COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC89) 199 final 
Brussels, 24 April 1989 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on general rules for the classification of vine varieties 
(presented by the Commission) 
«» ^ •» 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. On 1 April 1987 the Commission Instructed Its departments "to 
produce a formal consolidated version of legislative instruments no 
later than after their tenth amendment" [COM (87) Min 868]. The 
Commission was responding to repeated urglngs from Parliament and 
other quarters that Community law should be made clearer and more 
accessible to the ordinary citizen and recognizing the need for 
consolidation and simplification of Community legislation in the 
various fields It covers. 
2. The proposal alms at legislative consolidation; the existing 
regulations would be replaced by one new one, wlch would leave their 
substance untouched but would assemble them Into a single text, with 
only the formal amendments required by the operation itself. 
As In the past the text supplied here is collated from the original 
regulations as published In the Official Journal; the use of 
photocopies means that any Improvements to the wording are 
Immediately identifiable. 
3. This proposal, which would provide a consolidated version of Council 
Regulation (EEC) No 347/79 of 5 February 1979 on general rules for 
the classification of vine varieties, forms part of a broader 
programme of consolidation of the wine regulations; although 
Regulation No 347/79 has not been amended only two times, It would 
be useful to adapt the references given In It, which have been 
overtaken by earlier consolidating legislation. 
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COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 347/79 
of 5 February 1979 
on general rules for the classification 
of vine varieties 
(OJ No L 54 of 5 March 1979, p. 75) 
amended by 
the Act of Accession of Greece (OJ No L 291 of 19.11.79, p. 82) 
and by 
Regulation (EEC) No 3805/85 (OJ No L 367 of 31.12.85, p.39) 
J few-
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEQ 
onrgeneral rales for the classification of vine varieties 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, 
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEQ No 822/87 t>f 
16 March 1987 on the common organization of the 
market in wine (*), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) 
No 4250/88 ft and in particular Article 13(1) thereof. 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas, following a nuaber of successive consoli­
dations of the Coaaunity rules on wine, in the 
interests of clarity, Council Regulation (EEC) No 
347/79 of 5 February 1979 on general rules for the 
classification of vine varieties (3), 
as last aaended by Regulation (EEC) No 3805/85 (4), 
should be consolidated by amending the references 
contained therein; 
Whereas Article 13 of Regulation (EEQ No 822/87 
provides for the Council to adopt general rules for the 
classification of vine varieties approved for cultivation 
in the Community; whereas these rules must, in 
particular, provide a classification of such vine varieties, 
by administrative units or parts thereof, into 
recommended vine varieties, authorized vine varieties 
and temporarily authorized vine varieties; 
is particularly useful in 
growers towards Whereas such classification 
directing Community wine 
high-quality production by guiding their choice of 
varieties to plant; whereas the classification of vine 
varieties according to the quality of wine produced 
promotes the planting of varieties which give wine 
recognized to be of good quality and for which market 
demand is steady or expanding; whereas in this way a 
classification of vine varieties helps in the long ran to 
prevent structural surpluses on the wine market; 
(1) 0J No L 84, 27. 3.1987, p. 1. 
(2) 0J No L 373, 31.12.1988, p. 55. 
(3) 0J No L 54, 5. 3.1979, p. 75. 
