Fivi and Adiconsum ask for changes in wine labeling

 

Fivi, Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti (Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers), and Adiconsum, Associazione Difesa Consumatori APS (Association for the Defense of Consumers), have written together with the Minister of Agriculture Patuanelli and the Undersecretary Centinaio to ask for the modification of the wine labeling system, as they believe it is now obsolete, and paying particular attention to the indication of the different actors.

 

"Currently the only distinction present is the one between producer and seller - says Lorenzo Cesconi, President of Fivi - but often it is this distinction which causes confusion to the consumer. Labels indicate as producers those who follow all the phases, from the vineyard to marketing, investing in the territory and committing themselves to long-term sustainability projects, as well as those who act only as principals of the operations, having the entire process carried out by third parties and limiting themselves to selling the finished product".

 

"The label is the identity card of the products we consume and is the only tool available to consumers to make informed, responsible, sustainable choices, to protect their health and the environment - says Carlo De Masi, President of Adiconsum national - That's why it is so important that it contains truthful, clear and transparent information. This is the reason why, together with Fivi, we asked Mipaaf to review and update, as it should be done in general for all obsolete labels, the labeling of wines, in order to meet consumers' requests for more correctness and completeness of the information provided".

 

In order to allow this clarity, the label of all wines, both in case of sparkling wines and still or sparkling wines, should have a differentiated label, indicating every time the author of the different operations: this is the only way it would be possible to give the final consumer complete information about the production process, territoriality and procedures used, therefore giving more guarantees. The two associations therefore propose the implementation of a reform in order to ensure a higher transparency to consumers and a better traceability of products, by filling the current lacks of the system, by clearly distinguishing the different categories of those who work in the production process.

 

Sparkling wines need a more specific subdivision, as the production of these wines requires many steps. In order to be clear in the label it would be useful to have different categories, in order to distinguish the ones who follow the whole process from the ones who only follow some phases, up to the ones who only do disgorgement. With the norms in force, in fact, even the latter are identified as producers, obtaining a clear commercial advantage.

 

The differentiation of the specifications on the label requested by Fivi and Adiconsum is aimed at enhancing those who are committed in carrying on an authentic viticulture, which puts quality of the product before quantity and profit, therefore paying attention to social sustainability. Distinctions, moreover, are essential to guarantee the consumer greater transparency, in line with the objectives set by the European Union through the Farm to Fork strategy, which aims to make the food system more sustainable in many ways.