The President of the OIV, Regina Vanderlinde, and the Scientific Coordinator of the OIV, Jean-Claude Ruf, took part in the 31st session of the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) held on 11-15 March 2019 in Bordeaux, France.
During discussions on emerging and future issues, the President highlighted that several topics under discussion within the CCGP were also being dealt with within the OIV, which illustrated the need to pursue and increase collaboration between the two organisations.
Regina Vanderlinde specified that the OIV was participating in several projects that were also being discussed within the Codex, namely:
- consideration of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,
- the issue of food fraud, and the integrity and authenticity of food products,
- consumer information, through the work of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL),
- observation of the application of standards,
- mechanisms with the aim of improving coordination with other international organisations.
The President of the OIV concluded by stating that it was necessary to pursue cooperation and coordination in relation to activities that present a common interest for the OIV and the Codex, and that it would be important for the Codex to draw upon the expertise of the OIV as a reference organisation for vitivinicultural products.
Speech by Regina Vanderlinde (in French with English subtitles)
Audio file
The Ambassador was accompanied by ProChile’s Trade Commissioner for France, Ignacio Morandé, and by ProChile Adviser Camille Péron.
Participants at the meeting expressed their satisfaction at the quality of the relations established with Chile, a member of the OIV since 1952 and the first country from the southern hemisphere to join the Organisation.
During the meeting, the Ambassador highlighted the importance of his country’s wine industry, with its deep cultural roots and the positive image enjoyed by Chilean wine. With a production of 12.9 million hectolitres in 2018, Chile ranked seventh place worldwide. The Ambassador also stressed the importance of table grape production in Chile, which historically has been the world’s main exporter of table grapes.
H.E. Juan Salazar Sparks and ProChile drew attention to the significant advances driven by Chile’s international wine trade, in quality and price, as well as efforts in recent years to use native Chilean grape varieties.
Strengthening and disseminating Chile’s technical expertise for the benefit of other Member States
In this regard, participants also spoke of promoting relations with the Organisation, and of strengthening and disseminating Chile’s technical expertise for the benefit of other Member States, through the increased participation of Chilean experts in the OIV’s different commissions, sub-commissions and expert groups.
Pau Roca welcomed Chile’s role in organising the OIV’s 43rd World Congress of Vine and Wine, set to be held in Chile from 22 to 27 November 2020. The Congress will be an opportunity to showcase the successes of the vitivinicultural sector in Chile, which last hosted an OIV Congress in 1986.