(4) 0J No L 367, 31.12.1985, p. 39. 1. 347/79 
2. 347/79 
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Whereas in classifying the varieties of vine a distinction 
should be made between the uses to which the grapes 
obtained from them are put; whereas in classifying 
administrative units account should be taken of any 
special production conditions; 347/79 
Whereas, however, the fact that grapes of a vine variety 
can also be used for purposes other than those indicated 
in the classification of the vine variety from which they 
originate, and in particular that grapes of a table variety 
:can be used for wine making, should not prevent that 
vine variety from being classified according to its main 
use; 347/79 
Whereas identification of the vine varieties cultivated in 
the Community is essential for checking that 
Community and national. provisions concerning the 
cultivation of vine varieties are complied with; whereas 
for that reason the classification may contain only those 
vine varieties of which the propagating material is 
accepted in at least one Member State, in accordance 
with Community provisions, for certification or control 
as standard propagating material; 347/79 
Whereas, among the wine grape varieties cultivated at 
present in the Community for the production of wine 
intended for direct human consumption, the vine 
varieties derived from interspecific crossings have not 
given complete satisfaction; whereas, therefore,' they 
should not be classified as being recommended; 
whereas it is not justifiable to exclude a priori from 
classification among the recommended • varieties wine 
grape varieties which may be obtained from inter­
specific crossings after 19 July 1970 and which might be 
found to be satisfactory for cultivation; whereas, how­
ever, no distinction need be made with regard to stock 
origins if the varieties of wine grapes are to be classified 
as authorized or temporarily authorized; 347/79 
Whereas, since table grapes may also be used for wine 
making, the classification should be extended to cover 
the vine varieties which come within the common 
quality standards for table grapes laid down in 
Commission Regulation No 58 laying down common 
quality standards for certain products listed in Annex I 
B to Regulation No 23 on the progressive establishment 
of a common organization of the market in fruit and 
vegetables (f ), as last amended by Regulation (EEQ No 
93V89 (2); whereas the suitability of those varieties for 
their normal use is a determining factor in their 
classification; 347/79 
Whereas, since different names are used to describe a 
single vine variety, it is appropriate to establish within 
the classification a list of synonyms known to he used in 
the trade; whereas, moreover» a list of homonyms may 
be useful where a single term is used to cover several 
vine varieties; 347/79 
(1) OJNo 56, 7. 7.1962, p. 1606/62. 
(2) 0J No L 97, 11.4.1989, p. 19 
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Whereas experience has shown die need to make 
provision for amendment of the classification of vine 
varieties in order to add a vine variety to'the category of 
recommended, authorized or temporarily authorized 
varieties; whereas, in die event of such an addition to 
the classification, it may be necessary, particularly in the 
case of a new variety, to determine the suitability of the 
variety for cultivation on the basis of information 
obtained by the Member State concerned from 
cultivation trials; whereas it has also proved necessary 
to provide for the possibility of downgrading vine 
variera whose cultivation is not entirely satisfactory; 
whereas che admission of vine varieties which were not 
listed In die classification on 31 May 1974 to the 
category of authorized vine varieties should be granted 
only on a provisional basis after examination of their 
cultivation suitability and for an observation period of 
five years, at the end of which period a final decision 
should be taken on the variety in question; 
Whereas it is necessary to specify the conditions under 
which a variety listed in the category of authorized vine 
varieties can be upgraded to the category of 
recommended vine varieties as well as the conditions 
under which a variety can be downgraded to a lower 
category; 
Whereas no examination of cultivation suitability is 
necessary in the case of a vine variety classified as an 
authorized vine variety being upgraded to die category 
of recommended vine varieties in the same 
administrative unit, since the cultivation suitability is 
already known from experience and from information 
obtained by the Member State in question; 
Whereas the inclusion of root stock varieties in the 
classification is desirable for reasons of control; 
whereas, in view of their limited number, these varieties 
and the grape varieties for special.uses may be classified 
on a Community-wide basis, 347/79 
10 347/79 
11 347/79 
12 347/79 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
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Article 1 
The classification of vine varieties shall include ail vine 
varieties of the genus Vitis, including those derived from 
interspecific crossings, which are authorized for 
cultivation in the Community and intended for the 
production of grapes or of vegetative vine propagating 
material. 347/79 
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Arid* 2 ••• 
1. Vine varieties shall be classified according to the 
uses to which the grapes obtained from diem are 
normally put. 
2. For the purposes of this Regulation: 
(a) 'wine grape variety* means a vine variety normally 
cultivated for the production of fresh grapes for 
making wine for direct human consuinption; 
(b) 'table grape variety* means a vine variety which 
comes within the common quality standards for 
, table grapes adopted under Council Regulation 
(EEC) No 1Û35/P2 «*, * 
normally cultivated for the 
production of grapes for consumption when fresh; 
(c) 'grape variety for special use* means a vine variety 
normally cultivated for purposes other than those 
îefcried to under (a) and (b), such as: 
— the preparation of potable wine spirits, 
— the preparation of grape juice, 
— die production of grapes normally used in the 
canning industry, 
— the production of grapes for drying. 
