
name of origin listed in Annex V are:

\- A vintage year

\- One or more vine variety names

\- A bottling location

\- An award, medal or other reference to a competition

\- A name of a vineyard

\- A term listed in point 1 of Appendix I

\- An indication concerning the production method, subject to Appendix
II

The term "Estate Bottled" may only be used on wines that bear a name of
origin listed in Annex V, Part A of the Agreement.

Wines with or without a name of origin may use the following optional
particulars:

\- The type of product specified in Appendix III of the Agreement (e.g.
dry, medium dry)

\- A name, title and address of a legal or natural person that took part
in the marketing of the wine

\- A specific color. Specific color does not refer to "rosé/pink", "red"
or "white" in English or in translations and applies to all other
colors.

Vine variety names that may be used as optional particulars are listed
in Appendix IV to the Agreement. A single variety may be indicated
provided that 75 % of the wine is derived from grapes of that variety
and that it determines the character of the wine in accordance with U.S.
rules and practices. The names of two or more vine varieties may be
indicated on the label, provided that 100 % of the grapes used are of
the varieties indicated, although four or more vine variety names may
only be mentioned on the back label.

**Referenced legislation:**

\- US-EU Wine Agreement:
<http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Fact_Sheets/2005/asset_upload_file917_8030.pdf>

or

<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_087/l_08720060324en00020074.pdf>

\- Council Regulation 1493/1999 -- Common Organization of the Market in
Wine

<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/consleg/1999/R/01999R1493-20040501-en.pdf>

\- Commission Regulation 753/2002 -- laying down rules for the applying
Council Regulation 1493/1999 as regards the description, designation,
presentation and protection of certain wine sector products

<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/consleg/2002/R/02002R0753-20050901-en.pdf>

\- Commission Regulation -- allergen labeling

<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2004/l_344/l_34420041120en00090010.pdf>

\- Council Directive 89/396/EEC -- on indications or marks identifying
the lot to which a foodstuff belongs

<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/consleg/1989/L/01989L0396-19920311-en.pdf>

\- Council Directive 75/106/EEC -- on the approximation of the laws of
the member states relating to the making-up by volume of certain
prepackaged liquids

<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/consleg/1975/L/01975L0106-20040501-en.pdf>

Source(s):

\- European Commission

\- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

\- U.S. Trade Representative

\- U.K. Wine Standards Board

**Visit our website:** our website
**[http://useu.usmission.gov/agri/]{.underline}** provides a broad range
of useful information on EU import rules and food laws and allows easy
access to USEU reports, trade information and other practical
information. Information on EU labeling requirements can be found at
<http://useu.usmission.gov/agri/label.html>; information on the US-EU
Wine Agreement can be found at
<http://useu.usmission.gov/agri/wine.html>. E-mail:
AgUSEUBrussels@usda.gov

**Related reports from USEU Brussels:**

  ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------
  **Report Number**                                                  **Title**                            **Date Released**

  [E36066](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200604/146187522.pdf)   Allergen Labeling on Wine --         4/19/2006
                                                                     Authorized Languages                 

  [E34093](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200411/146118163.pdf)   Allergen Labeling on Wine            11/29/2004

  [E35162](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200508/146130611.pdf)   Food & Agricultural Import           8/18/2005
                                                                     Regulations and Standards            

  [UK6005](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200602/146176878.pdf)   Wine - U.K. - Marketing Annual       2/5/2006
                                                                     Report                               

  [FR6011](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200602/146176847.pdf)   Wine - France -- Annual Report       2/15/2006

  [SP6006](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200602/146176796.pdf)   Wine -- Spain -- Annual Report       2/8/2006

  [IT6005](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200601/146176627.pdf)   Wine -- Italy -- Annual Report       1/24/2006

  [SW6001](http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200601/146176612.pdf)   Wine -- Sweden -- Annual Report      1/23/2006

  These reports can be accessed through our website                                                       
  <http://useu.usmission.gov/agri> or through the FAS website                                             
  <http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp>.                                              
  ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------