‘Cheers!’ at EU wine deal

Series Title
Series Details Vol.9, No.30, 18.9.03, p24
Publication Date 18/09/2003
Content Type

Date:18/09/03

CANADA and the EU brokered a deal yesterday (17 September) that protects the names of 23 European wines and spirits.

Under the bilateral trade agreement, Canadian producers will have to phase out their use of names like Champagne, Chianti and Bordeaux over the next decade, and domestic viticulturists must adopt the European "VQA" system of quality standards in winemaking.

Speaking at Niagara-on-the-Lake in Canada, EU agriculture chief Franz Fischler, hailed the deal as "a great achievement for EC-Canada relations". He first met Canadian counterpart, Lyle Vanclief, five years ago at Niagara, when they agreed "to try to resolve our differences".

In return for Ottawa terminating the classification of 21 European wine names and two spirits (Grappa and Ouzo) as "generic", the EU will offer full protection to "Rye Whisky", a distinctive Canadian product.

This will take place in three phases through 2013, with some wine names set to receive protection by 2008.

The deal's timing could not have been better, given the stalling of WTO trade talks in CancĂșn.

Under a bilateral trade agreement reached on 17 September 2003, Canadian wine producers will phase out their use of names such as Champagne, Chianti and Bordeaux over the next ten years.

Related Links
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/03/1256&format=HTML&rapid=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en&display= http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/03/1256&format=HTML&rapid=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en&display=
http://www.eeas.europa.eu/canada/index_en.htm http://www.eeas.europa.eu/canada/index_en.htm

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