De nombreux viticulteurs qui vendent du vin en Europe sont en train de se préparer à se conformer au règlement (UE) 2021/2117 et à plusieurs autres réglementations liées à l’étiquetage du vin. Règlement U.E. 2021/2117 exige que les informations sur les ingrédients, la nutrition, l’énergie et les allergènes soient divulguées sur les vins vendus dans l’UE. à partir du 8 décembre 2023.
Une mise à jour des lois, 2023/3257, a été publiée le 30 mai 2023. Les changements notables incluent :
- Clarification sur les endroits où les allergènes et les intolérances peuvent être affichés
- Clarifications liées aux additifs qui varient d’une bouteille à l’autre, y compris les gaz d’emballage
- Il existe de nouvelles règles pour les vins à moins de 10 % ABV et à moins de 0,5 % ABV
Poursuivez votre lecture pour plus d’informations sur chacun des éléments ci-dessus et sur d’autres nouvelles informations en 2023/3257.
Winemakers frequently use different additives in different batches of the same wine, often late in the process after labels have already been printed and applied.
Considering this, the new regulation takes a sympathetic stance regarding listing of ingredients and additives, a complete list of which can be found in article 48a of Regulation (EU)2019/33. Because it is impractical to track and disclose each and every additive used in each and every bottle of wine, the new regulation requires that the ingredient list for a product include an exhaustive list of additives that could potentially be used in the winemaking process.
Put another way, it’s acceptable from the perspective of the law that additives listed on a label may not be actually present in the wine of that bottle.
Among the sub-category of additives ‘acidity regulators’ and ‘stabilising agents’, requirements are more specific. Regulators and stabilizers need to be listed using the expression “contains… and/or”, followed by no more than three additives. At least one of those additives listed is expected to be present in the final product.
Among the sub-category ‘packaging gases’, such as carbon dioxide, argon, and nitrogen which do not become a part of the product consumed, these may be omitted from the ingredient list if the producer uses either of the following statements:
- ‘Bottled in a protective atmosphere’
- ‘Bottling may happen in a protective atmosphere’
Allergens and intolerances are required to be printed on the product label regardless of whether you are using electronic labels or not. If you’re using an electronic label to disclose nutrition and ingredients, allergens and intolerances must be included there as well.
The original regulation (2019/33) provides guidance on where these compulsory particulars are expected on wine sold in the E.U. The “field of vision” is a simple but important concept in this matter and it is explained in Regulation EU 2019/33 as anything that is legible without the need to turn the package or bottle. This latest regulation states that the following items, while compulsory, can be listed outside the field of vision:
- Substances or products causing allergies or intolerances (referred to in article 9(1), point (c), of regulation (EU) No 1169/2011)
- The indication of the importer;
- The lot number;
- The date of minimum durability;
It’s important to understand that while these are allowed outside the field of vision, they are still required on the label or attached to the wine bottle.
