Stricter measures on taxation , introduction of health warnings on labels , limitation of cross-border sales and regulation of advertising. The European Commission returns to the attack on alcohol, including wine , with a new working document that takes stock of the plan against cancer launched in 2021, the Beca (Beating Cancer), which already proposed limitations on trade and the introduction of 'health' labels for alcoholic beverages.
An announcement that has sparked protests in the agri-food world, with Coldiretti and Filiera Italia threatening to take to the streets "against the ideological madness of alarmist labels on wine" and to "protect the 240,000 Italian winemakers who offer job opportunities along the supply chain for 1.3 million workers".
The two associations have written a letter (similar initiatives have been undertaken by Eat Europe and Farm Europe) to the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen , to the Commissioners for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, for Agriculture Cristophe Hansen and for Health Olivér Várhelyi, «to reject the unacceptable proposal of the Community executive to put writings on bottles to discourage consumption , in addition to increasing taxation».
Measures, Coldiretti and Filiera Italia underline, that would "hit a strategic sector of Made in Italy, which is worth almost 14 billion euros ".
The EU Commission's proposals are contained in the Staff Working Document published on 4 February by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (Dg Sante), in preparation for the review of the European Beating Cancer Plan. Because taxing alcoholic beverages, including wine, remains a strategic prevention tool for the EU in its fight against cancer, responsible for at least 1.3 million deaths in the EU in 2022.
(Online Union)