(d) 'root stock variety* means a vine variety cultivated 
for die production of vegetative vine propagating 
material and providing that part of the plant which 
is below ground. 347/79 
J Accession EL 
347/79 
(1) OJ No L 118, 20. 5.1972, p. 1 
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Article 3 
1. Wine grape varieties and table grape varieties shall 
be classified for each of the following administrative 
units or parts thereof: 
— the Regierungsbezirk in 
Germany, 
— the department in France, 
— die province in Italy, 
— the nomos in Greece, 
— the province and the region in 
-the 
— the in Rrtuoftl, 347/79 
] 
] Accession El 
3*05/85 
347/7* 
2. 6rape varieties for special UK an) root stock 
varieties shall fat classified on a Goawrity-iridt bobs. 
or al of these varieties saay be 
: of 9 Mcaabcr Scats, fer one or 
' of tsav xsnÉber Scats» =• 
. . . 
.7 -
Article 4 
1. One and the same wine, grape variety may be 
classified differently in different administrative units or 
parts thereof. „ 347/79 
2. One and the same variety may, exceptionally, be 
classified as both a table grape variety and a wine grape 
variety. 
3. One and the same variety may be classified 
differently according to whether It it used for the 
making of: 
— table wine, 
— quality wine produced in specified regions, 
— sparkling wine, quality sparkling wine or quality 
sparkling wine produced in specified regions, 
— potable wine spirits, 
— grape juice , 
— dried grapes. ] Accession EL 
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Article 5 
1. For each of the administrative units or parts thereof 
or, as appropriate, on a Community-wide basis, vine 
varieties shall be listed under one of the following 
categories: recommended vine varieties, authorized vine 
varieties and temporarily authorized vine varieties. 347/79 
2. Vine varieties shall be included in the classification 
only if their propagating material is accepted for 
certification or control as standard propagating material 
in at least one Member State, in accordance with 
Council Directive 68/193/EEC of 9 April 1968 on the 
marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of 
the vine {l\ 
-(1) OJ So L 93, 17. 4.1968» p.15. 
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Article 6 
1. With regard to wine grape varieties: 
(a) recommended vine varieties shall include the 
varieties which: 
— are already cultivated in the Community and 
which belong to the species Vitis vmifera L, or 
— are obtained from interspecific crossings die 
cultivation suitability of which is recognized, 
after 19 July 1970, as being satisfactory in 
accordance with Article 12, 
and which normally provide wines recognized to be 
of good quality; 
(b) authorized vine varieties shall include the varieties 
which normally provide sound and marketable wine 
of a quality which, while of an acceptable standard, 
is lower than that of the wine referred to under (a); 
(c) temporarily authorized vine varieties shall include 
the varieties: 
— which do not meet the criteria stated under (a) 
and .(b) but which nevertheless are of some 
economic importance to the administrative unit 
or part thereof concerned, or 
— which present certain shortcomings in 
cultivation. 347/79 
?.. Quality «hall be assessed, where appropriate, on the 
results of tests as to the cultivation suitability of the vine 
varieties in question, together with the results of 
analytical and organoleptic tests of the wine concerned. 
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Article 7 
With regard to table grape varieties: 
(a) recommended vine varieties shall include the 
varieties cultivated for die production of table 
grapes for which there is considerable market 
demand; 
(b) authorized vine varieties shall include the varieties: 
— providing grapes of a quality which, while of an 
acceptable standard, is lower than that of the 
grapes referred to under (a), or 
— which present certain shortcomings in 
cultivation; 
(c) temporarily authorized vine varieties shall include 
the varieties: 
— yielding grapes which should cease to be put on 
the market because of their poor quality, or 
— which present serious shortcomings in 
cultivation. 347/79 
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Article 8 
1. With regard to the grape varieties for special uses: 
(a) recommended vine varieties shall include the 
varieties belonging to the species Vitis vinifera L or 
derived from interspecific crossings, if those vine 
varieties are normally well suited to the uses in 
question; 
(b) authorized vine varieties shall include the varieties: 
— yielding products the quality of which, while of 
an acceptable standard, is lower than that of the 
products obtained from the vine varieties 
referred to under (a), or 
— yielding grapes which are less suitable for the 
uses in question than the vine varieties referred 
to under (a); 
(c) temporarily authorized vine varieties shall include 
the varieties: 
— which do not conform to the criteria stated in 
(a) and (b) but which nevertheless are of some 
economic importance to the Community as a 
whole or to the administrative unit or units 
concerned, or 
— which present certain shortcomings in 
cultivation. 347/79 
2. Quality shall be assessed, where appropriate, on the 
results of tests as to the cultivation suitability of the vine 
varieties in question, together with the results of 
analytical and organoleptic tests of the finished 
products concerned. 
