COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 05.02.1997 
COM(97) 29 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
amending Regulation (BEC) No 822/87 on the common organisation of the market in wine as 
regards ocnological practices and processes 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. Introduction 
Annex VI to the basic Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 establishes the list of oenological practices 
and processes authorised for wine-making. Practices and processes not in that Annex are not 
permitted. 
Where the oenological practices in question have been the subject of experiments authorised by 
the Member States, the procedure for their authorization, detailed in Article 26, provides for a 
Council decision by qualified majority. 
The development of methods and the results of experiments recently carried out in certain 
Member States justify a series of amendments to Annex VI, with the aim of introducing new 
practices. 
In addition, work carried out by the International Vine and Wine Office on the technological, 
quality and health aspects of this matter, in which the Member States of the European Union 
have actively participated, has resulted in the approval of the new practices by that 
internationally recognised body. 
2. Content of the Regulation proposal presented by the Commission 
The main purpose of the proposal, which is based on Article 26(4) of the basic Regulation, is to 
include in Annex VI three new oenological practices for which experiments carried out under 
the authority of the Member States have given satisfactory results. 
The three practices are as follows: 
Tartaric stabilisation of wines by elcctrodialysis. The purpose of this practice is to obtain 
tartaric stability of the wine, in other words, the absence of subsequent precipitation of tartar 
in wines for laying down by the selective extraction of ions in a state of supersaturation in 
the wine. This is a physical process with no addition of external substance to the wine. 
- Tartaric stabilisation by the addition of neutral calcium tartrate. The purpose of this practice 
is to obtain the tartaric stabilisation of wine by triggering the controlled precipitation of 
potassium tartrate and calcium tartrate. The addition of calcium tartrate, which is naturally 
present in the wine, induces the combined precipitation of potassium and calcium tartrates 
during the chilling of the wine. 
Treatment of the wine with urease. The purpose of this practice is to reduce the amount o\~ 
urea naturally present in wine by the addition of an enzyme, urease, which decomposes urea 
into carbon dioxide and ammonium. If there is too much urea it will react with the ethanol in 
the wine to form methane, an undesirable substance in wine, during the course of ageing. 
The proposal also contains minor amendments to the text of the Annex with a view to 
specifying certain practices already admitted for the aeration of the must (which includes the 
use oï~ oxygen) and, for the German version, the correction of certain inaccuracies in the 
translation of scientific or technical terms. 
The proposal has no financial impact on the Community budget. 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No /.. 
of 
amending Regulation (BBC) No 822/87 on the common organisation of the market in wine as 
regards oenological practices and processes 
II Hi COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
I laving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 of 16 March 1987 on the common 
organisation of the market in wine1, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1592/962, and in 
particular Article 26(4) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission3, 
Whereas, in accordance with Article 26(1) of Regulation (EEC1) No 822/87, certain oenological 
practices not provided for in thai Regulation have been authorised experimentally by certain 
Member States; whereas the results obtained indicate that they can be regarded as improving 
vinification and the conservation of the products concerned while presenting no health risk to 
consumers; whereas the practices are for the most part already recognised and permitted by the 
competent international authorities; whereas, therefore, they should be permitted definitively 
throughout the Community and Annex VI to Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 should be amended 
accordingly; 
Whereas, in the German version of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87, in Annex VI.l(q) and 3(z), the 
term "Milchbaklerien" is scientifically incorrect and must be replaced by "Milchsaurebaklericn"; 
whereas, in the same version, in Annex VI.3(z)a, the term "Karamel" is incorrect and does not 
correspond to the substance concerned by this practice, which is known as "Zuckcrkulor" in 
German; whereas the use of "Xiickcrkiilor" should be permitted from 1 September 1989, the date 
1 OJ No L 84, 27.3.1987, p. I. 
2 OJ No L 206, 16.8.1996, p. 31. 
of entry into force of Regulation (EEC) No 4250/884, while preserving the legal certainty of those 
concerned who have used "Karamel", 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Annex VI to Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 is hereby amended as follows: 
1. Paragraph 1 is amended as follows: 
a) in point (a) the following is added: 
"or the addition of oxygen to the must;" 
b) in point (q), the term "Milchbakterien" in the German version is replaced by 
"Milchsaurebakterien". 
2. Paragraph 3 is amended as follows: 
a) in point (v), the following indents are inserted: 
the addition of neutral calcium tartrate to assist the precipitation of tartar, under 
conditions to be determined; 
electrodialysis treatment to guarantee tartaric stabilisation of the wine, under 
conditions to be determined;" 
b) in point (z), the term "Milchbakterien" in the German version is replaced by 
"Milchsaurebakterien". 
c) in point (z)a, the term "Karamel" in the German version is replaced by 
"Xuekerkulor". 
d) the following point is added: 
"(z) b the use, under conditions to be determined, of a urease to reduce the urea 
content in the wine." 
OJ No L 373, 3 1.12.1988, p. 55. 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official 
Journal of the European Communities. 
However, Article l(2)(c) may be applied from 1 September 1989 at the request of interested 
parties. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
one at For the Council 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
BUDGET HEADING: 
16 APPROPRIATIONS: 
ECU 868.3 million 
TITLE: 
Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 on the common organization of the market in 
wine as regards oenological practices and processes. 
LEGAL BASIS: 
Article 26 of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87. 
AIMS: 
- It introduces three new oenological practices 
- It defines more accurately some practices already authorized 
- It corrects some scientific and technical terms in the German translation 
5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS PERIOD OF 
12 MONTHS 
(ECU million) CURRENT 
FINANCIAL 
YEAR 
(1997) 
(ECU million) FOLLOWING 
FINANCIAL 
YEAR 
(1998) 
(ECU million) 
5.0 EXPENDITURE 
- CI IARGED TO PME EC BUDGE 
(REFUNDS/INTERVENTION) 
- NATIONAL AUTHORITIES 
- OTHER 
5.1. REVENUE 
- OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC 
(LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES) 
- NATIONAL 
5.0.1 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE 
5.1.1 ESTIMATED REVENUE 1999 2000 2001 2002 
5.2 METHOD OF CALCULATION: 
(>.0 CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE 
Rl LEV AN T CI IAP TER Ol 11 IE CURREN T BUDGE T? Y-ES/NO 
CAN Till' PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF 
CURRENT BUDGET? Yl^S/NO 
WILL A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET HE NECESSARY? YES/NO 
6..> WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY? 
OBSERVATIONS: 
The measure has no impact on the budget. 
4-
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 29 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 10 
Catalogue number : CB-CO97-027-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-15245-5 
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