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.
Illicit Alcohol
Dominican Republic: Death tolls rise from methanol poisonings – The Dominican Ministry of Public Health announced that at least 47 of 109 people, ranging in age from 19 to 70 years, who had consumed adulterated alcohol, died during the first days of April. The National Police has reported the arrest of 17 people involved, as well as the raids of two commercial warehouses in Santiago where illicit alcohol was sold.
International Trade
European Union – United States: EU suggests 6-month tariff freeze – The European Union trade chief has reportedly suggested that the EU and the United States should suspend tariffs for six months in order to reach a negotiated settlement on the dispute over subsidies for Airbus and Boeing. In March 2021, they agreed to a four-month suspension on EU and U.S. tariffs on $11.5 billion of products. The trade chief reportedly also indicated that the EU would monitor the Biden administration’s “Buy American” program, which is designed to award public contracts primarily to U.S. firms.
New Zealand – United Kingdom: Trade deal could reduce wine tariffs – New Zealand and the United Kingdom are reportedly entering another round of talks regarding a free trade deal that would lead to much lower tariffs on New Zealand beef, lamb, and wine entering the United Kingdom, as well as cars, food, and gin entering New Zealand. Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade has been reported as saying the deal with New Zealand is a step toward joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, whose members include Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam. There are differing reports on how far the negotiations have progressed so far, with some reports describing this as the “final round” while others characterising the negotiations as in their early stages.
Drink Driving
Argentina: Buenos Aires province moving toward zero BAC limit – The Buenos Aires Ombudsman has reportedly agreed to promote zero blood alcohol content legislation to improve road safety in the province of Buenos Aires. The agreement was reached during a meeting that included provincial senators, the president of a public company that manages highways in 13 provinces and Buenos Aires, the head of the National Road Safety Agency, the president of Asociación Madres del Dolor (Mothers in Pain), and members of the judiciary.
Drinking Age
India: Reforms for Delhi’s alcohol beverage industry – On 22 March 2021, the Government of Delhi announced a new alcohol beverage excise tax policy impacting the capital region, reportedly to increase tax revenue by 20 percent this year while removing approximately 2,000 unregistered, tax-evading liquor stores within the capital. The order lowers the legal drinking age from 25 to 21 years, and the Delhi state authority will no longer operate its government-run liquor shops to ensure equitable distribution of private alcohol retail outlets.
Geographic Indications
European Union: Wine councils urge European Commission not to create single regulation for quality schemes – The European Federation of Wines with Denomination of Origin and the Spanish Conference of Wine Regulatory Councils have reportedly asked the European Commission not to create a single regulation for the quality figures of all agri-food products in the planned reform of the European Union geographical indications policy. The heads of the two organisations said that policy should provide geographical indications tools that allow operators to compete globally and respond to consumers’ demands regarding authenticity and sustainability. The Community Executive has begun a review process with a public consultation on these quality regimes, which may lead to a legislative proposal by early 2022.
Labelling
Chile: Commission discusses alcohol bill – A Chilean Health and Agriculture Commission is reportedly reviewing proposals for alcohol beverage legislation, including whether to require health labels, limit advertising on television and for sports, or prohibit the sale of alcohol at service stations.
European Union: Consumers favor GMO labelling – A survey of thousands of consumers from all 27 European Union countries conducted in February and March of 2021 reportedly found that 86% of the respondents support compulsory labelling on food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and 68% support compulsory labelling for gene edited (GE) crops that are created by using new genetic engineering techniques such as CRISPR. Current EU legislation stipulates that genetically modified food must be clearly labelled, and a 2018 European Court of Justice ruling found that GE crops fall under the EU’s GMO directive. The first open-source method for detecting a gene-edited crop has reportedly been developed, which could allow the EU to prevent unauthorised imports of GE crops, but the EU seed sector has objected, noting that non-unique changes could also occur naturally or through conventional breeding methods.
United States: Karissa Kruse recognized as woman of the year in Sonoma County – U.S. Congressman Mike Thomas announced recognition of the 2020 and 2021 women of the year who have made exceptional contributions to Sonoma County, California. As president of the Sonoma County Winegrowers, FIVS member Karissa Kruse received the honour for setting and meeting ambitious sustainability goals and relaunching the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation which provides more than $1 million in support to local farmworkers.
NOTE: We make no warranty of any kind regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information in these FIVS Alerts; nor do we necessarily support or agree with views expressed or contained therein.