Organic winemaking practices
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EU proposes to allow organic production of de-alcoholised wine: opportunity for feedback
Draft Commission Delegated Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards oenological practice
Draft Annex
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Update
Currently, de-alcoholised wine cannot be produced organically as the de-alcoholisation process is not permitted under organic production rules. The European Commission proposes to include de-alcoholisation as a permitted organic production practice.
All stakeholders have an opportunity to comment on the draft Regulation via the EU’s Have your say consultation until 20 September 2024.
Impacted Products
Wine
What is changing?
Today, the processes used to produce de-alcoholised wine (partial vacuum evaporation and distillation) are not permitted under organic production rules (Regulation 2018/848). Organic production of de-alcoholised wine is therefore not permitted.
The Commission now proposes to authorise these processes as a permitted organic production practice, to permit legitimate production of organic de-alcoholised wine.
Why?
De-alcoholised wine has become a recognised product of the wine sector (under Regulation 2021/2117) and organic production of de-alcoholised wine should therefore also be permitted. The use of vacuum distillation to produce de-alcoholised wine has been evaluated by the Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP). EGTOP recommended its inclusion as a permitted organic practice, exclusively for the production of totally de-alcoholised wine (not exceeding 0.5% alcoholic strength), provided the technical requirements are met: the temperature must not exceed 75°C, and the pore size for filtration must not be smaller than 0.2 µm.
Timeline
Expected date of entry into force: fourth quarter of 2024.
Recommended Actions
There is an opportunity to comment on the draft Regulation via the EU’s Have your say consultation until 20 September 2024.
Background
Regulation 2018/848 establishes rules on the production and labelling of organic products, including the winemaking (oenological) practices, processes, and treatments that may be used in organic production (Annex II, Part VI, Section 3.3).
For further information on organic production, see New EU Organic Regulation explained.
Resources
Regulation 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products
Sources
Draft Commission Delegated Regulation as regards oenological practice
Draft Annex
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