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Article 9 
With regard to root stock varieties: 
(a) recommended vine varieties shall indude the 
varieties cultivated for the purpose of obtaining 
vegetative vine propagating material which has been 
proved by experience to be satisfactory for 
cultivation; 
(b)temporari ly authorized vine varieties shall indude 
the varieties which have been found to be 
unsatisfactory for cultivation. 347/79 
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Article 10 
1. Without prejudice to the provisions of Artide 5d (3) 
of Directive 68/193 /EEC, a list of synonyms of die vine 
varieties appearing in the dassification shall be induded 
in the dassification if such synonyms are: 
(a) used in the trade to designate the wines produced 
from the vine varieties in question, and . 
(b) sufficiently well known. 347/79 
2. A list of homonyms of the vine varieties referred to 
in paragraph 1 may also be induded. 
-14-
Article 11 
1. Vine varieties not listed in the classification for an 
administrative unit or part thereof or, where 
appropriate, for the Community as a whole may be 
added: 
(a) to the categories of recommended or authorized vine 
varieties: 
— as regards wine grape varieties and table grape 
varieties, only on condition that the variety has 
been included for at least five years in the 
classification for an administrative unit or part 
thereof immediately bordering on the 
administrative unit or part thereof for which the 
indusion in the classification is under 
consideration, 
— as regards root stock varieties, only on con­
dition that the cultivation suitability of the vari­
ety has been examined and that it has been 
found to be satisfactory; 
(b) to the category of authorized vine varieties only on a 
provisional basis if the cultivation suitability of the 
variety in question has been examined and found to 
be satisfactory, but no final assessment of the 
classification of the vine variety in question can yet 
be made on the basis of the results of the 
examination. 347/79 
2. The category of a vine variety for the same 
administrative unit or part thereof or, where 
appropriate, for the Community as a whole may be 
altered only: 
(a) by upgrading to the category of recommended vine 
varieties as regards: 
— a variety appearing, on 31 May 1974, in the 
category of authorized vine varieties for the 
administrative unit or part thereof for which the 
addition is requested or, where appropriate, for 
the Community as a whole, 
— a variety added to the classification after 
31 May 1974 and which has been listed for at 
least five years in die category of authorized 
vine varieties for die administrative unit or part 
thereof for which the addition is requested or, 
where appropriate, for die Community as a 
whole; 
(b) by downgrading to a lower category if: 
— experience has shown that the requirements for 
the category in which the variety in question is 
listed are not fulfilled, or 
—, the quality of the product which it yidds renders 
it necessary, or 
— the area on which the vine variety in question is 
grown is very small and continuing to dimiwUh 
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3. A vine variety shall be eliminated from die 
classification if its cultivation suitability is judged 
unsatisfactory. 347/79 
4. In the case referred to in paragraph 1 (b), die 
classification shall indicate that the addition is 
provisional. Between five and seven years after the 
provisional addition of the variety in the category of 
authorized vine varieties, it shall be dedded on the basis 
of experience and taking account of the cultivation 
suitability trials carried out pursuant to Article 12,-
whether the variety in question: 
— should remain permanently in- the category of 
authorized vine varieties, 
— should be inserted in the category of recommended 
vine varieties, 
— should be inserted in the category of temporari ly 
authorized vine varieties, or 
— should be eliminated from the classification. 
If after seven years no decision has been taken, the 
variety in question shall be considered to have been 
eliminated from the classification. 
