Commission Regulation (EC) No 709/2004 of 16 April 2004 laying down transitional measures in the wine sector as a result of Malta joining the European Union
Date: 2004-04-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Malta, accession to the European Union, labelling, originating product, wine

17.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 111/21

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 709/2004

of 16 April 2004

laying down transitional measures in the wine sector as a result of Malta joining the European
Union

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of
the Czech
Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta,
Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, and in particular Article 2(3)
thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland,
Slovenia and Slovakia, and in particular the first subparagraph
of Article 41 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Point B(1) of Annex VII to Council Regulation (EC) No
1493/199 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation
of the market in wine (1) lays down that the labelling of
products obtained in the Community may be supple-
mented by particulars, under conditions to be deter-
mined, which in the case of table wines with geogra-
phical
indication and quality wines psr include the
vintage year and the name of one or more vine varieties.
According to those provisions such optional particulars
may be shown on the labels of quality wines psr or table
wines with geographical indication only.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 753/2002 of 29 April
2002 laying down certain rules for applying Council
Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 as regards the descrip-
tion, designation, presentation and protection of certain
wine sector products (2) contains provisions concerning
the indications that may appear on the labelling, such as
the vintage year and the vine variety(ies) used for the
production of the wine. According to those provisions,
such optional indications may be shown on the labels of
quality wine psr and table wine with a geographical indi-
cation only.

European Union, Malta will no longer be able to show
these particulars,
in accordance with Regulations (EC)
No 1493/1999 and (EC) No 753/2002.

This change in the labelling of wine originating or
prepared in Malta may cause considerable loss
to
Maltese producers as consumers are accustomed to the
labels that are used at present which contain certain
information. In order to avoid any disturbance on the
Maltese market and make provision for a smooth transi-
tion from the situation now obtaining in Malta to the
Community labelling provisions, a temporary derogation
from Regulations (EC) No 1493/1999 and (EC) No 753/
2002 may be envisaged so that Maltese wines can
continue to indicate on their labels the vintage year and
the vine variety(ies) used.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Wine,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Notwithstanding the first and second indents of point B(1)(b) of
Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, wine prepared or
originating in Malta may, up to 30 April 2006, show on the
label the vintage year and the name of one or more vine varie-
ty(ies) used.

Article 2

Notwithstanding Articles 18 and 19(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No
753/2002, wine prepared or originating in Malta may, up to
30 April 2006, show on the label the vintage year and the
name of one or more vine variety(ies) used.

(3)

Malta produces and prepares only table wine from grape
musts and grapes coming mainly from Italy which is
currently labelled with the indication of the vintage year
and the vine variety(ies) used. From the date it joins the

Article 3

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999. Regulation last amended by Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1795/2003 (OJ L 262, 14.10.2003, p. 13).
(2) OJ L 118, 4.5.2002, p. 1. Regulation last amended by Regulation

(EC) No 316/2004 (OJ L 55, 24.2.2004, p. 16).

This Regulation shall enter into force subject to and on the
date of the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of the
Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary,
Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

L 111/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

17.4.2004

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

Done at Brussels, 16 April 2004.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission