# L_2015099EN.01002101.xml

| 16.4.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 99/21 |
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16.4.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 99/21

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COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/596

of 15 April 2015

amending Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 as regards the increase in the maximum total sulphur dioxide content where the climate conditions make this necessary

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (1), and in particular Article 91 point (c) thereof,

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Whereas:

| (1) | Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 (2) sets out the maximum permissible total sulphur dioxide content of wine. Point A(4) of Annex I B provides that the Commission may decide that Member States concerned may authorise an increase of a maximum of 50 milligrams per litre in the maximum total sulphur dioxide levels of less than 300 milligrams per litre, where climate conditions make this necessary. |
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(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 (2) sets out the maximum permissible total sulphur dioxide content of wine. Point A(4) of Annex I B provides that the Commission may decide that Member States concerned may authorise an increase of a maximum of 50 milligrams per litre in the maximum total sulphur dioxide levels of less than 300 milligrams per litre, where climate conditions make this necessary.

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| (2) | On 1 December 2014, the competent German authorities sent an official request to increase the maximum permissible total sulphur dioxide content of wine of less than 300 milligrams per litre by a maximum of 50 milligrams per litre for wine produced from grapes harvested in 2014 in the wine-growing areas of the German Länder ‘Baden-Württemberg’, ‘Bavaria’, ‘Hessen’ and ‘Rhineland Palatinate’. |
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(2)

On 1 December 2014, the competent German authorities sent an official request to increase the maximum permissible total sulphur dioxide content of wine of less than 300 milligrams per litre by a maximum of 50 milligrams per litre for wine produced from grapes harvested in 2014 in the wine-growing areas of the German Länder ‘Baden-Württemberg’, ‘Bavaria’, ‘Hessen’ and ‘Rhineland Palatinate’.

| (3) | The technical note provided by the competent German authorities indicates that the climate conditions, in particular a warm and humid weather during harvest, have fostered the development of pests producing pyruvate, acetaldehyde and alpha-ketoglutaric acid. These substances bind to sulphur dioxide and reduce its preservative action. Therefore, the total quantities of sulphur dioxide needed to ensure the proper vinification and proper preservation are higher in wine produced from those grapes. The temporary authorisation referred to in Point A(4) of Annex I B to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 is therefore the only available option to allow the grapes affected by these unfavourable weather conditions to be used to produce wine suitable for placing on the market. |
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(3)

The technical note provided by the competent German authorities indicates that the climate conditions, in particular a warm and humid weather during harvest, have fostered the development of pests producing pyruvate, acetaldehyde and alpha-ketoglutaric acid. These substances bind to sulphur dioxide and reduce its preservative action. Therefore, the total quantities of sulphur dioxide needed to ensure the proper vinification and proper preservation are higher in wine produced from those grapes. The temporary authorisation referred to in Point A(4) of Annex I B to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 is therefore the only available option to allow the grapes affected by these unfavourable weather conditions to be used to produce wine suitable for placing on the market.

| (4) | Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly. |
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(4)

Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.

| (5) | The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets, |
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(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Appendix 1 of Annex I B to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Official Journal of the European Union

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 15 April 2015.

For the Commission

The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER

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(1)  OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671.

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(2)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 of 10 July 2009 laying down certain detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards the categories of grapevine products, oenological practices and the applicable restrictions (OJ L 193, 24.7.2009, p. 1).

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ANNEX

‘Appendix I

Increase in the maximum total sulphur dioxide content where the climate conditions make this necessary

| | Year | Member State | Wine-growing areas | Wines concerned |
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| 1. | 2000 | Germany | All wine-growing areas of Germany | All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2000 |
| 2. | 2006 | Germany | The wine-growing areas in the regions of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hessen and Rhineland Palatinate | All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2006 |
| 3. | 2006 | France | The wine-growing areas in the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin | All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2006 |
| 4. | 2013 | Germany | The wine-growing areas of the demarcated area of the protected designation of origin “Mosel” and of the protected geographical indications “Landwein der Mosel”, “Landwein der Ruwer”, “Landwein der Saar” and “Saarländischer Landwein” | All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2013 |
| 5. | 2014 | Germany | The wine-growing areas of the Länder “Baden-Württemberg”, “Bavaria”, “Hessen” and “Rhineland Palatinate” | All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2014’ |

Year

Member State

Wine-growing areas

Wines concerned

1.

2000

Germany

All wine-growing areas of Germany

All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2000

2.

2006

Germany

The wine-growing areas in the regions of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hessen and Rhineland Palatinate

All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2006

3.

2006

France

The wine-growing areas in the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin

All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2006

4.

2013

Germany

The wine-growing areas of the demarcated area of the protected designation of origin “Mosel” and of the protected geographical indications “Landwein der Mosel”, “Landwein der Ruwer”, “Landwein der Saar” and “Saarländischer Landwein”

All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2013

5.

2014

Germany

The wine-growing areas of the Länder “Baden-Württemberg”, “Bavaria”, “Hessen” and “Rhineland Palatinate”

All wines obtained from grapes harvested in 2014’

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