5. An examination as to cultivation suitability shall 
not be necessary for die addition of an authorized vine 
variety to the category of' recommended vine varieties 
for une same administrative unit or part thereof or, 
where appropriate, for the Community as a whole, 
provided that the cultivation suitability can be 
demonstrated in an appropriate manner. 
6. As a result of die downgrading of a variety to the 
category of temporarily authorized vine varieties, the 
variety in question may, from the date on which the 
downgrading takes effect, no longer be planted, grafted 
or double-grafted. 
7. Detailed rules for the application of this Article, in 
particular the decisions referred to in die first 
subparagraph of paragraph. 4, shall be adopted in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article &3 
of Regulation (EEQ No 822/81 
u; 
-16 -
Article 12 
1. The cultivation suitability of a vine variety shall be 
determined on the basis of the information obtained by 
the Member States concerned from die examination of 
cultivation trials carried out in the administrative units 
or parts thereof concerned, in adjacent administrative 
units or, as the case may be, on a Community-wide 
basis. 347/79 
The cultivation suitability of a vine variety may not be 
recognized as being satisfactory unless, in comparison 
with the other vine varieties listed in the classification 
for at least one administrative unit or part thereof, its 
overall quality characteristics constitute a distinct 
improvement with regard to cultivation or to the use of 
the grapes or propagating material obtained from it 
2. After consultation with the Management Committee 
for Wine, the Commission may ask the Member State 
concerned to carry out a further examination as to the 
cultivation suitability of the vine variety in question. 
3. The determination of cultivation suitability referred 
to in paragraph 1 shall be effected in accordance with 
the procedure laid down in Artide 83' of Regulation 
(EEC) No 822/87.^ . -/• 
Detailed rules for the application of this Artide, and in 
particular measures for testing cultivation suitability, 
shall be adopted in accordance with the same 
procedure. 
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Article 13 
1. Planting, even for the purpose of replacing failures, 
of fidd grafting and double-grafting: 
— of vine varieties,not listed in the classification, or 
— of temporarily authorized vine varieties, 
shall be prohibited. ' 
2. Member States may, however, permit derogations 
from the provisions of die first indent of paragraph 1 
for the following purposes: 
— cultivation suitability trials of a vine variety which is 
not listed in the dassification for the administrative 
unit or part thereof concerned or for the 
Community as a whole, 
— scientific research, 
— sdection of crossing experiments, and 
— production of vegetative vine propagating material 
intended exdusivdy for export to non-member 
countries, on condition that there is suitable control 
over production. 
The Member States concerned shall communicate to the 
Commission: 
(a) the list of vine varieties to which the fourth indent of 
the first subparagraph relates; 
(b) the provisions they are applying to ensure control 
over such production. 
They shall inform the Commission before 1 October of 
each year of the alterations to be made to the said list. 
3. If a Member State permits the derogations provided 
for in paragraph 2 that State shall carry out a systematic 
inspection each/year of the vines which have been 
authorized for planting and shall ensure that any 
distribution ^ propagating material is limited to the 
purposes, referred to above. . Individual cultivation 
contracts shall be conduded between the authorities 
designated by the Member States and any natural or 
legal person or group of persons intending to cultivate a 
vine variety which is not induded in the classifications 
for the administrative unit or part thereof concerned, or 
for the Community as a whole. 347/79 
4. Products derived from a vine variety undergoing 
cultivation suitability trials, scientific research or 
selection or crossing experiments, as referred to in 
paragraph 2, shall be treated as products obtained from 
authorized vine varieties. 
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Article 14 
1. Regulation (EEC) No 347/79 is hereby repealed. 
2. References to the Regulation repealed under para-
'graph 1 shall be construed as references to this 
Regulation. 
- 19 -
Article IS 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 19' 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President 

Commission of the European Communities 
COM(89) 199 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on general rules for the classification of vine varieties 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
24.4.1989 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L - 2985 Luxembourg 
Series: DOCUMENTS 
1989 - 22 pp. — Format: 21.0 x 29.7 cm 
EN 
ISSN 0254-1475 
ISBN 92-77-48676-7 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-158-EN-C 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 199 final 
DOCUMENTS 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on general rules for the classification of vine 
varieties 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
03 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-158-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-48676-7 24.4.1989 
€ 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES