FOR YOUR INFORMATION
We share below a number of recent developments. As always, we rely on FIVS Members to apprise us of noteworthy matters. Please contact the FIVS Secretariat with items that may be of interest.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
- FIVS Snapshot – Report on the University of Reims’s Wine and Law Programme: FIVS Manager Laura Gelezuinas recently attended the 2019 University of Reims’s School of Wine Law programme (A Jean Monnet Chair) as the FIVS Jean-Jacques Bouffard Scholar. The programme, now in its tenth year, offers a five-day course on the legal aspects of wine trade. Click on this FIVS Snapshot to read Laura’s report!
- OIML Meeting on Digitalisation: The International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) and the group Physikalisch Technische Bundesenstalt (PTB) will be holding a Workshop on Digital Transformation in Legal Metrology at the PTB, Berlin, Germany, on 27-28 May 2020. This meeting will cover the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation. FIVS monitors and comments on OIML’s activities, which focus on legal requirements relating to measurements and measuring instruments.
- The WHO Focuses on Health Taxes Associated with Alcohol: The World Health Organisation has launched a site that focuses on health taxes on products such as alcohol. This page covers health taxes on products alleged by the WHO to have adverse public health impacts. The WHO contends, among other things, that higher taxes result in healthier populations (especially in poorer countries).
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
- Australia – Directory Attempts to Prevent Copycat Brands: As reported in a 26 April 2019 FIVS Alert, The Australian Ministry of Agriculture announced the development of a “Wine Label Intellectual Property Directory” to prevent bogus brands from being exported, especially to China, Australia’s most lucrative market. Most recently, the Wine Australia Amendment (Label Directory) Bill was introduced by the Australian Parliament on 02 December 2019 authorising Wine Australia to formally establish this export label directory. See also this helpful summary.
- Australia – Changes to the Allergen Labelling Rules: The Australian Government is working on a proposal to make allergen labelling requirements clearer and more consistent. The Food Standards Code already requires the mandatory declaration of eleven foods and substances that can cause severe allergic and other reactions. Proposed changes would include mandatory specified terms for allergen declarations, the separate declaration of certain nuts and other substances, and a more prominent display of certain allergenic substances.
- Indonesia – Efforts Afoot to Ban Alcohol: A major party in that country has reportedly introduced legislation that would prohibit the sale of alcohol drinks.
- Philippines – Hiking Taxes: Following up on the 20 November 2019 FIVS Alert, the Philippine Senate is apparently expected soon to approve a bill that would increase taxes on alcohol products based on their characterisation as “sin products.”
- Retaliation in the Wind: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced plans last week to hike tariffs on a variety of French products, including sparkling wines such as champagnes, in response to a digital services tax on U.S. technology companies. The European Union has declared that it would respond with its own retaliatory tariffs, but hopes to avoid further trade retaliations.
- Meanwhile, President Trump tweeted that he might impose new tariffs on steel and aluminum from Brazil and Argentina in a move that could raise the the costs of beer cans for American brewers.
- There is considerable anxiety over the possibility of a new round of retaliation that might include products such as Irish Whiskey.
- United States – Appealing Minimum Unit Pricing Rules to the Supreme Court: On 03 December 2019, Total Wine & More indicated that it was taking its opposition to Connecticut’s minimum pricing rules to the U.S. Supreme Court. It has alleged that this minimum pricing system violates federal anti-trust laws designed to foster competition. Wholesalers in Connecticut are required to list their prices in advance for a month so that competing wholesalers can match them, preventing larger retailers from using their size and scale from changing prices.
- Scotland: There are now news reports claiming that the introduction of a Scottish MUP is responsible for a decrease in hospital admissions for liver disease. There are also reports on how Scottish drivers are adopting a no tolerance approach to drinking and driving.
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
- Wine in Moderation Rebrands: Wine in Moderation has unveiled its new moto of “CHOOSE | SHARE | CARE” as part of a number of new initiatives taken within the past year after the organisation celebrated its tenth year anniversary. Wine in Moderation has also introduced a new homepage.
- Portugal – ACIBEV kicks off a New Responsibility Campaign: FIVS Member Associação de Vinhos e Espirituosas de Portugal (ACIBEV) has been launching its responsibility campaign during the Easter and Christmas holidays since 2011. This year, for its annual Christmas campaign, ACIBEV renewed the spot based on the updated Wine in Moderation logo and new moto – Choose, Share, Care – which will be broadcast on television and in cinemas.