Update of the international standard for wine labelling regarding labelling potentially allergenic additives and residues

Status: In force

Update of the international standard for wine labelling regarding labelling potentially allergenic additives and residues

RESOLUTION OIV-ECO 648-2020

UPDATE OF THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR WINE LABELLING REGARDING LABELLING POTENTIALLY ALLERGENIC ADDITIVES AND RESIDUES

WARNING: This resolution amends the following resolutions:

-          AG 6/83-ECO “Fiches 1,2,3 and 4 of the International Standard for labelling of wine”

-          ECO 1/2005 “Harmonisation of labelling”

And repeals the resolutions:

-          ECO 5/2006 “Harmonisation of labelling of wines – Presentation of additives”

-          ECO 1/2003 “International OIV Standard for labelling of wines – Indication for sulphites”

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

IN VIEW OF THE ARTICLE 2, paragraph 2 b) iii of the Agreement of 3rd April 2001, establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine,

CONSIDERING the decision of Executive Committee of April 2017 regarding the necessity to update the International Standard for Wine Labelling, in particular, regarding the necessity of bringing it into line with the General Standard for the labelling of pre-packaged foods of Codex Alimentarius (CODEX STAN 1-1985) on the question of allergen labelling,

CONSIDERING The resolution OIV/OENO 427/2010 modified by OIV-COMEX 502-2012 «Criteria for the methods of quantification of potentially allergenic residues of fining agent proteins in wine» providing among others the detection limit for potentially allergenic residues of fining agent proteins in wine,

CONSIDERING that on the basis of available data, food safety authorities consider isinglass used as clarifying agent in wine does not raise any health and safety concerns for fish-allergic consumers,

ON THE PROPOSAL of the Commission Economy and Law,

DECIDES

TO REPLACE the article 2.3 “Information on additives” of the International Standard for the Labelling of Wine as adopted by the resolution AG 6/83-ECO and modified by the resolution ECO 1/2003

By the following text:

“Article 2.3

1 Information on substances[1] known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia[2]

The presence of substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia shall be indicated on the label of the wine.

The substances concerned are:

Residues of fining agent proteins in wine (milk, milk based products, egg, and egg based products, wheat proteins), if their presence can be detected in the final product using the analysis method responding to the criteria fixed by the method OIV-MA-AS315-23.

Sulphites in a concentration of 10mg/L or more”.

TO MODIFY the article 4.1 “Field of vision” as adopted by the resolution ECO 1/2005 and to modify the resolution ECO 1/2005 accordingly as follows:

In the second paragraph of the article 4.1 the word “additive” is replaced by “substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia”.

TO REPLACE the article 4.5 “Presentation of information on additives” as adopted by the resolution ECO 5/2006 by the following text:

“Article 4.5

Presentation of information on the presence of substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia

The name of the substance known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia should be indicated in the list of ingredients if mentioned on the label or, in the absence of a list of ingredients, it should be preceded by the word ‘contains’.

The mention of sulphites shall be labelled in the form “contains sulphites”, “contains sulfites”, “contains sulphur dioxide”, “contains sulfur dioxide”, or other equivalent indication”

Annex – outline of proposed changes

Article 2.3

Current version: one of the first “fiches” adopted by the OIV (AG 3/1983-ECO); the limit for labelling was changed from 25mg/L to 10mg/L by ECO 1/2003

Proposed version

Information on additives

This indication only takes into account additives that are not present in wine in its natural state in significant amounts.

It concerns:

  • sulphur dioxide when this additive exceeds 10 mg/l expressed in total SO2,
  • sorbic acid.

However the States can dispense with this indication when the national legislation does not require the complete declaration of the ingredients in foodstuffs, subject to the fact that exemptions were granted because (i) the foodstuff has a well-known composition, (ii) the absence from the list of ingredients is not detrimental to the consumer and (iii) the information provided on the label informs the consumer about the nature of the foodstuff.

Information on substances or known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia

The presence of substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia shall be indicated on the label of the wine.

The substances concerned are:

  • potentially allergenic residues of fining agent proteins in wine (milk, milk based products, egg, and egg based products, wheat proteins) if their presence can be detected in the final product using the analysis method responding to the criteria fixed by the method OIV-MA-AS315-23.
  • Sulphites in a concentration of 10mg/L or more
 

Changes in resolutions required: modification of AG 6/1983-ECO)

Withdrawal of ECO 1/2003

Article 4.1

Current version: introduced by the resolution ECO 1/2005

Proposed version (only the paragraph in yellow is proposed for modification at this stage)

Field of vision

The indication of the denomination of the product, the alcoholic strength, the net contents nominal volume and the country of origin must figure in the single field of vision, without prejudice to specific, domestic market provisions, which are less restrictive.

The indication of the name and address of the person responsible for pre-packages as in point 2.6, additives as in point 2.3, batch identification as in point 2.7 and any other indications may appear anywhere on the label.

Nevertheless, any of the above mentioned indications can be repeated in any part of the label.

Field of vision

The indication of the denomination of the product, the alcoholic strength, the net contents nominal volume and the country of origin must figure in the single field of vision, without prejudice to specific, domestic market provisions, which are less restrictive.

The indication of the name and address of the person responsible for pre-packages as in point 2.6, substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia as in point 2.3, batch identification as in point 2.7 and any other indications may appear anywhere on the label.

Nevertheless, any of the above mentioned indications can be repeated in any part of the label.

 

Changes in resolutions required: modification of ECO 1/2005

Article 4.5

Current version: introduced by the resolution ECO 5/2006

Proposed version

Presentation of information on additives

The mention of sulphites shall be labelled in the form “contains sulphites”, “contains sulfites”, “contains sulphur dioxide”, “contains sulfur dioxide” or other equivalent indication.

Presentation of information on the presence of substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia

The name of the substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia should be indicated in the list of ingredients if mentioned on the label or, in the absence of a list of ingredients, it should be preceded by the word ‘contains’.

The mention of sulphites shall be labelled in the form “contains sulphites”, “contains sulfites”, “contains sulphur dioxide”, “contains sulfur dioxide”, or other equivalent indication.

 

Changes in resolutions required: modification of ECO 5/2006


[1] Substance is any food, ingredient or processing aid

[2] Note for the translators, to be followed in the entire text of the resolution

  • Official English version: «…. known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia»
  • official French version: «… connues pour provoquer des allergies»;
  • official Spanish version : « … causan hipersensibilidad»
  • Italian translation: “noti per provocare allergie o intolleranze»
  • German version : «to be proposed by German delegation