WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2546/97 by David HALLAM to the Commission. Klein Constantia's Vin de Constance
Date: 1997-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, HALLAM
Subjects: EU law, alcohol, bilateral agreement, import, labelling, originating product, third country, vinification, wine, wine of superior quality

C 102/58

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/81)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2546/97

by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: Klein Constantia(cid:146)s Vin de Constance

Following receipt of your answer to Written Question P-1070/97 (1), I spoke to the British Wine Standards Board,
who told me your answer was wrong because Article 70 of Council Regulation 822/87 (2) bars imports from third
countries if they have a total alcoholic strength by volume, exceeding 15%.

Can you tell me whether your original answer was correct, and there is some other legislation in force which
permits the sale of Klein Constantia(cid:146)s Vin de Constance in the European Union, and whether this is the reason
why this wine is on sale in Denmark and Germany?

(1)  OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 225.
(2)  OJ L 84, 27.3.1987, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1997)

On the matter of imports into the Community of (cid:145)Klein Constantia’ wine, the Commission would first of all like
to point out to the Honourable Member that its answer to his written question P-1070/97 related to the labelling of
wines. The Commission stands by that answer.

The question now raised by the Honourable Member relates to alcoholic strength, which is covered by the rules
on wine production and vinification.

The first indent of Article 70(1)(b) of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 specifies that an imported wine may not have
a total alcoholic strength of more than 15% vol (except for liqueur wines, which belong to a different category).

However, an exception to this rule is possible for wines of high quality bearing a geographical designation and
fulfilling special production criteria (for example wines produced from botrytis-infected grapes). Just such an
exemption  has  been  granted  by  the  Council  under  various  bilateral  agreements  for  a  number  of  wines  from
non-Community countries where there is a guarantee that the wine has not had its alcoholic strength boosted. As
no  agreement  of  this  kind  has  been  signed  with  South  Africa,  (cid:145)Klein  Constantia’  cannot  be  admitted  to  the
Community for sale under the name of (cid:145)wine’ before or after 1 September 1997 unless it has an alcoholic strength
of 15% vol or less.

The Commission is conducting an inquiry into the issues raised by the Honourable Member among the Member
States affected.

(98/C 102/82)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2565/97

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: Framework water directive › missing annexes

The European Parliament and Council have both criticized the absence of essential annexes to the framework
water directive. The Commission has meanwhile put this down to too short a deadline set by the Council and
Parliament for the submission of the framework water directive.

It  is  understood  that  the  Council  has  set  up  a  further  working  group  to  draw  up  and  add  to  the  annexes  in
collaboration with the Commission.