WRITTEN QUESTION P-0838/04 by Raquel Cardoso (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Distortion of competition in the wine sector.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Portugal, TRIPS, common commercial policy, designation of origin, fortified wine, labelling, product designation, restriction on competition, viticulture

C 84 E/680

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0766)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0837/04

by Joaquim Piscarreta (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 March 2004)

Subject: Distortion of competition in the wine sector

On 23 February 2004 the Commission approved new rules on the labelling of wine in the European
Union, which will enable third countries to use, within the Community, traditional descriptions for wine
such as ‘tawny’, ‘vintage’, ‘ruby’ etc. and to export such wines to the EU.

The following facts should be borne in mind:

(cid:1) the port wine-producing area has always used the descriptions ‘tawny’, ‘vintage’ and ‘ruby’;

(cid:1) Madeira wine-producers have also always used the descriptions ‘canteiro’,

‘frasqueira’ and ‘reserva

velha’;

(cid:1) both these wines have consolidated their quality and international image using these expressions;

(cid:1) the new labelling rules will ‘trivialise’ the use of these expressions to the detriment of port and Madeira

wine producers and their products, which in effect constitutes a distortion of competition;

(cid:1) in the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, the European Union has always

upheld the need to adopt a balanced agreement, particularly important for non-tariff issues;

(cid:1) these non-tariff measures include the protection of designations of origin, trademarks, etc.;

(cid:1) the WTO negotiations have been suspended since the collapse of the Cancun Round last September;

(cid:1) in this context the European Union must not or should not make any concessions outside the

negotiating context of the WTO.

Can the Commission say what induced it to adopt new rules on wine labelling outside the WTO

1.
negotiating framework?

2. What it considers the European Union has gained by this unusual and unexpected concession?

3. What its assessment is of the consequences of this decision for Community producers (cid:1) in particular
those in the port and Madeira wine producing areas?

(2004/C 84 E/0767)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0838/04

by Raquel Cardoso (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Distortion of competition in the wine sector

On 23 February 2004 the Commission approved new rules on the labelling of wine in the European
Union, which will enable third countries to use, within the Community, traditional descriptions for wine
such as ‘tawny’, ‘vintage’, ‘ruby’ etc. and to export such wines to the EU.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/681

The following facts should be borne in mind:

(cid:1) the port wine-producing area has always used the descriptions ‘tawny’, ‘vintage’ and ‘ruby’;

(cid:1) Madeira wine-producers have also always used the descriptions ‘canteiro’,

‘frasqueira’ and ‘reserva

velha’;

(cid:1) both these wines have consolidated their quality and international image using these expressions;

(cid:1) the new labelling rules will ‘trivialise’ the use of these expressions to the detriment of port and Madeira

wine producers and their products, which in effect constitutes a distortion of competition;

(cid:1) in the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, the European Union has always

upheld the need to adopt a balanced agreement, particularly important for non-tariff issues;

(cid:1) these non-tariff measures include the protection of designations of origin, trademarks, etc.;

(cid:1) the WTO negotiations have been suspended since the collapse of the Cancun Round last September;

(cid:1) in this context the European Union must not or should not make any concessions outside the

negotiating context of the WTO.

Can the Commission say what induced it to adopt new rules on wine labelling outside the WTO

1.
negotiating framework?

2. What it considers the European Union has gained by this unusual and unexpected concession?

3. What its assessment is of the consequences of this decision for Community producers (cid:1) in particular
those in the port and Madeira wine producing areas?

(2004/C 84 E/0768)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0839/04

by João Gouveia (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Distortion of competition in the wine sector

On 23 February 2004 the Commission approved new rules on the labelling of wine in the European
Union, which will enable third countries to use, within the Community, traditional descriptions for wine
such as ‘tawny’, ‘vintage’, ‘ruby’ etc. and to export such wines to the EU.

The following facts should be borne in mind:

(cid:1) the port wine-producing area has always used the descriptions ‘tawny’, ‘vintage’ and ‘ruby’;

(cid:1) Madeira wine-producers have also always used the descriptions ‘canteiro’,

‘frasqueira’ and ‘reserva

velha’;

(cid:1) both these wines have consolidated their quality and international image using these expressions;

(cid:1) the new labelling rules will ‘trivialise’ the use of these expressions to the detriment of port and Madeira

wine producers and their products, which in effect constitutes a distortion of competition;

(cid:1) in the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, the European Union has always

upheld the need to adopt a balanced agreement, particularly important for non-tariff issues;