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The CPC clarifies the rules for the wines labeling

In its recent resolutions, the Commission ascertained that it was incorrect to claim that the words “biological” / ”organic” and “natural” were synonyms.

In particular, for the agricultural raw materials and the products produced by them, there is a specific regulatory framework, which governs the conditions under which an agricultural product should comply in order to give the product, originated by it, as “biological”.

The terms “bio” and “organic” are synonyms. The use of such terms and indications for organic method for production and processing of agricultural products shall be authorized by controlling companies, approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, of producers, processors and traders with whom they have an agreement for control and certification.

At the same time, there is no explicit regulatory framework on the use of the definition “natural”.  It is acknowledged  that the designation of a product as natural indicates its natural origin and the absence of additional artificial additives and impurities.

The CPC also indicates that the state controlling authority in the sector for labeling is the Executive Agency for the vine and wine (EAVW) with the Minister of Agriculture and Food, which observes the compliance with the regulatory frameworks for the labeling of vine-wine products. EAVW controls the compliance with the regulatory requirements regarding the vine plantations, the grapes, intended for production of wine and products made of grapes and wine, as part of its main functions is to carry out on-site control of the wine producers for the application of authorized oenological practices; the conditions for the production of regional and quality wines; compliance with the requirements for the presentation of wines and grape and wine products, and to carry out physic, chemical and microbiological analyzes of wines, grape and wine products and spirits.

As far as the compliance with the regulatory requirements for labeling of the vine-wine products in reference to the presence or absence of mandatory data is subject of control by the state authority in the sector, namely EALW, whether the designation of the product name in English is inconsistent with the current statutory labeling rules is within its competence. In this case, the fact that the text is in English should not be related to a statement of incorrect information or distortion of facts within the meaning of the prohibition under Art. 31 of the LPC.